As the nights become longer, the days shorter and the temperature drops, so does my desire to do… anything? For most of us, winter is not quite easy. We may feel like staying under the blankets all day and not coming out until spring.
We can, however, also use this time of year to embrace the coziness. While we may not be having picknicks or sipping an Aperol in the sunshine anytime soon (aah, how I wish!), we can spend this additional time indoors to try out new (or old) hobbies. Hobbies – but make them cozy!
Here’s some inspiration for you:
1. Knitting & crocheting
Knitting and crocheting are honestly sooo good. Why? Because you get to learn a new skill and at the end of the day, you even get to wear the final result! Imagine everyone asking about your new scarf and you answering “why, thank you, I made it myself!”
It can seem intimidating to start learning but you can get the hang of the basics in a day. YouTube will have your back!
If you’re totally new to it, I recommend you start with crocheting and then work your way towards knitting if that’s what you want. This approach will help you get the hang of it while also seeing fast progress.
2. Reading
My. Favourite. Hobby. EVER. If you don’t enjoy reading, then you simply haven’t met the right book for you yet.
Reading is peaceful and can take you to another world. Whether you prefer romance, thrillers, self-help, … Choose whatever floats your boat, grab your favourite hot beverage and get lost in the pages.
If you’re looking for a light, enjoyable read, I recommend The Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman. An absolute gem of a cozy mystery novel.
Budget tip: Head to your local library and read (almost) for free. An annual membership is usually about the cost of a single new hardcover book (aka worth it!)
3. Yoga or pilates
Getting your body moving in winter can be challenging. That’s why low intensity workouts that can be done at home with little to no equipment are perfect.
Personally, I don’t consider yoga a workout. It is so much more to me: grounding, stretching, meditation and building both physical and mental strength. But you try it out for yourself; in the worst case you get a nice little workout.
If yoga is not your thing, jump on the pilates princess trend and be your most fabulous self.
For both, you don’t need much equipment. A mat (or in lack thereof, a carpet) and YouTube will do in the beginning. May I recommend Yoga with Adriene? Her classes are *chef’s kiss*.
4. Journaling or scrapbooking
Long evenings are perfect for taking the time to journal. Journaling can be anything: reflection, growth, fun ideas and quotes, memories, writing about your day… There are no rules about what you put on those pages.
One of my favourite ways to journal is to collect happy moments. In my journal, I write about any happy moments I had that specific day, sometimes adding photos, drawings and so forth. It’s an easy and wholesome way to get into journaling.
If writing is not your thing, consider scrapbooking. Get creative and draw, doodle, include photos, paste pictures… Let your creativity run free.
5. Painting
You absolutely don’t need to be artistically gifted to draw or paint. That’s why it’s called a hobbie!
You’re allowed to be bad at it (in fact, I’m giving you an extra gold star if you do it badly). It’s supposed to be fun, so be creative and don’t think about the outcome.
Grab watercolours or a pencil or sharpies or what have you and enjoy!
6. Blogging
Yup, blogging can be a hobby. Despite the gazillion TikTok videos suggesting you can and should be making money with blogging, you can also blog for the sheer fun of it.
If you enjoy writing, creating content or just having your own little corner of the internet, do it. You don’t need to have it all figured out yet to start.
What do you want to talk about? It can be anything, it’s your very own space! Feel free to mix topics. You will figure out your niche as you go (if you ever want to).
If you want to try blogging for free, I recommend WordPress.com. You won’t own your domain, but you can just give it a go.
What hobby do you want to try out? Which ones did I miss in this list? Let me know in the comments!
Love,
Carola
