How to Romanticize Winter ❄️ Hygge, Cozy While Snowed In
Hello Magical Friends!
Overnight, our little woods were blanketed by a fresh snowfall. Temperatures have dropped to a very chilly 17 degrees, and most of the little village nearby has shuttered their doors against the frigid winds. Many businesses have outright closed or have shifted their hours to accommodate the roads, though it seems that it was mostly snow and little to no actual ice. This is good news! When ice hides beneath the snow here it means an entire shut down of the village, just like it did in January when we had our first big ice storm of the year.
Danny and I have both bundled up in our blankets, and as I write this to you now I am sipping at my mug of hot chocolate while my woodstove space heater fills my office with warmth.
The air is still and quiet here. Snowy days like today are so full of profound silence and serenity. Despite my love of the autumn seasons, winter is one of my favorites for days like these. My seasonal depression seems to run a bit backwards compared to everyone else’s, wherein mine springs up and gets worse during the summer months. But when winter hits and I’m able to curl up in my thickest blanket with a nice hot drink in my hands I am able to see the wonder and beauty in the world again. Danny is much the same way, preferring the cold of winter over the unrelenting heat of the summer.
This is probably because of how much I adore the concept of hygge (a word in Danish and Norwegian that describes a cozy, contented mood evoked by comfort. Hygge translates to “enjoy” in english!) and how much I try to inject it into my daily life. I’m by nature a high-stress person, even when there is honestly no reason to be. My anxiety is always trying to ramp up, so anything that gives me a sense of calm is a welcome addition. Ever since I started trying to practice hygge a few years ago, it has done wonders to improve my mental health!
Because of this, I want to share with you how I romanticize a winter day. This will look different for everyone (and I would love to hear in the comments how you romanticize winter!) but this is what a perfect winter day looks like to me!
When I woke up this morning I wanted to indulge in a little moment of stillness. So rather than getting up right away to start the day, I took out my kindle and decided to read some of Storm Front by Jim Butcher. Which is—ironically enough—set during the winter months! Or, at least, that’s what it says in the second chapter.
Of course, I couldn’t read alone! Salem decided to come snuggle in bed with me while I read, and what is a good reading spot without a furry friend to keep you warm and calm? Reading first thing in the morning, snuggling with my cats as I do, is one of my favorite ways to start the day. I don’t get to do it as often as I would like, which I think is part of what makes these little moments when I can even more special.
If you like reading as much as I do, and you’ve so far been following along on my perfect winter day, the next thing you might want to try is baking something sweet! Whip up some cinnamon rolls, cookies, or a warm pie from scratch. The smell of fresh-baked treats will fill the house and make it feel even cozier, and all of that is the very definition of hygge! Personally, my favorite thing to bake is chocolate chip cookies, and I especially love it when Danny and I bake together!
Another thing you can try when you’re trying to romanticize being snowed in is crafting! Try knitting, crocheting, or embroidery while wrapped in a warm blanket. A slow and simple activity like this fits perfectly with a snowy day. I’ve been working on crocheting a Tangled-inspired tote bag for the last few weeks and I haven’t done much more than the last time I posted about it on my Instagram. I’m really slow at this particular design because each square takes a couple of hours for me to do. I’m still pretty new at crochet and taking the whole thing really slowly. There’s no reason to rush anyway!
Crocheting during a snow day is one of my favorite activities! There’s something really calming about crochet in general, but especially during the winter months when you can bury yourself in a pile of warm and fluffy blankets while you do it.
Books come back out for this one, which is to read by the fire! Curl up by the fire with a good book. A classic novel, a nature guide, poetry—whatever you want! There are no wrong answers when it comes to what to read! And if you’re like me and don’t have a real fireplace, you can get a very similar effect with a space heater that has an LED (I think its an LED anyway) light in the back that simulates a fire. I actually like this much better than a fireplace anyway, because I could see a real fireplace making me incredibly anxious. Also, if you’re renting, this is a really good renter-friendly option to create the aesthetic of a roaring fire without having to have a, you know, roaring fire.
Journaling is another great way to spend the wintery day! Write about the quiet beauty of a snowy day, write a little bit of a story, or draw. I love to write in my diary on snowy days like today. Journaling is a calming activity for me no matter what the season, but especially in winter when I feel myself able to take it slowly and listen to a nice, quiet playlist. Writing by candlelight adds an extra cozy touch!
You can also take a nature walk, if it's safe to do so. Take a walk in the snowy woods, in a nearby park, or around your yard. You don’t have to be living in a lush and wild forest to enjoy the beauty of nature on a cold winter day. Nature is everywhere, and there are so many opportunities to envelop yourself in it. If you do take a walk in nature, try not to rush it (unless you’re getting too cold, then maybe think about going inside). Take a moment to envelop yourself in the silence, the utter joy of just being present and alive. Studio Ghibli teaches us that it’s the small moments in life that matter the most, and those are where you can find happiness, and I encourage you to find that happiness in the simple joy of being outside in nature. Enjoy the peacefulness and capture the beauty in photos or your journal!
Once we’re back inside and trying to warm up from our nature walk, we can make hot yea or cocoa! Brew a pot of herbal tea or prepare some hot cocoa with whipped cream and marshmallows. Chip and I are enjoying a nice hot cup of hot chocolate with a bunch of little baby marshmallows!
Hot drink in hand, another activity you can do when you’re snowed in is host a stuffed animal party! Nothing makes the cold wintery days seem warm and cozy like snuggling up with some of your best stuffed friends to watch a movie, play your favorite game, or binge watch that comfort show you can’t get enough of! Mine are a curated few friends who live in my office, and together we’re going to while away the hours playing Legend of Mana on the PS5.
I hope you enjoyed spending this beautiful winter day with me, dear friends, and I hope if you’re snowed in too you found a few fun ideas to try! I had so much fun spending the day with you guys and I can’t wait to see you again in my next post! Stay warm out there, and remember to have fun!
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