Winter is coming. This sentence makes me feel more dreadful than John Snow in front of a white walker. While in the summertime my favorite leisure activities involve being outside (sitting in a street café, going to the beach…) winter forces me to be more creative in my free time. Winter leisure is not a game, or is it?

To be honest – I hate the winter (Sorry all you winter people out there) but it’s true. I’m a full-on sunshine-beach-hot-weather kinda gall and just the thought of winter makes me feel anxious. Although, and maybe because, I’m fortunate enough to live in Tel Aviv with about 300 sunny days a year, for me, winter is depressing AF. The grey skies, the cold and the rain make me want to stay curled up inside.

Related: 7 fail-proof hacks to have more free time no one told you

Don’t worry I got you covered – here are some ways to have fun without leaving your house during those cold months (except for counting the minutes until it’s warm and sunny again).

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Casual leisure

1. Binge-watch

First and most obvious one, binge watch. While in the summer I rarely watch TV on the weekends because I prefer to be outside, winter is the perfect time to spend an evening (or a month) on the couch with your favorite blanky, a bucket of popcorn, and John snow. Literally Netflix and chill.

If you’re more of a rom-com type: check out these 55 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time

2. Read a book

I love reading! You can either get lost in a romance novel or any kind of fiction that will warm up your heart and keep your mind from the cold weather outside. Or you can use the time for some personal development with an inspirational book.

See: My top 5 best happiness books to read for some inspiration this year here

3. Read a blog

If you’re not into reading long books browse the web for a blog of your interest (Leisure-Hacker anyone?). There are so many good ones that can enrich your world, inspire you or just entertain.

4. Watch a Ted Talk

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Follow their slogan “ideas worth spreading” and get inspired without leaving your house.

5. Digital de-clutter

If you’re anything like me you tend to hoard links on your browser, Facebook, save pins you never go back to read, screenshot things you want to remember. This may not seem like a fun thing to do but trust me once you clear out your phone and computer you will feel so much lighter.

Creative leisure

6. Solve a puzzle

This was one of my favorite winter activities growing up (**nerd alert). This is a great activity to do on your own or with family and friends. Try to challenge yourself with a puzzle with a least 500 pieces. Also, make sure you choose an image you like, not only because you’ll have to look at it for ages but also because once you’re done you can glue it and hang it on the wall.

7. Play

If a puzzle is not your thing, a wintery indoor boars-game or cards night is a great idea.
Invite some friends over, make a jug of hot sangria and play your hearts out.

Try one of these 7 warming winter sangria recipes (Is it weird that the recommendation here is for booze and not the games…? hmm LOL)

8. Do a coloring book

Yep, Coloring isn’t just for kids. Adult coloring has been an actual leisure trend for the past couple of years.
The practice generates wellness, quietness and also stimulates brain areas related to motor skills, the senses, and creativity.

9. DIY something

This is a good time to open your famous DIY Pinterest folder and actually do something. It can be a small as painting on a coaster or as big as building a bench.

Need more ideas? Don’t have a DIY Pinterest folder yet (gasp)? Check out my folder for some inspiration

My concrete DIY winter project

10. Re-design

If you are going to be cupped up inside, spending a lot of time at home during the winter might as well be in a nice space. This is a great time to re-organize some furniture, hang up some art (newly finished puzzle anyone?), add some candles or plants – anything that will brighten your space.

11. Learn how to knit

This is very easy to learn (at least the basics) and has a triple delight to it. Not only will you give your brain a good workout, kill some time on a winter day but also end up with a nice, homemade scarf to wear during the winter.

Leisure delight

12. Bake or cook

Indoor time is a great time to experiment in the kitchen. Wearing big sweaters and bikini season being far far away is a great excuse for some winter delights. I find food super comforting, especially in the winter – warm food makes me feel all warm inside. Winter comfort food is all about hearty casseroles and warming soaps.

Take the time to try out different recipes. You can start with these 76 Beyond Easy Winter Dinners.

13. Have a hot beverage

A hot beverage is not a choice. Whether you’re a hot cup of tea kinda girl, (spiked) hot chocolate or warm sangria – a hot beverage is a good way to keep warm.

Try one of these 40 Homemade Drinks That’ll Make You Feel Warm & Cozy

14. Throw a party

If you already have food and drinks might as well and have a party. Invite friends and family over to watch some movies, play games or have an indoor dance party.

If you’re looking for an original winter theme for your party try a knitting party or a Vision Board Party which are (somehow) super trending right now.

Organized leisure

15. Clean out your closet

Take advantage of your time at home and go through your closet. From year to year – fashion styles, your taste, and your body change. De-clutter, re-arrange, and get rid of anything that no longer fits you.

Rule of thumb is: if you haven’t worn it in two years, you probably not going to.

2 bonus points: you can donate whatever you don’t need and make someone’s winter happier and warmer AND you have a legitimate excuse to go shopping.

16. Plan a road trip

Take the time and plan your summer vacation. According to a 2010 study published in the journal Applied Research in Quality of Life, just planning or anticipating your trip can make you happier than actually taking it.

Research locations, plane tickets, hotels. After you finalized your destination – research all the great things in that location and make a list of all the restaurants, museums, sights, and shops you want to visit.

Not sure you have the time or the money for a vacation right now? Read all about the Best life hacks for ‘how to travel more’ for some guidance.

Relaxing leisure

17. Take a nap

If you don’t know why this is a good idea well, I don’t know what to tell you. Here’s why napping is good for you, according to science.

18. Have sex

Well, you’re already in bed so… besides the fact that it will keep your body temperature up, sex is a great remedy for that winter funk, as it floods your body with oxytocin and endorphins, which promote bonding and kill pain, respectively.

If you need extra excuses to convince your partner read: 7 Reasons Why Winter Is the Best Season for Sex 😉

19. Set up a home spa

Winter is the perfect excuse to pamper yourself. Practice your regular body maintenance routine but put some soft music in the background, light a candle and maybe pour yourself a nice glass of wine.

While in the hot steamy summer you’re just trying to groom yourself as quickly as possible before everything is sticky again, in the winter you can indulge in a long bubble bath.
If you don’t own a bathtub, like me, just soak your feet in a tub of hot water with some bath oils and sea salt. This will be the perfect setup for your home mani-pedi (also a great way to save some cash for your summer vacation).

Buy some facial masks or make one, try some new makeup techniques or a new hairstyle (I admit that this led to some misfortune hairstyles over the years so be careful haha).

20. Call a friend

Winter blues is a real thing. The weather, the short days, the darkness make a lot of people feel depressed in winter, or suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – the medical name for “winter blues”.

Except for eating well, exercising, getting outside as often as possible one of the things that make me happy the most is people. The winter funk makes most people crawl up inside their own shell, So pick up the phone and call a friend. The simple act of catching up can do wonders for your mood.

Well, maybe there are a lot of ways to have fun in the winter… even without leaving the house.

Wish you a warm, fun, and wonderful winter! I would love to connect more on IG – come say Hey to me in the DM’s.

XX

Jeni

P.S. I would love to hear more from you! Are you a winter person or a summer person like me? how do you spend your time in the winter?

Did you find this helpful? Comment below with questions, comments, or what you would like to see in future posts

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