Light a candle. Enjoy the act of lighting it and take time to stare into the flickering flame. Bathe in the cheery light and give in to the meditative and relaxing feeling it evokes.
Sip a hot drink. Pumpkin spice coffee • cinnamon tea • nourishing homemade bone broth or vegetable broth • hot cider with a cinnamon stick • maybe a mulled red wine, hot toddy or buttered rum cocktail in the evening • warm lavender milk at bedtime (add a pinch of dried lavender blossoms and a dollop of honey to your favorite milk and warm it over the stove)
Decorate with a hygge flair. Twinkling lights in windows, on branches, and in jars • clusters of candles • layers of blankets, rich fabrics, pillows, and sheepskin throws on the couch
Take a stroll through a wintry landscape. Lengthy cold winters mean lots of indoor time, so be sure to get outdoors now and then to get the blood flowing and to appreciate the beauty of new-fallen snow and the quiet of the landscape gone to sleep.
Create a nourishing meal. Think winter soups, roasted root vegetables, homemade breads and pies, hot mulled cider. Light a candle at the table and enjoy a simple, hardy meal by its warm and radiant glow.
Relax with family and friends. Keep it simple and low-key. Invite a friend over for a morning cup of coffee or an evening glass of wine, and enjoy each other’s company. Organize a game night, do puzzles together, watch a movie or binge-watch a Netflix series.
Get cozy with a book. Light a fire and curl into your favorite armchair with a soft fleecy blanket, a good book, your pet, and a large mug of something hot. One of my all-time favorite winter reads is the novel The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey.
Indulge in bedtime pleasures. Relax in an herbal bath. • Wear fleece pajamas. • Sip moon milk (coconut milk or your favorite nut milk warmed with nutmeg, cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom, ginger, and a bit of honey) • Hunker down under layers of soft, warm blankets.
Fill your home with fragrant smells. Every winter I craft a stovetop simmering potpourri. Just fill a small pot halfway with water and add citrus slices, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom. Other interesting possibilities include pine sprigs, a dash of vanilla extract, star anise, and bay leaves.
|