Winter Lover: a guide to enjoying the colder months

With Christmas cheer and New Year’s parties very suddenly a thing of the past, the last weeks of Winter can feel like a year in themselves without the festivities to brighten the cold days. So, here is a list of things that are helping me get through this final stretch before spring!

Scarves that are Secretly Blankets

I had to start here because these have been one of my favourite discoveries this winter. I don’t know whether I’m just late to the party, but I have become obsessed with oversized, fluffy scarves. I am guilty of wearing all black throughout winter, and the splash of colour is a great addition to any basic outfit. Mine became even better when I worked out I could stretch it to its full size, turning it into a make-shift blanket. I feel like this will be excellent for trips to the library or the JMS building when uni starts back, and I’m still not over that sleepy holiday feeling.

Hot Water Bottles that Wear Little Jumpers

I have been relying heavily on my hot water bottle this winter, and have taken to personifying mine as a ‘cozy little man’ because of his adorable grey jumper cover. Whoever invented hot water bottle jumpers was the master of practicality and cuteness. Kudos if you get yourself a matching one!

Seasonal Coffee/Hot Chocolates

It has always been appalling to me that gingerbread coffee doesn’t get the same recognition as its pumpkin spice counterpart. A cookie in a mug is perfect for me any day. There are also plenty of recipes online for making these at home yourself, some using maple syrup or Biscoff spread with cinnamon, ginger, and allspice, which you might have lying around. If not, I’ll take any excuse to drink a traditional hot chocolate, and the cold weather is a perfect one. These cozy drinks also provide an excuse to use the thousands of thermoses I seem to have stockpiled for the apocalypse. Throughout the year I convince myself I’m going to become one of those people that carry a reusable coffee cup, yet they continue to gather dust in my kitchen cupboard. Luckily, the second it gets a bit colder I am cozying up in work, at uni, or during any drive anywhere with a warm thermos of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate. Positives when they have a fun design too!

Frosty Walks

I am a much bigger fan of frosty, winter walks than hot summer ones. The crisp air is great, especially when it’s sunny out. Even when it’s not, the coldness means you don’t have to deal with the uncomfortable sticky sweat that appears the second you try to exercise in the warmer season. Also, the parks aren’t as crowded, so you can really enjoy the peace. Or listen to music and dance around without worrying about anyone seeing you. I also enjoy the process of bundling up in my winter coat, and colour coordinating my scarf, hat, jumper and gloves before leaving (although according to my friend that is just me being the Libra that I am).

The Excuse to be Indoors Doing Nothing

Equally, with the weather turning to ice and rain, the introvert I am gains plenty of excuses to stay at home. Whether it’s ‘too icy to drive’ or ‘too windy to risk a trip into town’, I have had plenty of reasons to stay home and take time to rest and recuperate from the chaos of assessments and the festive period. It’s an added bonus when I don’t feel an overwhelming guilt for missing out on the sun, which I experience every summer when I try to do the same.

Candles

I feel like the whole place smells nicer in winter. Probably because I have a habit of lighting candles the second it gets dark at 4pm, or even earlier on rainy days when the world outside exists in perpetual greyscale. Just make sure to watch your essential oil use if you have pets!

There’s something for everyone in the coming weeks as the days slowly but surely lengthen, and we start to see the first spring flowers pop up. Whether it’s the simple act of lighting a candle, or wrapping up warm on a brisk park walk, we can still find the good in the season!

[Georgia McHaffie - she/her]