10 Ideas for Enjoying a Long Winter Season Indoors

Happy Monday Friends!

Happy New year to you! Last week I shared a personal yearly recap and a recap of the favorite five blog posts for 2016. Last year was a year of Faith and Change for us, I am hoping to start the year out by living each day with a little bit more intention and thoughtfulness.

One of the first areas I am trying to be a little more intentional is by enjoying the Winter months a little bit more. I have been reading a lot about the Art of Danish Hygge (pronounces ‘hooga’) and it has really inspired me to enjoy this time of year by savoring a slower, more reflective time indoors. Winter came earlier this year in Michigan than it did last year and as much as I love the passing of all four seasons, Winter takes a toll on me! Michigan winters can be really cold, dark, and long. By using some of the same principles as Hygge I am hoping to honor and be grateful for this time of year more than I usually would.

Here area few ideas that will help me enjoy Winter just a little bit more:

1.) Lighting candles

Because having candles lit around the house is one of my favorite things to enjoy during Winter, I have a whole Pinterest Board dedicated to gathering favorite ideas. I love the ambiance a candle brings to any room and I also love different scented candles. I have even tried making some of my own using essential oils and different vintage containers.

2.) Catching up on my favorite TV shows and movies

Winter is the perfect time for me to catch up on TV shows that I may not have been able to keep up on during other parts of the year. Truth be told other than our cousin camp out and annual backyard movie night we rarely sit down for a day full of movies either. Winter is the time that I get to indulge in it a little bit more.

3.) Cooking healthy, hearty oven meals

As soon as the snow melts and the sun is out, we are cooking most of our meals on our grill so Winter is the time that I use our oven to do the majority of our cooking. I roast a lot of seasonal veggies, make casseroles, and broil different dinners using our oven.

4.) Sitting down with a good book

Just like TV and movies, I use the quieter Winter months to catch up on my reading. I really love reading and have always been an avid reader, but due to us being busy I quite often don’t even pick up a book throughout Summer. Winter is the opposite!

5.) A day of big batch cooking or putting together a few of my favorite make ahead meals

I try to schedule a couple Sunday afternoons for big batch cooking. Some of my favorite meals to make ahead are: chicken pot pie filling, taco meat, pulled pork, and shredded chicken. Having these items prepared and in the freezer are a such timesaver for us.

6.) Lighting a cozy fire in our fireplace

I have really enjoyed starting the fire at our new house. It really makes the room inviting and cozy.

7.) Cooking a few meals in the crock pot

This time of year I am constantly using my crock pot for roasts, soups and stews.
I gather recipes I am wanting to try on my Crockpot Pinterest Board and throw all the recipe items in the crockpot. I love that I can add everything and then go about my day.

8.) Starting my day with a warm drink and quiet time

This is a must for me this time of year. I need to start my day with something warm and I need to ease into waking up by enjoying it in the quiet, often before anyone else gets up in the morning.

9.) Gathering favorite magazine images and making a visual journal

I am a visual person and I have always loved collecting inspiring images from magazines. I have loved it ever since I was a teenager. Pinterest is a favorite pastime of mine, but I still very much enjoy pulling favorite ideas from magazines. Winter is the only time of year that I spend organizing the things I have gathered throughout the year.

10.) Gathering and hosting a seasonal dinner with friends

I love gathering friends and cooking for them! I have always loved creating an atmosphere where I can sit around the table with friends, eat a good meal and enjoy good conversation. I could sit in that atmosphere for hours.