Call me crazy, but I love the colder months of the year. Once the ‘ber months start, it’s officially my time to shine. Of course, the holidays offer plenty of things to look forward to, but in my opinion, the entire winter season is full of magic. It’s a great time to reflect on the year we just had, make plans for the year ahead, and embrace the cozy vibes of the chilly months. And even if the temperatures outside are downright frigid, there are plenty of things to do in winter that might just make you forget how cold you are.
If you’re looking for winter outings, cozy at-home activities, romantic date ideas, or fun things to do by yourself, this roundup of winter activities is for you. Here are 36 things to do in the winter to help you make the most of this season.
1. Have a puzzle or board game night
When it’s too cold to even think about going out, a game night is just the thing. Break out a 1,000-piece puzzle or a competitive board game for a low-stakes way to connect with friends or a partner. Personally, I do puzzles all winter long and can confirm that they’re the ideal activity to pair with listening to an audiobook or catching up on reality TV.
2. Try a new workout class
There’s no better way to beat the winter cold than to break a sweat. To warm up on a frigid day, sign up for that new pilates class, hot yoga session, or kick-boxing lesson. This is your sign to try something new—you might just find your new go-to class.
3. Go ice skating
Ice skating is a quintessential cold-weather activity that’s full of winter magic. Don’t worry if you’re a total beginner—sometimes the best part is falling down and laughing so hard you can’t get back up. Grab your friends, bring a date, or take yourself on a solo date to glide around the ice with a hot cocoa in hand.
4. Have a cozy movie marathon
Whether you prefer to watch holiday rom-coms, all the Harry Potter movies, or back-to-back Nancy Meyers classics, cold winter days are the best time to have a cozy movie marathon. Stock up on your favorite snacks, put on your comfiest matching set, and build a blanket nest on the couch to settle in for a day of pure coziness and relaxation.
5. Pick up needlepoint
Granny hobbies are super popular right now, and I’m fully on board. In particular, my friends and I have really gotten into needlepoint this year, and it’s the perfect cozy winter hobby to try solo or while gossiping with friends. Plus, your creations make cute home decor or small gifts.
6. Buy all the seasonal snacks at the grocery store
It’s no secret that The Everygirl team (and its readers) loves a seasonal snack. Head to your favorite grocery store like Aldi or Trader Joe’s and load up on their latest seasonal drop. There’s no better time to enjoy warm spices, sweet peppermint, and chocolate desserts than in the cold winter months.
7. Take yourself on a solo date
Romanticize the chilly weather by taking yourself on a solo date. Go to the movies, take yourself to dinner, or see the musical that’s coming to town. Use this time to treat yourself and enjoy your own company.
8. Plan a weekend getaway
Summer may be the most popular time to travel, but I love a getaway in the chilly months. Whether you book yourself a cabin in the mountains or a chic boutique hotel, a weekend trip is the ultimate seasonal reset. Use your weekend to explore a new city, book spa treatments, go on snowy hikes, or just enjoy some peace and relaxation.
9. Have a soup tasting party
I don’t know about you, but soup tasting parties have been all over my For You Page lately. This cozy party idea usually goes something like this: Everyone brings a crockpot full of their favorite soup recipe, and guests use a muffin tin to try a little sample of each. You can make it a competition and vote for your favorites, or just enjoy a cozy dinner with friends.
10. Volunteer in your community
Volunteering is important year-round, but the need often rises around the holidays. Whether you want to help people or animals in your community, this is a great time to get involved. You can even add volunteering to your New Year’s resolutions list to make it a long-term habit.
11. Hit the slopes
Bundling up for some skiing, snowboarding, or tubing is a fun way to embrace the cold, snowy weather. If you don’t know how to ski or snowboard, most resorts have lessons for adults, and trust me, they’re worth it! Whether you’re a total beginner or a pro on the slopes, it’s a great excuse to indulge in all the après ski your heart desires.
12. Try a cozy new recipe
It’s all too easy to get stuck in a rut of making the same recipes on repeat. This winter, use your extra time inside to test out a new tasty soup, cozy pasta dish, or comfort food recipe to see if it earns a permanent spot in your weekly meal rotation.
13. Make a 2026 vision board
One of my favorite things to do at the beginning of the year is create a vision board. I love to take images from magazines, photos I’ve captured over the last year, and inspirational posts from social media and combine them to manifest my goals for the year to come.
14. Refresh your bedding
During the winter months, there’s no cozier place to be than snuggled up in bed. To really pile on the coziness, swap out your linen sheets and light layers for flannel, fleece, and comfy blankets. Now every time you get into bed, you’ll be slipping into the dreamiest, coziest place in your whole house.
15. Bake treats for your friends and neighbors
The holidays bring a lot of joy and magic, but it’s important to remember that these months can feel lonely for some. Baking treats for your friends and neighbors is a simple, beautiful way to share a little extra love this winter.
16. Go on a book crawl
A book crawl is like a bar crawl, only you bring a book and pop around to different coffee shops, bars or breweries, restaurants, and other local spots. Plan your crawl by choosing a neighborhood and a few locations you want to stop at. At each place, buy a drink or treat and read for a while before moving on to the next stop. This is a great solo date idea, but it’s also a lot of fun to do with friends or your partner!
17. Plan a potluck
If you want to host a dinner party but don’t want to do all the cooking, a potluck is the answer. Potlucks bring everyone together for a fun night of food and conversation, but you don’t have to worry about the stress of prepping a full meal. Choose a theme or assign everyone a type of dish to make, then spend a cozy night in with your favorite people.
18. Clean out your closet
There’s something so therapeutic about cleaning out your closet at the beginning of the year. If there’s anything you haven’t worn over the last year, it’s the perfect time to sell it for a little extra cash or donate it to those in need. Plus, this will allow you to make room for new pieces you’ll love and wear for years to come.
19. Host a clothing swap party
Once you’ve cleaned out your closet, invite some friends over for a clothing swap party. It’s the perfect opportunity to offload items that are still in great condition, and you’ll get to “shop” pieces from your friends’ wardrobes without spending a dime. Set some guidelines beforehand on the types and quantity of items to bring, then have fun picking out some new-to-you finds.
20. Go sledding
Grabbing a tube or plastic sled and zooming down the steepest hill in town was always the best way to spend a snow day as a kid. We may be older now, but we still deserve to have a snow day full of whimsy and laughter. Find a sled, head to a hill, and fly through the snowy magic.
21. Visit a museum
Getting lost in the halls of a museum is one of my favorite winter activities. Escape the cold and spend a day revisiting your favorite pieces or browsing the new exhibits. Museum days are a great solo activity or a fun date idea!
22. Make your own mulled wine
Forget the standard glass of red—winter calls for something warm and spiced. Simmer a bottle of Cabernet with orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and star anise for a cozy, festive winter drink. Not only is mulled wine delicious, but it’ll make your entire house smell like a winter market.
23. Participate in a reading challenge
Once the cold weather hits, there’s not much I’d rather be doing than curling up on the couch with a good book. If you want to add some structure to your reading sessions, try participating in a winter reading challenge. It’s a great way to track your reading progress, branch out from your usual “TBR” pile, and hit your end-of-year targets.
24. Go to a hockey game
Whether you’re a real sports fan or you’re just there for the stadium snacks and vibes, a hockey game is a fun winter outing. Hockey is a high-energy, classic winter sport that’s perfect for an evening out with friends or a date night.
25. Have a day of nostalgia
The holidays bring out the kid in all of us, but the nostalgia doesn’t have to stop there. If you’re looking for things to do on a cold winter day, think back to what you loved growing up. Put on your favorite childhood movie, queue up an old playlist, try a nostalgic hobby, and eat your favorite comfort foods.
26. Create a lookback scrapbook
The winter months are a unique time because they’re both the end of one year and the beginning of another. I love creating vision boards, but a lookback scrapbook is a great way to reflect on photos, moments, memories, and achievements from the year you just closed. Grab some scrapbooking supplies and get crafty!
27. Venture to a new coffee shop or restaurant
Do you have a list on your phone of all the places you’ve been meaning to try? Use these slow winter months to finally explore that new coffee shop, restaurant, or bakery that’s been on your radar for months.
28. Have a bonfire
Bonfires are a summertime staple, but they deserve their time to shine during the winter, too. Grab your friends, s’mores ingredients, thick blankets, and a warm drink to sip on as you sit around the fire for a cozy winter evening.
29. Host a cookie exchange
My friends and I have been hosting cookie nights since junior high, and we never get sick of them. Some years, we all choose a cookie recipe to bake together, and other years we make our own treats and bring them to share. No matter how you want to host, it’s a great excuse to get together, pour some wine, and eat delicious treats.
30. Build a snowman
Throw it back to childhood and make the most of the snow by building a snowman in your yard or a nearby park. Don’t forget a cute hat, scarf, and carrot nose for all the Frosty vibes.
31. Attend a sound bath
When the seasons change, I always feel like it’s time for a personal refresh, too. A sound bath is a wonderful way to practice mindfulness as we enter the chillier months. Reset your body and mind as you relax to the sounds of crystal bowls and get into a strong mindset for the months to come.
32. Redecorate your space
Sometimes a fresh perspective on your space is all you need to enter the new year feeling refreshed. Whether that means rearranging your furniture, shopping for some new decor, or trying out a fresh paint color, winter is the perfect time to try something new in your space.
33. Participate in a polar plunge
If you’re looking for the ultimate way to shock your system out of a winter slump, this is it. Whether it’s an organized charity event or just a quick dip in your local lake, this winter activity will give you one heck of an adrenaline rush. Make sure you have a cozy blanket, thick socks, and a warm drink waiting for you when you’re done.
34. Enjoy seasonal pop-ups
I am a sucker for a holiday-themed bar. Sipping on seasonal cocktails served in winter-themed glasses while I’m sitting in an igloo or a yurt? Sign me up. Grab your friends, wear all your winter layers, and enjoy those cocktails or mocktails while you’re sitting in what feels like a literal snow globe.
35. Have an at-home spa day
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to feel pampered. Light your favorite candle, put on a silk robe, and go all out with a hair mask, a double-cleanse, and that fancy body oil you’ve been saving for a special occasion.
36. Make DIY candles
Not only is candle-making a fun weekend DIY project, but it also makes your home smell incredible. Experiment with wintery scents like pine, amber, and toasted marshmallow as you pour your own homemade candles. They also make the perfect “just because” gifts for friends.
Emily Wise, Contributing Writer
Emily Wise is a Virginia-based content creator with over five years of experience creating content strategies for SaaS companies. Although she spends her days in the tech world, she has spent many years as a lifestyle writer for her personal site, as well as for several publications across the web.
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