Don’t Try to Beat the Cold. Love it!

I grew up where snow wasn’t just something you saw in Christmas movies—it was practically a house guest. Winter didn’t knock. It barged in every year with a suitcase full of cold air, frozen driveways, and the kind of silence that only happens when snow blankets the street. And honestly? I learned early on not to fight it. You wrestle with winter, you lose. But if you lean into it, let it wrap you up, it turns into something oddly… magical.

We weren’t those inside-all-day kinda kids. Nope. We were outside before breakfast, puffing clouds of breath into the freezing air and launching snowballs like our lives depended on it. One time we built a snow fort so massive, the neighbor thought we were digging a basement. Gloves soaked, noses pink, laughing till our teeth chattered—it wasn’t “fun despite the cold,” it was fun because of it.

That’s the thing. Cold doesn’t mean stop. It means adjust. Shift. Layer up. Take hot cocoa breaks. Find beauty in things being a little slower, a little quieter. When your eyelashes are crusted in frost and you’re still smiling? That’s the secret to winter. You gotta meet it halfway.

1. Set Up the Coziest Cocoa Bar on Earth

I swear by this. You need marshmallows—tiny ones, big ones, chocolate-dipped ones. Whipped cream, sprinkles, crushed peppermint, cinnamon sticks, caramel drizzle… throw in some cookies for good measure. Turn your counter into a sweet-treat carnival.

Use a tray or a little shelf and throw a plaid blanket under everything. Boom, rustic charm. Label jars with handwritten tags, toss in fairy lights, and it’s like Pinterest had a baby with a ski lodge.

2. Snowshoe or Hike… Just Walk Through the Cold

Don’t sit inside staring out the window. Get out there. Strap on some snowshoes or good winter boots, and stomp your way through a trail.

The woods in winter? Unreal. Quiet, like the whole world’s taking a nap. Bring a thermos of hot chai or spicy cocoa and stop mid-hike just to sip and breathe in the cold. Tastes better that way, trust me.

3. Winter Game Night = Instant Joy

Get your people together, grab some snacks, and break out the classics. Something about playing board games while the wind howls outside makes you feel extra human.

Keep the lights soft. Maybe a candle or two. Make popcorn the old-school way, with a pot on the stove, and serve it in giant mismatched bowls. Let someone win even if you know they didn’t. (Okay, maybe not.)

4. Bake Like You’re Hibernating

Nothing fills a home like the smell of cinnamon and butter doing a happy dance in the oven. Gingerbread, banana bread, cinnamon rolls, cranberry muffins—whatever you got, bake it.

Dust the counter with flour. Leave the radio on low. Let your sleeves get sticky. And don’t worry if they come out a little burnt. That’s flavor, right?

5. Build a Fort Like You’re 8 Again

Why should kids get all the blanket fort fun? Stack those couch cushions, drape blankets from chairs, and crawl inside with a flashlight and your favorite book.

Add string lights, obviously. Maybe a movie queued up on your laptop. Oh, and snacks—popcorn, gummies, a warm drink. Basically, it’s a sleepover for your inner child. Go wild.

6. Have a Picnic in the Snow

Wild idea? Maybe. Worth it? Absolutely. You just need a thick blanket, a thermos of soup or cocoa, and someone to laugh with while your butt gets cold.

Bonus points if you bring crusty bread, cheese, or cookies. Find a spot with a view, eat fast, and cuddle for warmth. It’s quirky, fun, and totally one of those “remember that time we…” moments.

7. Puzzling by the Fire is Underrated

If puzzles were a person, they’d be your calmest, kindest friend who never interrupts. Spread out a wintery jigsaw on a coffee table, put on some lo-fi beats, and settle in.

Keep a cup of tea handy. Or cider. Or something you sip slowly while flipping pieces and pretending you don’t care that someone else just found the corner you were searching for for an hour.

8. Get Crafty, Get Messy

Winter is the perfect excuse to make something with your hands. Paper snowflakes, DIY candles, scarves, bird feeders out of peanut butter and pinecones—go nuts.

Set up a little craft station. Put on a rom-com in the background. Let glitter get everywhere. It’s not about perfection, it’s about doing something with your time that doesn’t involve scrolling endlessly through your phone.

9. Movie Marathon Like It’s a Sport

Pick your theme—winter movies, rom-coms, guilty pleasures from the 90s. Make a schedule, stack your snacks, and cancel any plans that involve leaving the house.

Stack blankets. Dim the lights. Light a candle that smells like cinnamon or cookies or whatever makes your brain go “ahhh.” Then hit play and don’t move unless it’s for snacks.

10. Skate, Even if You Fall Every Time

Find a rink. Or a frozen pond if you’re brave and it’s safe. Ice skating is the winter version of flying, even if you look like a baby deer most of the time.

Bundle up. Wear mittens. Laugh every time you fall and someone has to awkwardly help you up while also slipping. Get cocoa after. It’s the rule.

Winter doesn’t have to be the thing you just “get through.” It can be the season you look forward to, the one that slows you down in the best way. It makes you bundle up and pay attention. To yourself. To others. To the world quietly twinkling under a blanket of white.

You don’t have to beat the cold. That’s a losing battle. Just learn to walk with it, shoulder to shoulder, scarf blowing in the wind, cheeks red and smiling like a fool.

If you treat winter like an enemy, it’ll bite. But if you treat it like an old friend—one who’s a little harsh but always shows up with stories and surprises—you’ll find it gives you way more than it takes.

So open the door. Step out. Let the cold hit your lungs and remind you you’re alive.