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Julia is standing in front of a church in Dresden, Germany. There is snow on the ground, it is the winter. Julia is throwing snow in the air and smiling.

The winter season is hard to love… But let’s try to make it magical.

Winter can be a difficult season to get through: the short days, lack of sunshine, cold weather… After the Christmas cheer, January and February are some of the toughest months. However, slow living, seasonal living and the cottagecore lifestyle can teach us to enjoy and celebrate the winter months.
If you want to start romanticising winter and finding small gestures to enjoy the season, read on!

Go on winter walks in nature

Even though the leaves fall and the trees are bare, there is still beauty in nature during the winter. Going on regular walks will remind you of that. Walking through pine trees, finding holly bushes, watching the ducks on the lake… You can also go for a run or biking of course. Exercise (at any season) is a great mood-booster.
The idea is to spend time in nature and learn to appreciate it during its season of rest. Grab your camera and take pictures of the bare trees. Come back in the spring, and you will admire the same tree covered in delicate blossoms!

Light candles at home to create a magical atmosphere

There’s nothing more atmospheric than lighting some candles (scented candles but also unscented stick candles) when it starts getting dark outside. One of my favourite things to do is actually light a couple candles and get into bed to watch a movie or read a book. Makes you feel like the main character of a novel!
My favourite places to get scented candles from are Bath & Body Works and Yankee Candle, and I love Sostrene Grene for elegant stick candles.

Eat comforting foods

Having a comforting meal makes tiring winter days special. Soup is of course a must, to warm you up after a cold day. I also love potato gratin and roasted vegetables for delicious dinners (and great leftovers!)
For snacks, I love drinking tea (Mariage Frères tea is a real treat, but Whittard and Kusmi Tea make some great tea as well) and eating warm toast with butter.
Baking is a wholesome activity to do in the winter – carrot cake, banana bread, cupcakes with white frosting to resemble snow… And for the ultimate cosy home day, why not try making your own bread?

Make a gratitude list every morning or evening

On bleak days, we may feel unmotivated and less joyful. To remain hopeful for the spring days to come, I recommend picking up a beautiful notebook and writing two or three things you are grateful for every day. In the morning, make it a list of positive affirmations to carry you through the day. In the evening, find three things that made you happy and take note of them.
A great way to keep track of good memories forever and look back on them when you need a boost of happiness!

Create a winter bucket list to romanticise your winter

I love bucket lists and I make one every season. In my opinion, romanticising your days and making every little thing special gives extra meaning to life!
To romanticise the winter, create a bucket list featuring:
– winter activities to try (picking up pine cones, making soup from scratch, going to a cosy café, making paper snowflakes to decorate your home…)
– winter movies and shows to watch for cosy evenings at home
– winter songs and playlists to listen to
If you need inspiration for your bucket list, check out and download my winter bucket list here – filled with dozens of fun ideas to romanticise your winter, along with recipes, movies and books to enjoy this season!

Do you enjoy the winter months? What is your favourite winter activity?

Hi there! I'm Julia.

About Me

28 years old, based in Paris, France. I'm a primary school teacher by day, blogger and creator the rest of the time! I love coffee, exploring pretty places, and helping you grow through self-care and positivity. Happy to meet you!