50 Reasons to Not Hate Winter (& Inspiring Quotes)

The title says it all – 50 reasons to not hate winter. Many of these are simple, but the simple stuff adds up in a big way during this time; for me, anyway! These are the things I look the most forward to and I make sure the season is filled with them as often as possible. That’s my secret to getting through a long winter. I hope this list makes you look on the brighter side. x

1. First thing’s first: the holidays. Just pure magic.
2. Piping hot chocolate after being outside in the cold (or snow!)
3. Doubling up on cozy socks.
4. That first sip of hot coffee.
5. Breathing in cool winter air.
6. The smell of snow.
7. Mood lighting in the evening.
8. Nights with candlelight.
9. Twinkle lights galore.
10. Baking breads, sweets, and treats.
11. Warm butternut squash loaf hot out of the oven.
12. Soups and stews bubbling on the stove. Here are some of my favorites.
13. The coziest scarves, hats, and mittens.
14. The smell of pine trees.
15. Hopping into a bed of flannel sheets.
16. Fragrant simmering pots on the stove.
17. Wearing waffle-knit long johns as your everyday attire.
18. Days spent by a warm fireplace.
19. Cozy knit blankets.
20. Game nights with friends.
21. Oat milk lattes or mochas on the regular.
22. Brisk winter walks with the smell of fireplace in the air.
23. Cookies!
24. Fuzzy sock season.
25. Experimenting and cooking with seasonal winter foods.
26. Curling up with a good book and piles of blankets before bed. Here are some recommendations if you need a good book.
27. Having the time to work on a 1000-piece puzzle here and there in the evenings.
28. Giving your body the rest it needs after a busy year.
29. The opportunity to slow down and savor the simple things.
30. Movie marathons cuddled up with loved ones.
31. Enjoying a hot beverage on the deck/porch/patio.
32. Neighborhood light displays.
33. A plate-full of brownies makes even the dreariest day better.
34. Crock Pot dinners that make the house smell delicious.
35. Christmas music!
36. Sledding with your family and friends.
37. Snowball fights.
38. Sleeping with a heated blanket.
39. Time to recharge and reflect.
40. Enjoying all the peppermint things.
41. Winter walks on the beach.
42. Winter sunsets.
43. Slow mornings that start with pancakes.
44. Wearing your pajamas all day because they are too warm to take off.
45. Snow days.
46. Hygge hygge hygge!!
47. Taking the time to work on your hobbies.
48. Doing a crossword puzzle by the fire.
49. Watching the snow fall and catching snowflakes on your tongue.
50. Ice skating.

And *bonus*… here are a few of my favorite quotes that make me extra excited for the cold weather.

“Winter, you conclude, as the cloying heat of summer melts into autumn, is your warmest friend in the truest sense of the word. She isn’t fleeting or temporary, she isn’t only around for naively optimistic blue skies. Your good friend winter, wrapped up in cable-knit sweaters, hiking socks, and corduroy, is here for the long haul, affectionately weathering the year’s darkest days with you. She’s newspapers and red wine, coal and cheese, she’s long evenings and dark mornings. She’s not a whatsapp message, she’s a phone call, and she looks bloody sexy in knitwear by candlelight.” – Laura Weir 

“I am in love with the awe and wonder and magic of the outdoors, and equally in love with being inside stoking a fire, baking, and creating a warm retreat for us to return to. In and out, out and in. This is our winter rhythm. This is my family. This is our home. This is our place to come in from the cold.” -Amanda Blake Soule

“Sunlight soothes, but brisk air and crisp skies bring a jolt of energizing chill to life.” – Laura Weir

“I like people who get excited about the change of seasons; the sound of the ocean, watching the sunset, the smell of rain, and starry nights.” -Brooke Hampton

“Hygge draws means from the fabric of ordinary living. It’s a way of acknowledging the secret in the secular, and giving something ordinary a special context, spirit, and warmth, and taking time to make it extraordinary.” – The Book of Hygge

“As I stand at the foot of a new season and start to feel the breeze on my skin, the chill in my bones, it feels like I’m alive for the first time in the year.” – Laura Weir