Even though we are not officially in the season of winter, daylight savings time has officially ended here in the states, which signals winter’s impending arrival. Earlier this month, the clocks turned back and the days are shorter, darker, and maybe a little harder. It’s a season in which some of us are more likely to stay in or head to bed a bit earlier after a cold, grey day.
Yes winter is a dark season but it’s also a romantic season.
Romanticizing life is an absolute game changer. There are plenty of beautiful moments in every day if you decide to look for them; and if you can’t find them, create them. Winter is the best season to romanticize because it can turn a colder, darker time into a cozy, lovely time. You can start by noticing the little things: something as simple as the smell of the cool air or being able to wear your favorite scarf.
Arguably, the hardest part of the day is when it is both dark and cold. The evening steals the sun so quickly it’s like we skip from the work day straight to nighttime. Since the evenings are longer, they may as well be as enjoyable as possible.
Here are 10 easy ways to romanticize your evenings this winter:
- Light candles to match the season. I’ve been loving candles from HomeGoods recently (I’m waiting for the Bath and Body Works sale)! Candles can add an element of coziness and luxury to any space. Even better if a candle can match the season or your vibe. Near the holidays, try a Christmassy candle. In January or February, a crisp fresh scent can signal a reset for the new year. Either way, never feel like you have to “save” your good candles for the right time. Now is the right time and now is the moment! No matter what you’re doing in the evening, if you’re in the house, light that candle.
- Wear something that feels good. Choose a cozy lounge set or PJ set that you love! Even if you live alone or never see anyone in the evenings, you’ll feel so much cozier and put together if you’re wearing something intentional. Pick something with soft fabric and don’t be afraid to be extra. I have a fluffy robe from Amazon that I love wearing on colder evenings before I shower. But it doesn’t have to be a robe. Try a silky PJ set or a soft cotton lounge set. Abercrombie and Lululemon have some amazing loungewear if you’re not much of a pajama person. Mix it up depending on the weather, your mood, or the vibe you have decided on for the evening.
- Create a winding down playlist. Spend some time making a soothing playlist with songs to relax you in the evening. You could put it on while you make dinner, shower, journal, or you could leave it on all evening. There are no hard and fast rules for making an evening playlist, but may I suggest slower romantic songs. I am not a huge fan of instrumental songs but maybe integrate one or two. And because winter is a vulnerable time of year, steer clear of any potentially sad songs.
- Find and invest in a skin care routine that works for you. Skin care is one of my favorite forms of self care. During the dry winter months, you may opt for a more moisturizing skin care routine. Switch things up if you need to, so you feel your dewiest. Maybe integrate a self tanner into your skin care routine as well if that’s your thing. About twice a week I use Medium Tanologist Self-Tan drops by mixing them into my moisturizer. I also love a super hydrating overnight mask. Experiment with moisturizing overnight masks and undereye patches.
- Treat yourself to a warm beverage. As you wind down, why not enjoy a hot drink. Really take your time to make the drink and sip slowly. Try hot chocolate, herbal tea, or maybe hot cider. Warm drinks force us to sip slowly and slowing down is the ultimate way to romanticize. Use a special mug or treat yourself to a mug you love! Like with most other things, I like to use cute seasonal mugs. The point is to treat your warm beverage like a ritual. Make sure you take in all of it.
- Read something. There is absolutely not one negative side effect to reading. The options are actually endless as well. Try a novel that you have been putting off reading or re-read something you know you love. If you’re not a huge book person, try poems. You can literally just google ‘feel good poems’ and read a few on your phone. Or maybe read the lyrics to your favorite song. It will relax your mind and reading about OTHER experiences can put our own lives into perspective. Replacing your evening scroll with an evening read will slow you down as well. Ever notice how the time seems to get away from you when you’re looking through Instagram or TikTok? Before you know it, it’s two hours past your bedtime and your brain hurts; reading has the opposite, soothing effect.
- Turn on soft lighting. Our eyes are smart. Softer lighting signals to our eyes which signals to our brains that it is almost time to sleep. Instead of the large overhead lights, turn on lamps, candles, and any mood lighting you can find. My favorite type of soft lighting is during a shower. We have a mirror that lights up and I use this as my only source of light during a shower. There are a few different settings but I like the “warmest” setting. If you don’t already, definitely get yourself a small light for the bathroom in the evenings. A waterproof shower lamp will change your whole experience!
- Write down one or two good things that happened during the day. Don’t overthink it or make it too much of a chore. Keep a small notebook next to your bed and once you lay down, really think about something good that happened that day. It can be as simple as there wasn’t much traffic. Or maybe it’s something as big as you had an amazing day with family and friends celebrating something special. Either way, going to bed with a grateful heart will completely change your bedtime routine.
- Prepare for the next day. Keeping a planner or a notebook to organize life doesn’t have to be a chore. Make it fun by writing down not only your ‘to do’ list, but the exciting things coming up! Write in things like birthdays, or events going on in your community (even if you’re not sure you’re going). It’s great to celebrate all that is going on around you! It’s also great to be organized, so it won’t hurt to write down your ‘to do’ list. You’ll be able to rest more peacefully with a clear picture of what needs doing the next day.
- Disconnect for 30 minutes. Turn your phone on DND, put it in the other room, or just turn it off. We are so hard wired to check our phones or to look at them immediately when we hear a notification, but I promise you that you won’t miss anything. Disconnecting for 30 minutes (to start) will bring you back to yourself and back to the real world. Looking at the lives of others will stop you from noticing all of the beautiful things in your own life. If you want to romanticize your evening, make sure it’s your own life that your living!
You don’t need to implement all 10 of these suggestions tomorrow; try one at a time to see what feels good. Romanticizing is all about slowing down and enjoying the present moment more. When it starts feeling like a chore, it defeats the purpose.
Remember, winter won’t last forever, so try to find little ways to enjoy the season best you can, because it will be gone again before you know it. xo
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