There’s something about it being cold outside that makes the inside feel that much cozier. So if you’re trying to enjoy a pleasant night at home, winter is just the right time to do it.
There are many ways to get the most out of a winter night in. Here are 12 ways to have a pleasant, relaxing evening.
Enjoy Some Classic Music
A good soundtrack goes a long way towards creating the right ambiance no matter what you’re doing. Whether you’re a fan of rock or classical, the right music can create any mood you want. You can feel calm or energized before you even start doing anything else.
And when you want to enjoy your favorite tunes, there’s nothing quite like the classic sound of a vinyl record, like the ones from blue note jazz. No matter what genre you want to listen to, vinyl can deliver much better quality than an MP3 file. And not only that but there’s something inherently fun about a vinyl record that a digital player or streaming service can’t replicate.
Use Warm, Natural Light
Speaking of creating ambiance, let’s talk about lighting. It might sound like a trivial thing, but think about how few hours of sunlight there are in the winter, especially if you live far to the north. Even on a nice, sunny day, you won’t be getting any natural light from the late afternoon onwards. In other words, you’ll have to rely a lot on artificial light.
But just because a light is artificial doesn’t mean it can’t feel natural. For example, warm white light illuminates the environment without the harshness of brighter, blueish bulbs. Not only that, but warm white is more relaxing and naturally primes the body to get ready for sleep.
Take a Soothing Bath
It can feel wonderful to warm up in a hot bath when you come inside from the cold. Lie down for a few minutes, and you’ll feel all your muscles relax, relieving stress and calming your nerves.
But a bath doesn’t just have to be about hot water. Take a bubble bath for fun and to help yourself get clean. You can even soothe yourself more by adding a few drops of Bubbly Belle essential oils or other aromatic oils.
Warm Up With a Quality Robe
When you get out of your tub, you’re probably going to want to warm up. For most of us, this means throwing on a bathrobe. So as winter comes around, take a look at your old robe and ask yourself if it’s still warm and comfy enough to go through another season. If not, now is a great time to get a new one.
If you want an excellent robe, terry cloth is a perfect choice. On the one hand, it’s nice and absorbent, for when you get out of the water. But it’s also soft to the touch, so it’s comfortable to wear. So if you like to lounge around in your bathrobe for hours, you’ll still be comfy at the end of it.
Have a Refreshing Beverage
After a hard day’s work, a delicious beverage can do wonders for taking the edge off. So if you want an obvious choice for the season, put a dash of peppermint or some pumpkin spice in your morning coffee. And for the evening, eggnog is a tried and true seasonal favorite.
But what if you want to go beyond the basics? In that case, you could try some Tepache. Tepache is a fermented beverage that can include several flavorings, such as mango and chili. The base is a pineapple peel with additional sweetening and seasoning. It’s rich in vitamins, probiotics, and despite being fermented, it’s low in alcohol.
Cook Something You Enjoy
Cooking as a form of relaxation is controversial. If you’d instead get a root canal than cook your dinner from scratch, you might want to skip this step.
But if you love to cook, preparing a delicious dinner can be a great way to unwind. You get to do something you enjoy while also being productive.
Cooking your meals also has additional benefits. First, any meal is cheapest when you make it from scratch, so cooking is suitable for your budget. Moreover, pre-packaged food is often full of preservatives, which is less of a concern when you’re making your food.
Kick Back in a Comfy Tee Shirt
When you’re trying to relax, the last thing you want is to wear stuffy, uncomfortable clothes. So after work, ditch whatever you were wearing and throw on something you enjoy laying around in. Basic t shirts, sweat pants, and flannel are all solid choices for a cold winter’s evening.
Get Ready for the Holidays
As wintertime sets in, it’s time to gear up for the holiday season. So why not break up the monotony by decking the halls with some festive decorations?
There are several ways to bring some yuletide cheer to your home, from lights to wreaths to giant inflatable lawn Santas. It all depends on how creative you want to get and how much effort you want to expend.
As a bonus, decorating is a great team activity. If you’ve got kids, this is an opportunity to put in some bonding time with the entire family.
Invest in Calming Scents
Your sense of smell is the one most intimately tied to memory and emotion. With the right aroma, you can experience happiness, relaxation, or any other feeling you want to evoke.
There are several ways to achieve this. For example, Incense, room mist, and scented candles are just a few ways to bring individual scents into your home. Set up a few candles around your bubble bath, and you’ll practically double the amount of relaxation.
Take Some Time to Read
In today’s age of ubiquitous technology, it’s easy to get sucked into too much screen time. You lay down, you start scrolling through your social media feed, and suddenly it’s after midnight. Unfortunately, this is far from most people’s idea of restful.
Instead, why not let yourself get sucked into a book? Number one, it’s a more immersive experience. Number two, you won’t be exposing your eyes to a ton of blue light from the screen. This blue light can keep you awake longer, which isn’t an issue with a printed page.
Immerse Yourself in a Good Movie
With that being said, sometimes you’re not trying to sleep right away. Sometimes, you want to enjoy an evening snuggled on the couch or even in your bed. In that case, a good movie or streaming series can be just what the doctor ordered. A streaming service like Amazon Prime Video gives you so many thousands of options; you’ll forget cable even exists.
Cuddle Up With a Soft Blanket
When it’s cold outside, you want to feel extra warm inside. Take stock of your blankets, and see if they’re still up to standard. Do you want a bigger one? Thicker? Fluffier? Softer? Treat yourself to a big, luxurious blanket, and you’ll have a much better time when you’re snuggling up on the sofa.
