Let’s face it, the weather from the end of September to the middle of March in the northern part of the hemisphere isn’t great. It rains a lot, the wind howls, and the temperature drops to the point that you can barely feel your toes. And when it is cold outside, you want to stay cosy inside. So, how can you stay cosy in the colder months when the weather wants to chill you to the bone?
Soft lights and a warm glow
I don’t know about anyone else but sometimes my house can still seem cold even though the heating has been on. This is especially true on darker days. When the sky is full of clouds, the air doesn’t just feel cold, it looks cold too. One thing I love about my house is the light bulbs. I know, completely random. But I have changed all of my light bulbs to energy efficient amber glow bulbs. Not only does this help with the electric bill but the glow of the golden light helps the room to feel warmer. It has the same effect as having a fire lit. As wonderful as our modern light bulbs can be, they are too bright sometimes and make the room feel colder than it is. Of course, if you have an open fire or stove, there is nothing wrong with lighting it to bask in the glow of the light and the heat.
Switch your scent
I love a fresh scent during the summer months. There is something that scratches my brain when I walk into a room and can smell fruit or fresh linen during the summer. But during the winter, they don’t hit me the same way. When the temperature starts to drop, I switch the smell in my house. The wax melts and candles are switched out with winter warmer fragrances. At the moment, I have a wax melt called Spooky Toffee Apple in the hall. It’s delightful. I also find that it is a great time for baking because the smell fills the house (as well as the heat from the oven on bread baking day). Plus, if you have a wax melt warming in a burner that uses a tea-light, you have the added bonus of getting that soft glow of orange light while the scent travels. It’s a win-win.
Warm wool
As much as I love my fleece blankets, there is something wonderful about wrapping yourself in wool. Just picture it- it’s raining outside, you have a hot cup of coffee in your hand. You are curled up on the sofa with the heating on while the scent your wax melt drifts across the room. As the rain washes down the outside of the window, you are wrapped in a proper Aran cardigan. Every time the wind gusts towards the window, you pull your cardigan around you a little tighter, all the while knowing that you are safe and warm inside. That’s my perfect Sunday morning. It is safe to say that wool is a better option during the colder months. The natural fibres of wool are better for your skin, wool also regulates your body temperature better.
Good food
Hands up if you love your slow cooker! I’m not going to lie, last year I was feeling a bit fancy and splashed out on a massive leg of lamb from M&S. I popped it in the slow cooker with just a little bit of salt and pepper, left it for at least 6 hours, and served it with some mash and vegetables. When I say I still have dreams about that lamb, I mean it. Ok, it’s not just the lamb (but that has been my favourite thing EVER to come out of the slow cooker), I love putting a big whack of meat in there and leaving it to do its thing. And using my slow cooker frees up the oven so I can bake bread and treats. When you need to stay cosy in the colder months, you need good food in your belly. Plus, the smell of good food cooking just adds to the cosy vibes of your home.
Slow down
It is estimated that a large percentage of animals hibernate during the winter. I couldn’t find an exact figure, even the science side of the internet doesn’t have an answer for that one. We, as in humans, do not need to hibernate. We have our warm homes and clothes to shield us from the harsh winter months. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t slow down a bit. With the storms and wild weather becoming more frequent, we need to think about staying home. There is nothing wrong with clearing your calendar and taking some time to wrap up warmly on the sofa. If you can, clear your day and become your own version of the bear. Hibernate, rest, and find some peace in doing nothing.
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