I think of November as a fall month, so although my Halloween decorations have been doomed to storage, my autumnal decor is still up and thriving. That being said, it doesn’t mean I’m not excited for the holidays…or holiday decorating.

I used to be someone who hated the holidays. As a child of Polish immigrant parents, I coincided Christmas with cleaning and getting dressed in formal and uncomfortable clothing, only to be further uncomfortable by eating too much and then standing in a stuffy, overcrowded church.

Now that I’m an adult however, everything has changed for the better. We still do family gatherings but they’re more relaxed, and I’ve learned how to control myself to avoid getting overstuffed (mostly).

Holidays can be complicated for a lot of people for different reasons, but I think that changing traditions to what works for you can help ease any discomfiting feelings around this time of year. 

Now that Christmas is something I (mostly) look forward to, let me share some ways to make the holiday season special:

Accept the weather

Have you ever thought that complaining about the cold or about snow is actually, in fact, annoying? We’re all aware. Cold feels bad. Too much snow makes it hard to drive. Let’s try to move on, shall we? Why don’t we try to stop being so miserable and focus on the good:

1. Cold weather means bundling up, meaning you’re able to look ugly in public without judgement (and also skip the bra thanks to your thick coat).
2. Snow is beautiful and so fun to walk and play in!
3. Coming home from the cold feels even more rewarding when you come home to warmth (and perhaps a cheeky mug of hot chocolate).

I personally love living in a place where I get to experience all four seasons. Living somewhere where it’s warm all the time makes you soft, and the changing of seasons is such a natural transition for us and our own lives! So instead of moping about the seasons, find the good. Get outside when it’s light out, and convince yourself you’re cozy when it’s dark out. Don’t let the collective complaining ruin this for you.

Surround yourself with things you love

This is the coziest time of year so ensure you decorate the way you like, and stock up on things in case of a storm. I suggest:

• Tea, coffee, hot cocoa mix, and wine;
• Board games;
• Christmas movies (have a couple on DVD in case you have power but no internet);
• Hobbies you can do alone (painting, puzzles, needle felting, knitting);
• A stack of books (I recommend Christmas classics as well as Little Women and a series like Harry Potter)
• Snacks. You’ll need something salty like kettle chips and something sweet like peppermint bark in case you don’t have any baked goods on you.

I like to bake something every weekend come winter, and what a fun way to try out new recipes! I love making anything with peppermint during this time of year (candy cane brownies, anyone?).

Another easy way to get into the spirit of things is to play Christmas music while you’re baking, cleaning, or softly while you’re reading as an easy way to cheer you up and help you enjoy the season.

You can also pick up some new, seasonal hobbies to do while you watch Christmas episodes of your favourite shows or your favourite holiday movies:

• Make a simmer pot to make your place smell amazing;
• Make a holiday garland (you can use cardboard to make gingerbread houses and string them up);
• Make decorative bowls from your walks (grab pinecones, acorns, and twigs to decorate with ribbons);
• Pick up little wooden houses from the dollar store to paint into a gingerbread house, or make an actual gingerbread house;
• Decorate your own ornaments.

Basically just surround yourself with your creature comforts in a holiday-themed way while making sure your house always smells like cinnamon.

Make a list and check it twice

This is a perfect time of year to start thinking of your New Year resolutions or goals, and even getting a head start on some!

If you’re not into bettering yourself, you could also make a list of fun things you want to do in the winter! If you have a list and give yourself a timeframe ranging from a month to three months, you can really check a lot if not everything off! Here’s an example of what I mean:

Winter goals (December-February)

• Bake sugar cookies
• Go to a free outdoor skating rink
• Go for a walk in the snow to see Christmas lights
• Make hot chocolate and watch a holiday film
• Re-read Harry Potter
• Go skiing one afternoon with friends
• Make a simmer pot
• Craft a garland

These are all pretty low effort and some can even be done in front of the TV! But you have a good list of fun things to do that’ll make you excited (or at least not as miserable) for winter. You have options for when you’re lazy, want to get fresh air, workouts, and exercising your crafting muscle.

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If I haven’t converted you into a winter or holiday lover yet, don’t worry: the whole thing is definitely a process. But even if you’re the biggest humbug, I hope you’ll still try out some of the above things for a cozy end of the year.