The 15 Best Cozy Hobbies for Winter

The winter season is quickly approaching, which means I’m going to be spending a lot more time indoors. I can’t help it. I’m just not cut out for cold weather. That’s why today on the blog I’m going to be compiling a list of the best cozy hobbies for winter.

Sometimes in the colder months I get the winter blues. But that’s okay, because there are so many fun activities to try inside, where it’s safe a warm! Lol. Winter is the perfect time to try new activities so make sure you try out some of these indoor hobbies today.

In today’s blog post, we’re going to be discussing some of the best winter hobbies that are also warm and cozy. So grab a pen and paper because you’re going to want to take some notes!

And if you enjoyed today’s blog post, you can read more about cozy living here.

Reading

Reading is a great way to experience something new without leaving the house. I love picking out a good book and curling up on the sofa for an hour or two. If you’re new to reading as a hobby, there are so many different genres to try. Go traveling around the world with Anthony Bourdain. Or fight Voldemort with Harry Potter and his Hogwarts pals.

The world is your oyster. If you’re looking for a new book to read I have a couple of suggestions:

Go to the library and look at the new releases shelf. You can also scan the shelves yourself, or ask a librarian for a recommendation.
Take a skim through bookstagram or booktok. There are a lot of passionate readers on there who will tell you the honest truth about what’s worth your time, and what isn’t.
Go to the bookstore and see what’s popular! There’s a reason why certain books are sitting on the display tables.
Ask a trusted family member or friend for a recommendation. The people who know you best will have a good idea about what you might enjoy.

Writing

Writing is one of my favorite hobbies because it helps me process my feelings. It helps me empty my brain. It helps me work through my worries and anxiety. For me, it’s a fun hobby and a type of therapy.

The great thing about writing is that there are so many different type of writing. You can write something long like a novel. Or maybe write something short like a journal entry or a grocery list. There are so many possibilities out there.

Here are a couple of different projects to try out if you’re looking for some inspiration for what to write about!

Write the book idea that has been marinating in your head for the past couple of years.
Jot down journal entry about a special day in your life. You’ll enjoy looking back on it 5-10 years from now.
Write a list of the things you need to pick up at the grocery story so that you don’t forget.
Thing about your goals for the next year and write them down. In 12 months look back at it and track your progress.

Journaling

I love to journal! It’s such a cathartic way to work through and process my feelings. It’s also a great way to keep track of your memories. I love looking back on my old journals and remembering the different things that I did and experienced. It’s a wonderful way to document your life.

Here are some ideas for different journal that you can keep:

A sketchbook with doodles and art
Junk journal for all your miscellanous receipts, paper scraps, and more
Daily journal with stories from your everyday life
Memory book with different stories you want to remember to tell your kids, nieces, nephews, or godchildren someday
An anxiety book. I do this sometimes. I write down things that make me feel anxious and then talk my way through them until I realize, hey! That situation wasn’t actually that bad. It’s really helpful for my mental health.

The possibilities are endless! All you need is a fresh new notebook or an empty word document to get started.

Cooking and Trying Out New Recipes

Cooking is such a wonderful skill to have. Sharing a meal is a great way to bond with your family and friends. And you know what? If the meal tastes good that’s even better!

There are plenty of ways to get better and improve your cooking skills. One thing that I like to do is to practice with new recipes. I either pick out a new recipe from the internet or look for something tasty from my cook. In the cold winter months I like to try out new recipes for chili, soups, and stews. There’s nothing like setting up your crockpot in the morning and having a cozy and warm meal ready by dinner time later in the day!

Learning a New Skill

Sometimes when you’re stuck inside, you want to learn a new skill. And there are a lot of different possibilities to choose from! Here are some ideas for different skills that you can learn (or improve on) during the wintertime.

Practice and improve your photography
Learn to knit a scarf or hat
Watch youtube videos to prep for home improvement projects
Crochet a blanket
Start an instagram account or blog for sharing your interests
Learn to edit youtube videos
Start a new social media account
Try out photoshop
Making homemade soap
Paint winter landscapes
Start a youtube channel
Go bird watching and identify the birds
Play a new card game
Research plans to plan your spring or summer garden

Knitting & Crocheting

Knitting and crocheting can be a great winter hobby because you get to make something useful, and it can also keep you warm. A couple of years ago I crocheted a blanket for my brother for Christmas. It was a great winter project because I always worked on it while I was watching TV. It’s nice to have a warm blanket it your lap that just keeps getting bigger and bigger! Lol.

All you need is a crochet hook, a pair of knitting needles, and some pretty yarn. I learned how to crochet from my Mom but there are a lot of great youtube channels that can teach you the basics. I’m sure you can also find courses on websites like skillshare or udemy.

Board Games

I love to play board games, but they can be a fairly time consuming activity. There are a lot of really neat fantasy board games out there but they have a lot of backstory, rules, and setup that you must learn before you are able to play. The winter is great time to play board games because you can gather a group of friends or family members during a snow day and dedicate some time to playing. It’s a great opportunity to try something new and have fun with your best friends at the same time!

Video Games

I love to cuddle up on the couch with a blanket and my Nintendo Switch. Playing Animal Crossing is the perfect hobby for the colder months. But there are a tone of other great games as well. If you’re looking for cozy game recommendations there are a bunch of great youtube channels who talk about them

I personally love to watch Cozy K Games, Eeowna, and The Cozy Gaming Club. There’s also this youtube channel that I love to watch that is all about Hello Kitty Island Adventures. I haven’t had the chance to play that game yet, but I’m hoping to in the new year.

Coloring

If you didn’t already know this, coloring isn’t just for kids anymore. It’s a fun activity for people of all ages. I shared a post last fall about how I’m in my coloring era. It’s an inexpensive hobby that is a relaxing creative outlet.

If you’re looking for some cute coloring pages to start out, make sure you search on Pinterest. It’s the perfect place to find free coloring sheets.

Online Courses

Remember earlier when we talked about how winter gives you the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill? Well, I sometimes like to turn to online courses to learn new things. There are a lot of websites out there like Udemy, Skillshare, Teachable, and Masterclass where you can learn new skills.

I have been wanting to learn how to create art on my iPad and there’s a course on skillshare that I really want to take to learn how to use procreate. But there are courses about other topics as well. You just have to do some browsing and search for the topics that interest you.

Learning a New Language

Learning foreign languages is a great indoor hobby. It can come in handy if you like to travel or want to learn how to communicate with others better. For instance, learning Spanish can be very beneficial if you work in a customer service type job. More and more companies these days are in need of bilingual employees who can help them serve all of their customer base.

When you travel, it can help you communicate with the locals! I am going back to Montreal this year and I am considering signing up for Duoloingo or Babbel as a way to learn a little French. I’d like to at least know a little bit for when I’m ordering at a restaurant or trying to ask a question at our hotel. It can just come in handy to know a little bit!

Organizing & Decluttering

It just takes a little bit of time for my house to become a mess. But I hate staying inside and cleaning during the warmer months. I just want to be outside and going on adventures. So oftentimes I’ll save my big organizing projects for the winter months.

This winter I have a big to-do list which includes cleaning out my office space, organizing the attic, and donating old clothes that I no longer need. I might as well get these things done while I’m stuck inside and don’t want to go out in the cold.

Good Old-Fashioned Winter Hobbies & Winter Sports

There’s something cozy about going out in the snow and coming back home and having hot chocolate. When it snows, you can go outside and take photos. You can go ice skating at a local pond or skating rink. Try building a snowman, going sledding with your family, or go ice skating. And then when you’re done you can come home and warm up and have a treat. Maybe a hot toddy or a hot cocoa. That’s one of the great things about participating in winter activities (as long as it’s not shoveling! I hate having to clean up the sidewalks).

Try a New Class

There are a lot of different classes that you can take, if you want to learn a new skill. If you want to get in shape, try a dance class or an exercise class at your local gym. But maybe you want to make some art. There are studios where you can take pottery classes and make other cool things. It’s a great way to get out of your shell, meet new people, and try something new.

And if you don’t have any places in your local area, you can try looking for an online class as well. There are a lot of options out there.

In Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed today’s blog post about the best cozy hobbies for Winter! Whether you join a book club or set up an indoor garden, there are so many fun winter hobbies that you can participate in. I hope that this blog post inspired you and gave you some ideas. And if you have any recommendations of cozy winter hobbies, make sure you let us know in the comments!