cold weather | Finding delight.

staying busy to keep the winter blues at bay *This post may contain affiliate links.

With the nights drawing in and the temperature dropping, we’re starting to become limited with our options for things to do outside. At this time of year, there are no warm ‘golden hour’ walks at 8 pm, dinner in the backyard after work, or sunny picnics at the weekend. It’s all about heading indoors, keeping cozy and finding things to do indoors instead.

I’m all about that winter hibernation, hygge lifestyle…BUT! One thing I’m NOT about? Being bored. I’ve gotta remind myself at this time of year to stay busy. That (and daily doses of Vitamin D) are tantamount to keeping the winter blues at bay.

Here are some ideas for those looooong winter nights (and snowy weekends, too)!

Have a movie/ tv day

When the weather is bad and you just want to relax, a movie or tv day (or evening) is a perfectly acceptable choice. (Don’t let the haters tell you otherwise! LOL) With all the streaming services out there, chances are you have more options than you could ever work your way through. Plus, if you have a niche interest you want to explore, a snow day is a fine time to scratch that itch. Go down the rabbit hole of beauty tutorials on YouTube. Fan of anime? Binge watch as much as you want on this website. Even if you don’t normally indulge in too much tv (can’t relate), a bit of escapism when the weather outside is frightful never hurt anyone. I’m sure I’ll be queuing up Survivor to escape to tropical islands all winter long!

Discover a new hobby

Hobbies are important for people of all ages. They help you to build your skills, stay productive when you have free time, and can give your life purpose too. So many of us fall into the ‘work, eat, sleep, repeat’ cycle, especially in the wintertime when heading home from work in the dark. But hobbies can give you something to look forward to on that cold and dark commute home. They also allow you to connect with other people, and maybe even get you out of the house once in awhile. 😉 You could start a new craft from home, write a blog, or attend classes at a local library or community center. Even if your new hobby will be done from home, you can still find ways to connect with others online. Starting a podcast with my friend Katie has been such a fun hobby to pursue. There’s always something to do and lots of sweet peeps online who are just starting out, too!

Work out

During the colder months, it’s easy for a healthy lifestyle to fall by the wayside. With less time spent outdoors we’re naturally less active, and warming comfort foods are a far cry from the light, fresh salads we enjoyed over the summer. However, you can still live healthily without depriving yourself, and there’s no need to go running in the rain every morning before work! Gyms tend to be quieter at this time of year, and if you head down to your local gym or fitness center you might even have the place to yourself depending on the time of day! You can work out and enjoy a steamy sauna afterwards which will make you feel great. Not down for the gym? You can always workout at home. There are plenty of workouts (FO’ FREE) online. If you have a Wii fit, ballet barre, weights, or any sort of exercise equipment–throw it in the mix!

Do you guys have a plan for staying busy this winter?

If you’ve been around these parts long enough, you’ll know I LOVE capsule wardrobes. I love looking at other people’s capsule wardrobes, I love creating them for myself, and I love researching new ways of whittling down a wardrobe. If you’re new, WELCOME. I’m Beth…and in case you hadn’t already figured it out — I’m really into capsule wardrobes. 🙂

Lately, I’ve been exploring the concept of a seasonal wardrobe that focuses on 10-12 core items and a limitless (but still minimal) collection of extras. The core items include tops, bottoms and dresses. The extras can include, well….everything else! I wanted to create a sample 12 Item Wardrobe inspired by February. For me, February is a warm month (every month is a warm month in South Florida). But for others it is still pretty chilly. So, I made one wardrobe for a warm climate and one for cold. Let’s check them out…

12 Item Wardrobe (somewhere warm)

6 Tops – jersey t-shirt, crepe blouse, sleeveless blouse, girls support girls t-shirt, athletic-inspired top, and love first t-shirt.

4 Bottoms – stretch leggings, denim shorts, satin skirt, and skinny levi’s.

2 Dresses – silk mini dress and striped velvet dress.

Extras (somewhere warm)

Shoes – court heels, suede strappy heels, ankle-strap sandals, braided sandals, and leather trainers.

Accessories – logo cap, acetate sunglasses, and jersey scrunchies.

Special occasion wear – chiffon dress, beaded clutch, and slingback heels.

Active wear – racer back tank, black leggings, tennis shoes, compression bra, and gym shorts

Jewelry – 2 classic watches, gold necklace, tassel earrings, and statement earrings.

Basic tees – distressed t-shirt, striped tee, and long sleeved t-shirt.

Outerwear – utility jacket, cotton cardigan, and knitted cardigan.

Swimwear – printed swimsuit and printed bikini.

Bags – medium backpack, bucket bag, and funky clutch.

12 Item Wardrobe (somewhere cold)

6 Tops – feminist t-shirt, floral blouse, tie neck blouse, babe t-shirt, v-neck sweater, and over-sized jumper.

4 Bottoms – flared trousers, high waisted jeans, black skinny jeans, and faux leather pencil skirt.

2 Dresses – sweater dress and floral print midi dress.

Extras (somewhere cold)

Shoes – zip booties, point-toe flats, funky flats, high-heel boots, and leather sneakers.

Accessories – floppy hat, cat eye sunglasses, earmuffs, and beanie with a pom pom.

Special occasion wear – slinky gown, cross-body bag, and pointed stilettos.

Active wear – pull over, fleece joggers, Nike Airs, high-rise leggings, and sportswear hoodie.

Jewelry – classic watch, Apple watch, stud earrings, gold hoops, and double choker.

Basic tees – pink t-shirt, cashmere base layer, v-neck tee.

Outerwear – over-sized blazer, furry coat, and fringe cardigan.

Cold weather extras – beanie/scarf/mittens set and scallop gloves.

Bags – mini messenger bag, small wristlet, and classic leather tote.

What do you think? Would you try the Twelve Item Wardrobe? Do you have a capsule wardrobe? Let us know below! I’d love to hear what methods you use to keep your clothes minimal. ❤

P.S. If you’re more of a one and done capsule wardrobe person (or the concept sparks your interest), you can get a checklist PDF of my 50 Piece All-Season Capsule Wardrobe right this way!