Things To Do On Cold Winter Days
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(Updated on January 1, 2026)
There are all kinds of things to do on cold winter days. When the weather isn’t nice enough to spend time outside, I can find plenty to do at home to keep me busy.
I might sort through a drawer or two and throw out things I no longer need. That’s a good afternoon’s project.
Tend To Your House Plants:
I like to tend my houseplants, which give me great joy when it’s too cold to garden outdoors. English Ivy (Hedera helix) is easy to grow if you give it a spray of water now and then to keep the air around it humid.
English Ivy plants love humidity. You can mist your plant every other day. Placing your plant on a tray of wet pebbles or perlite is another option.
However, too much moisture can lead to fungal infections and encourage pests and diseases. So you must walk a fine line to keep these plants happy inside. I set them outdoors in summer to make them more lush.
Cook Comforting Food Like Meatloaf:
One of my go-to comfort foods is meatloaf. Plain old-fashioned meatloaf. The scent of it while it’s cooking is heavenly, and it reminds me of my childhood.
I always have enough to freeze for another day.
I make meatloaf year-round, but I especially enjoy eating it in the winter. I might have sides of green beans and wild rice with my meal, along with a glass of sweet tea.
Plan My Spring & Summer Gardens:
I like to go through my gardening books, maybe sit down with pen and paper, and ponder my spring and summer planting.
Planning is much of the fun in gardening. Sometimes, I decide on my flower colors early.
One of my favorite flower colors in the garden is purple. It looks so beautiful against the green foliage. I’ll choose yellow, white, pink, or red to grow along with it.
Light Candles:
When the skies are gray and the wind is blustery, it’s a perfect time to light candles. It makes everything feel so cozy inside.
I might gather many candles, set them all in a tray, and light them when the day is at its dimmest. It always makes me feel better, and the glow of candles sets the mood for the cold winter day.
Buy Fresh Flowers:
If the days have been predominantly gray, I might drive to Trader Joe’s and pick out a bouquet to bring home and enjoy. Fresh flowers always lift my spirits.
Just walking by that green pitcher of colorful blooms makes me smile. It relaxes me to arrange flowers in a pitcher or jar. Every time I walk past them, I smile.
Trader Joe’s always carries the prettiest fresh flowers, and they are not expensive, so sometimes I indulge myself. But not often. I’m frugal when it comes to buying flowers. Instead, I’d rather buy plants that will last a long time.
Change Up My Decor:
Being inside means I might get bored with my decor. Or not. I like to play with things on a surface to see if I come up with something I’ll keep around for a while.
I might look in the closet, find a container, and create a pleasing vignette, featuring vintage items in a galvanized tub. Adding a white cotton doily brings a whimsical touch to the arrangement. Old photos are what I call my “flea market relatives.”
Do A Simple Craft:
I could also do a simple craft that takes me 15-20 minutes.
And if it serves a purpose, even better! For example, this “framed” wooden cow has hooks that hold my kitchen’s measuring spoons and cups. This is a good way to spend a day indoors during wintertime.
Read A Book:
Last but certainly not least, I enjoy curling up with a good book. A stack of unread books fills the world with possibility. Just think of all the places you might go within the pages of a book!
Wintertime is a great time to sit down and read a good novel. I prefer mysteries, women’s fiction, memoirs, and thrillers.
It seems Ivy wants to read, too!
Watch Nature Outside My Window:
When I want to sit and rest for a while, I will sit by a window and watch the brightly colored birds flit from tree to tree. I love to listen to them call to one another.
Isn’t that bird beautiful? When sitting and relaxing with coffee or cocoa, watching the birds is especially lovely. There are all sorts of things to do to occupy yourself on a cold winter day.
I hear the Oklahoma wind whipping around the corners of the house and out on the porch. If I leave wind chimes up this time of year, they get a real workout. It sounds like lots of silverware is being dropped on the floor.
What do you do to fill your cold winter days indoors?
Those are all wonderful ways to spend a Winter day Brenda..I do most of the same things…The Goldfinch is beautiful..I love it when they come back in the Spring…They and the Bluebirds are my favorites! And now everyone has me hungry for meatloaf..lol..
yes, please, put out your recipe for meatloaf. Mine is terrible, so I would like to try something tried and true.
I don't do anything as relaxing or creative as you do, Brenda! I am always doing laundry or cleaning floors or the bathroom, etc., etc. My daughter and her twin 6-yr.-old boys are living with me presently and I care for them much of the time during the week. I'm always behind with the necessary things. I do read a few blogs, though, and have a stack of books on my bedside table. I've read most of them so it's time to find some new ones. I just read Maeve Binchy's book called "Tara." A very engrossing novel if you haven't read it.
One thing I've been doing on some of those grey, grey days is looking over the flower and seed catalogs that have come. I have knee problems right now so I don't know how much I will be able to dig in the dirt this spring. I'm hoping the knee joint thing will be resolved before warm weather–or at least improved. It cramps my style big-time! I am so anxious to plant things!
Meatloaf is one of my favorite comfort foods. Winter usually finds me fixing a lot of soups. Also casseroles and other foods which I cook in the oven…something I don't like to do when the weather warms up. Bird watching is a favorite activity. That is a beautiful photo of the goldfinch!
Reading, crocheting, watching PBS
I do about the same things mentioned. I love being home. I am just an old homebody.I enjoy your blog very much. Karie
When it's cold outside, with the wind blowing, I enjoy making chicken soup, bean soup, or chili. Like you,I always make enough to freeze for two extra dinners. I made a meatloaf last week, and there was enough left over for sandwiches for the following day. Tomorrow I'm making pigs in the blanket, and I'll have enough for two days, again. I guess I've never gotten over,cooking for 5, but it's so nice to go to the freezer, and have the meal ready to heat up. Anyway, I spend time on my Pinterest, page, going through the boards and deleting old stuff that is no longer of interest to me. But mostly,I have a pile of probably 30 books that I bought, on a used book buying spree,on Amazon, so I've been deep into those, and that is my favorite pass time..oh and reading blogs like yours, and today, making a Birthday card for DH. Spring will be here in WI, in a couple of months,(I hope) and I'll be spending time out doors planting flowers, herbs,and weeding too, of course, so every day, every season, there is always something to do. I enjoy it all, cozy winters, and warm breezy summer days.
Hey Brenda,
Here in the south we have some nice weather most of the time. It has not been too cold so we go hiking, gem mining and making jewelry from our finds!! When it is too cold to get out I piddle around the house doing different stuff, on the computer reading blogs and emails, and learning new jewelry techniques although I am new to it!
We love meatloaf here with mashed potatoes! Sometimes we have sandwiches the next day from it.
The idea to clean your filters is a good one. Never thought about the soot from candles affecting it!! I change my filter every month due to the animals hair clogging it so I guess it is the same.
If I read, I fall asleep!! I have not finished a book in years but I can read magazines and others media!! Funny, a book just puts me to sleep!! I love the flowers!! It does brighten up a room especially on a gloomy day!! Wish I could do some of the other things that you do Brenda!! Love your stories. Hope that you and the pupsters stay warm and have a great week~~~
Just made a meatloaf along with roasted potatoes / red peppers and onions the other day! 🙂
Lots of cozy winter ideas, Brenda! I love meatloaf, too…any time of year!
All the things you mention are what I like to do too! In England, the term is "faffing" and that makes me smile. Plants, faffing, reading, candles, baking–all lower my blood pressure and make me happy.
Reading! I brought home so many books from the library the other day, I could barely carry them. But now at home I'm happy as a lark working my way through them. Warm, cozy, and books – a perfect combination.
Mary
I read…A LOT! I also work on my collections and I'm taking an online watercolor class.
I get cabin fever easily so I end up going to craft stores and spending too much money. Boo!
The first poster today mentioned salsa in meatloaf. Sounds wonderful, I wonder how much. Mild salsa would enrich the flavor…I think.
I start to get cabin fever and end up re-organizing closets and cupboards. And then I change out the living room curtains. Yesterday I took down my heavy dark green drapes in the living room and put up white ones, even though it is only February and so dark and gloomy and rainy outside. And I move things around like the wall art and candles, etc. Like you, I must stay home way too much and I get bored with the same look every day.
I love to have something great cooking on the stove. It just makes the house smell so good and feel warm.
Working on decluttering! Also, I've been on a kick of making quick breads, usually containing cranberries. I still am craving that flavor after the holidays! I try to take a walk each day around the neighborhood. And, the biggest thing is, applying for jobs. Ugh.
Oh, how I wish I had quiet winter days to putter around my home! On the rare day I am actually home for the whole day, there are a billion chores that need to be done. But somehow I always find time for a good book – this week it was "After Anna" – you would LOVE it!!
Oh I am coming over to your house ~ meatloaf, birds, books, lovely candles ~ lovely post and photos ~ thanks,
Wishing you a Happy and Peaceful Week ~ ^_^
Share your meatloaf recipe! There are so many variations and my husband is a big fan. Even on crappy weather days like today I have to go out into the farmyard at least twice a day to do barn and coop chores – bleh. Inside I work on photos on the computer, do my part time editing job there as well – catch up on cleaning the house, bake something like banana bread. I find I can't sit down to read a good book until I'm in bed ready to fall asleep.
I like to head to Florida ;). But in lieu of that, all the things you mentioned are high on my list too.
Make quilts – read – and cook – always some time for exercise and a walk outside even if that is only a quick walk back and forth on the front porch for some fresh air
Hi there…please check your furnace filter often when you burn candles. I was burning: them every day and the soot blocked my furnace filter, in a month!
I love meatloaf too. I mix the meat with bread crumbs, egg and salsa for a great flavor and little work. I like to draw and paint with water color or color pencils, or both together….cheap…you can do journal pages and cards this way too. I usually sew, but this winter I am stuck with a broken wrist and surgery on it….so no sew….and just when I water to start embroidery!