One of my favourite ways to make life more fun and interesting is to romaniticise it! This is especially important to me during the Winter, because I tend to slack off when it comes to taking care of myself physically and mentally. When the days are so short and it’s always dark and cold, it can be hard to find joy in those mundane routines.
This is where romanticising your life comes in! To me, romanticising my life means slowing down and taking time to appreciate what I have, and finding joy in the present moment, ultimately making me a happier person. It’s about a change in perspective from one of lack (e.g ‘ugh it’s so rainy and miserable AGAIN – I’m sure we can all relate!) to one of gratitude. It can be hard to begin with, but once you make a habit out of choosing to make your life one you enjoy, it gets easier and easier until it becomes second-nature. You have the power to make your life amazing, and you deserve to be happy and content. I hope this blog inspires you!
That being said, if you’re feeling especially down during the Winter months (I know people can suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder and other mental health issues) please seek help if you’re struggling. These are just some ways I personally like to make life more enjoyable during the Winter.
Winter can feel gloomy, but with these romanticising your life tips, you can bring joy and warmth into your days.
How to romanticise Winter:
- Change your Perspective
- How to Romanticise your Environment
- Mindfulness Practices for Winter
- The Power of Music
- Winter Self-Care
- Hobbies
1. Change your Perspective
I recently began listening to the podcast Finding Your Casual Magic by Unjaded Jade and this is where I first heard the term Casual Magic. The concept has been immensely helpful in learning to appreciate what I already have instead of focussing on what I’m lacking. The premise of Casual Magic is become an observer of your surroundings and to find beauty in the mundane by finding something to be grateful for in everyday situations. By doing this, it brings you a greater level of contentedness and fulfillment. It has truly changed my life! Below is a video of her explaining what Casual Magic is:
I try to make noticing beautiful things a habit I perform every day. Today I went on a walk through my local park, and on it I noticed how heavenly the wet, glistening bark of twisting tree branches looked against the white sky, the thin twigs so delicate and beautifully fragile. Sometimes I like to imagine my life as a story. The story we tell ourselves about our life can completely shift our perspective on otherwise ‘neutral’ or ‘negative’ things. For example, I could have looked at the trees and thought ‘ugh the trees are wet, it was probably raining earlier…another drab day in England’. But I chose to look at them with awe and to find the beauty in them. Now that I’ve practised this so often, it’s become a mindset that barely requires effort anymore – although I still have days where I hate everything, so be kind to yourself and keep trying, I believe in you!
For more about the concept of Casual Magic, listen to Unjaded Jade’s podcast here.
Try to find at least one thing you think is beautiful in your immediate environment right now. Go on. Appreciate it. Feel gratitude for it. Hopefully it brings you as much joy and fulfillment as it does me.
Here’s a quote I love:
Savor the little moments, son, that’s my advice. They’re what life is. All the little moments that happen while you’re waiting for something else.
A book that really inspired me to take control of my own life and to enjoy it confidently is the book Women Living Deliciously by Florence Given. It’s a 5-star read for me and taught me how to fall in love with my own life and feel a sense of awe and wonder at the world around me. I would definitely recommend!
Link to Florence Given’s book here
2. How to Romanticise your Environment
One of the most powerful ways to romanticise your life during winter is to create a cozy space at home!
Personally, I’m a lover of candles because not only do they smell amazing, they give a wonderful cozy winter vibe from their dim lighting that instantly creates a romantic mood. Also, I find the act of choosing to put in a bit of effort and light a candle powerful. It means I get to decide the mood of the room, and therefore how I want to feel. It reminds me that I’m worth it, which is especially important during the Winter months when it can be so easy to stop caring about ourselves and the give in to the ‘ugh’ feeling, Some of my favourite winter scents are gingerbread, shortbread biscuits (literally smells like I’ve just made cookies!) and spiced apple.
I also love fairy lights and lamps – basically anything that gives off a soft, warm glow. Lighting is so powerful, it can instantly change the vibe of your space. I love to have warm lighting while I read, eat dinner, crochet, watch a movie, etc! It’s one of my go-to ways to romanticise my life during the Winter.
3. Mindfulness Practices for Winter
This links in with my first point about changing your mindset. Mindfulness is about being present and noticing things around you, but in order to be mindful you have to slow down! We don’t always need to rush doing things – slowing down helps me to calm down and appreciate the present.
Winter is a time where everything tends to slow down, so it can be a great time for reflection. Incorporate some mindfulness into your Winter days.
Journal
I love to pretend to be a main character and journal about my life! It helps me to make sense of the world when I take the time to write down how I actually feel. And you can so easily romanticise it too! Decorate your journal with stickers or create a collage on the front cover. Take yourself to a cafe or a park bench and sit and journal out your thoughts! Or, light a candle and set the mood at home. It’s so therapeutic and makes me feel like a mysterious character haha! I also like how it makes me feel like I’m actively part of the world and choosing my own destiny.
Don’t know where to start? Here are some prompts to help:
- What are 3 things I’m grateful for?
- How do I feel right now?
- What would make today great?
With journalling, there are really no rules and you can right whatever you want!
Go for a walk
I have to go for a walk at least once a day because it makes me feel so much better. Physically moving does wonders for my mood, and walking is a simple way to do that. It’s one of the easiest ways to romanticise your life!
Get ready, get dressed up in a cute outift and go outside! Yes, it may be cold during winter, but one of my favourite quotes from Lexie Lombard at the @lexie podcast is there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.
On a cold day, I love to wrap up in a coat with a cute scarf, cosy fluffy socks and uggs. I feel so cute and that outfit just makes me want to go outside! Dress in a way that makes you feel good! Sometimes I like to pretend I’m Rory Gilmore in a thick chunky jumper.
On a walk, I either choose to be in silence with my thoughts, or I listen to a podcast or music (more on that next!).
4. The Power of Music
Music is so powerful, never underestimate just how much it can change the atmosphere and impact your mood. And you can listen to music anywhere! When I’m romanticising my life, I prefer softer, slower music such as jazz. Some of my favourite albums/artists to listen to are:
- Clairo’s Charm album
- The Walters
- Tiny Habits
- Lana del Rey – Chemtrails Over The Country Club
- Taylor Swift – folklore / evermore
I’ve also created tons of different playlists to soundtrack my life in different situations, and to perfectly fit specific moods. I would totally recommend this! It’s so fun, and you can even romanticise the process of creating a playlist. You get to choose how you want to feel at any moment! You get to be the main character!
If you’re struggling to figure out what to listen to, I like to think of characters in movies I love, such as coming of age films (Lady Bird, you’re foreveer in my heart!) and to listen to their soundtrack. I love to immerse myself in another world, it’s like I can pretend to be someone else for a while.
5. Winter Self-Care
Treating yourself with care is such an easy way to romanticise your life. After all, you’re basically romancing yourself! Light a candle, play some relaxing music and take your time!
It may be hard to muster up the energy to show yourself self-love in Winter, but I promise you’ll feel better afterwards.
Some winter self-care ideas are:
- Take a warm shower or bath and use that bathbomb you’ve been saving for the perfect time! That moment is right now.
- Paint your nails while a candle is lit. Listen to relaxing music.
- Put on a face mask and read or watch a movie
- Cook a nourishing meal for yourself (soup or stew works well during winter!)
- Cosy up with a blanket and watch a film/TV show after a long day. I love doing this! Watch your comfort film.
Take yourself on a Solo Date!
Taking yourself on a solo date is the ultimate way to romanticise your life. You don’t need anyone else, you be your own perfect partner. Slow down and enjoy your own company! When we take the time to appreciate ourselves and show ourselves respect, we gain confidence and build up our self-worth.
Here are some solo date ideas I love:
- Go out and buy yourself flowers (Yes, Miley Cyrus!)
- Order a takeaway and watch a film at home
- Go to the cinema by yourself
- Go to a cafe and treat yourself!
- Window shop
- Ultimate self-care evening – take a bath, use a bathbomb, do a facemask, paint your nails, moisturise, pamper yourself!
- Dress up in a cute outfit and go for a walk
- Go to a bookstore/library and spend hours reading
6. Hobbies
What better way to spend your excess time indoors during winter than to take part in some cozy hobbies? Hobbies are so fulfilling and nourishing. They force you to put down your phone and be physically present! They’re easy to romanticise becase some feel nostalgic to me and remind me of when I was a kid and had to fill up my time doing fun things.
Personally, I love to light a candle, cosy up with a blanket and a steaming mug of tea and read. It’s so relaxing and I enjoy getting lost in another world.
Some other winter activity ideas are:
- drawing/painting
- baking/cooking
- jewellery making
- blogging
- journalling
- writing poetry
- colouring
- crocheting
- puzzles
- yoga
- video games
Takeaways
From this blog, I hope you’ve learnt ways you can romanticize your life and show yourself the love you deserve.
- Change your Mindset
- Romanticise your environment
- Mindfulness
- Self-care
- Soundtrack your life
- Hobbies
Some of these things may seem boring or mundane, but it’s the intention you do everyday tasks with that make them special. Savour your morning cup of tea and the comforting ritualistic process of making it. Be present, and choose to look at life with hope, joy and gratitude. The power is in your hands!
