25 Things You Could Be Doing Instead Of Shopping – Winter Edition

“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.”– Aristotle

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Have you ever felt compelled to shop because you have some free time? Umm, yes! Winter means the nights are long, its cold outside, often wet too. It can feel like the only place to go is the shopping mall. Especially with it being the festive period, shops and media are persuading us to spend money in their stores. While shopping for new things can be fun, mindless browsing and buying can often make us feel worse than we did to begin with. However, there is more to winter than January sales! Stave off the January blues with some of these ideas.

Here are 25 Things You Could Be Doing Instead Of Shopping This Winter.

• Go on a winter hike. A favourite of mine whatever the season. There’s something special about hiking through the forest and countryside in winter. It tends to be a lot quieter too.
• Read a book every week. Always the staunch ‘real book’ advocate, I recently bought a kindle. My reading has maybe doubled without much extra effort. And the dark nights make it even easier to read more.

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• Attend a yoga class. If you live in a particularly cold climate, there is nothing better than going to a warm yoga studio in winter.
• Movie marathon. The cinema is always best in the winter months in my opinion but settling down for a film night at home is a winner too.
• Sign up for a cooking class. I went to a pie making class in London years ago with my husband and we still talk about it to this day. It was only a few hours but we learnt how to make really awesome pies!

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• Play board games. Current favourites in our house are Scrabble, Sequence and Trivial Pursuit.
• Look through old photos. The perfect time to pick out your faves and get them printed out.
• Take some new pics! If you catch the light, winter photography can look magical. And if you miss the light, flash photography looks amazing too.
• Have an indoor picnic or car picnic. Chances are it’s too cold for sitting on the grass on a blanket but don’t let that put you off.
• Set goals for the new year. The perfect time of year for setting new intentions and coming up with a plan to see them through.

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• Cooking and making drinks using seasonal produce. Have a quick google for what’s in season in your area. Search for food bloggers who live in your country too for food ideas. I love Green Kitchen Stories and My New Roots for healthy seasonal recipes.
• Declutter your wardrobe and find some new outfit combinations.
• Hot tea in the cold frosty mornings. Whether you have a balcony, a garden or just a window. Getting a moment of fresh air while you hold a cup of hot can help set you up for good intentions for the day.
• Forage for winter decor. Make a pretty seasonal display using branches, twigs, conifer needles etc. I usually arrange them in a bowl but Pinterest has lots more creative things to do with them too.

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• Sit in front of a real fire. Whether in your own home, friends or even nipping into a local pub or hotel for a drink, this is one of the best things about winter. And so much more relaxing than shopping!
• Bubble baths. Always best to take advantage of bubble bath season! Check organic candles to add to the atmosphere.
• Snow activities. If you are lucky enough to get snow this winter why not try some of these ideas? Sledging, building a snowman, snowball fights, making a snow angel or skiing.

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• Stroll along the beach. I don’t understand why more people don’t visit the beach in the winter. Yes, it’s cold! But it is often deserted and the perfect place to breath in fresh air after being in a stuffy office or house.
• Learn a new language. This is my goal this year. I’m currently studying a little bit every day. I will report back how I get on! It is much easier to start and continue doing things like this in the winter because there isn’t the same distraction to go out!
• Take up a new hobby – leatherworking, sports, sewing, photography, martial arts, writing, painting, dancing, crochet, upholstery. The list is endless.
• Go bowling with friends. Usually, an idea that is discarded for being naff. However, it is actually a really good way to fill in an afternoon or evening.
• Plan a trip. Whether you go on the trip in winter or wait until spring or summer, it is up to you. Winter is the perfect time for planning.

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• Go for a run. I have taken up running this winter and find it freeing to get out and take in some air. While difficult to start with, it does get easier and the health benefits are well worth it.
• Start a blog. If you have always wanted to start, now is the time!
• Sign up for a course. There is more time in the winter evenings to study that subject you’ve always wanted to know more about.

If it is warmer and lighter in your part of the world, check out these 25 things you could be doing instead of shopping in the summertime or these 25 things you could be doing instead of shopping in the autumn.

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