Oh dear! I know what it means feeling stuck on your sofa on a cold winter day. That's precisely why I'm in the Canary Islands right now and I'm sitting here with my cafe solo as I type away the Top Things To Do on a Cold Winter Day.
So, here they are:
1. Escape Winter
Exactly as I did. Only kidding. Sort of. Well, if you can, why not? Maybe you can invest some of your Summer holiday budget and take a little winter break too? I promise you, escaping to a hot country while it's grey and cold in London has no price tag. Vitamin Sea truly re-generates your body and mind.
2. Catch up with far-away family and friends
If you are a little like me, you hate wasting time on the phone or Skype. At least when I first moved to London, I was always out and about exploring and meeting new people. And my relationships back home obviously suffered from my little connection. Don't do like me. Use these long winter days to schedule long video calls to catch up with your family and friends. Make yourself a cuppa, grab a soft blanket and get on with some calls!
3. Do some Kondo massive cleaning in your closet.
What's better than investing a winter day in a deep, Marie Kondo-style cleaning of your closet? This is the perfect moment to actually get to know the inhabitants of your closed and say Bye Bye to that jumper you haven't worn since 2005 and that dress you never worn. Take the opportunity to really take everything out and check item by item what you have and what you no longer need. It's also the perfect opportunity to do some good and donate what you are getting rid of.
4. Invest in yourself
We always complain we don't have enough time to do all the things we want to do. But how many hours have you spent this week on Instagram or Netflix? I bet a lot. So, why don't make it a routine to spend an afternoon a week on something you really want to do? You might have been thinking about learning to play the guitar since you were 5, or you really want to learn Portuguese, or you need to fix your CV and find a new job. There you go, you can do all these things in a wet February afternoon while is raining in Paris, London or Berlin.
5. Get Cooking
Whether you are as great as Michelin chef or you don't know how to boil an egg, a winter day is the perfect day to cook! If it's Sunday, you can even make the most of your afternoon to get your week meals done. Or if you are completely new to the stove-oven situation, you can start from these recipes.
6. Pick a great book
Personally, there is nothing better for me than the combo made of a great book and a cup of coffee. Add a fireplace and you've got my personal version of heaven on earth. If you aren't a bookworm (yet), perhaps avoid Dostojevski, Kafka, Tolstoy & Co, but start with something you are passionate about. For example you should check the books you must read before you are 30, or if you are moving to London you can miss these books.
7. Exercise!
As mentioned above, we are all too busy to do anything else than work/study. Guess what, if you really want it, you can find the time. Also to do some home exercises! Even if you live in a tiny house, you can stretch a mat, open a YouTube video an do some yoga by yourself. If yoga isn't your cup of tea and you wish to do some cardio instead, check videos for zumba, heavy workouts and more!
Want more tips about surviving Winter? There you go!
What to do in Winter in Madrid