The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway
Your survival guide for the chilliest months of the year
Confession: I really adore winter weather.
I’m talking single digits (or, negative degrees, if you’re more of a Celsius person). The kind of frost that bites you as soon as you step into it, that can seep through three layers of sweaters and thermal underwear and fur-lined boots, leaving your skin stinging well after you step inside. The type of freeze that serves as the perfect setting for snow storms and ice showers. The temperatures most of the population hate more than anything else. I find it brings out some of my better moods. Read into that what you will.
However, I understand why January can be a bit of a downer. Credit card bills with holiday purchases, broken resolutions, and barely any sunlight contribute to the problem. It’s also home to Blue Monday, statistically the most depressing day of the year. In 2025, it coincided with Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration, which felt in no way coincidental. But the month doesn’t all have to be doom and gloom, especially if you’re like me and still haven’t taken down your Christmas lights because you believe in the need to let yourself feel joy, however eccentrically.
Here are a few of the ways I enjoy spending my January; a huge part of why it’s one of my favorite seasons. I hope they inspire you to find the same joy throughout these cold times, or at least to go out and buy yourself a tasty snack.
Drawing a bubble bath
The perfect end to a chilly day is a dip in the tub. Warm baths have been shown to lower blood pressure, help manage both pain and blood sugar, plus overall improve mental health. I highly recommend pulling up your tub stopper and filling up to the point of no return. Bonus points if you acquire fancy soap and soothing salts for the water. I kick back for a good 30-45 minutes soaking away with a saucy audiobook, feeling the stress dissolve alongside the bubbles in the water.
Indulging in entertainment options
Now is when I catch up on the books and shows and films I planned to experience over the busier months (or busier years) of life, then just never did. Fill your Netflix queue and library holds with all the stuff your friends have been raving over. For me, that includes The Queen’s Gambit and Kristina Forest’s latest novel. Better late than never, right?
Braving a long (but not speedy) walk
Walking in a winter wonderland isn’t exclusively for Christmastime. The next couple months are surprisingly great for walking as there’s less air pollution and the cold weather is thought to help strengthen your immune system. I take this opportunity to explore new neighborhoods, places that might be too crowded in tourist season. New York City Restaurant Week often acts as my guide, my stomach leading the way to fresh locations. But there’s no need to take the routes fast. It’s just about getting yourself out there. The health app on your phone will thank you.
Lots of snuggles
I’m convinced cuddles can fix around 85% of my problems, and doctors back me up here. Your body releases oxytocin when you cuddle, easing stress and pain which can help you do everything from bond with a person to sleep better. Whether your chosen snuggle buddy is a partner, a friend, or an animal (stuffed or otherwise), dedicating an hour to the practice does wonders for the mind, body, and soul. If the idea of cuddling still sounds a bit too much for you, even a single daily hug can have similar benefits.
Working on daily pages
Whereas the warmer months often bring pressure to leave the house and experience the world, the freezing ones are made for staying in, giving me space to focus on my own projects. I can get a chapter a day done in the middle of a spell of frosty weather. If that’s too much to think about, maybe start with keeping a journal and getting down a page or two. It’s not as if there’s somewhere else you need to be…
Planning on fewer plans
Speaking of not having plans, I really think the key to successfully surviving winter is committing yourself to committing to as little as possible. Friends and family and social engagements are wonderful. But so is finding time to take back for yourself; for restorative healing. It’s okay to not want to plan the way you might during other seasons. Come up with fun excuses to give people, if you like, one of which can always be a genuine fear of coming down with something. The only definitive way to ruin a chill January is to infect someone with the latest viral illness.
Treating yourself richly and regularly
I don’t care about your New Year’s resolutions. Now is not the moment to deprive yourself. So go ahead and order that Insomnia cookie. Stop at Eataly for some fresh pasta. Buy a package of Cadbury eggs even though Easter isn’t until late April. It’s the little things in life, and small treats make the darkest, coldest moments feel brighter.
Staying festive AF
I’ve already admitted to you I’ve still got my apartment decorated for Christmas, but I fully believe in putting up decorations for other holidays, too. This sort of fun shouldn’t be reserved exclusively for December. Pick out a few Valentine things to put around your home, or perhaps shamrocks to look ahead to St. Patrick’s in March. Why not spend an evening cutting out paper snowflakes you can leave up until the real ones stop falling outside? I promise the cheer will leave you with a smile all the way up through the spring.
Rachel’s Weekly Recs:
But How Are You, Really by Ella Dawson is the book I absolutely needed right now: a twentysomething bisexual woman faces her toxic job, past trauma, and chosen family at her college reunion. I cried! I got horny! I felt seen! One of the best reads I’ve had in a while.
Brooklyn bookstore Books Are Magic are supporting victims of the Los Angeles wildfires with their latest t-shirt design. 100% of proceeds will go to World Central Kitchen Pasadena, who are helping serve meals to communities impacted by the destruction. A good look and an even greater cause.
The perfect thing to spice up your board game cabinet? Dirty Minds, a guessing game filled with naughty clues and more demure answers. Play it as a couple in preparation for Valentine’s, or bring the group together for a wild night at home.
Simply love this - read it while cuddled up with a soft blankie on a very cold night in upstate New York with some chocolate grahams and ice cold milk - VERY nice!!!!!