Winter gets a bad rap.
I know I often treat it like a season to be endured rather than enjoyed, but there’s plenty of fun to be had when the temperature drops. And there are plenty of small winter rituals that make the cold months feel less like a slog and more like a season worth savoring.
To help you make the most of the cold and darkness, here’s a list of 21 things every man should do before the leaves start budding again on the trees.
Complete each one before the spring equinox, and you’ll create a batch of memories that’ll carry you through the rest of the year, but more importantly, make this winter feel a lot more enjoyable.
Let the winter adventures begin!
Hit the Slopes. Even if you’re not a graceful skier, there’s nothing more invigorating than strapping on a pair of skis and hurling yourself down a mountain. You get the pretty alpine views from the top of the lift, the rush of trying to maintain your balance as you zoom over the snow, and that bracing feeling as cold air hits you in the face. Skiing is winter in motion. And the food in the lodge (even if overpriced) always tastes better after a few hours on the slopes.
Read a Long Book. Winter is primetime for reading that really long book you’ve told yourself you’d read one day. The nights are long, and you might not be going out as much. Instead of slumping on the couch to watch Netflix, recline by the fireplace with a big ol’ boy of a book. War and Peace, Moby-Dick, a Ron Chernow biography. Pick up a tome and finish it before winter ends.
Cut Down Your Own Christmas Tree. Instead of grabbing one from the Home Depot parking lot, go to a tree farm and cut your own. The walk through the rows, the sawing, the hauling. It all makes the experience feel more organic and the decorated finished product feel more earned.
Once you set up your hand-cut Christmas tree in your house, check out our guide on how to keep it fresher, longer.
Have a Snowball Fight. Speaking of things you don’t have to abandon in adulthood, a good snowball fight when you’re a grown man reawakens the part of you that used to spend entire afternoons outside in the snow without noticing your fingers were frozen. Follow our guide from Buddy the Elf on how to make the perfect snowball, and remember, NO SOAKERS!
Go Sledding. A plastic sled + a decent hill = guaranteed good time. Sledding isn’t a pastime you have to leave behind in your childhood. Bonus points if you build a small jump to catch some air.
Shovel a Neighbor’s Driveway/Walkway. When the snow piles up, grab a shovel and not only clear your own driveway/walkway, but someone else’s who could use the help. Don’t make a fuss about it or text them afterward to announce your benevolence. Just do it and head back inside feeling warmed by both the exercise and the good deed.
To save some time and your back, check out our guide on the most efficient way to shovel snow.
Go Ice Skating. Ice skating is like skiing in that it requires a little skill to actually enjoy it. But once you get the hang of it, it feels awesome to zoom around the rink or pond. Especially while holding hands with your best gal.
Build a Fireplace Fire. During the winter, there’s nothing like building a cozy fire in your fireplace — a warm, crackling oasis you can sit beside in your man chair while you read thick, leather-bound books and ponder manful thoughts. It makes you feel like Frog and Toad on Christmas Eve. So dang cozy.
Build a Snow Shelter. You probably built snow forts when you were a kid. This winter, try making one that’s genuinely serviceable. There are various models to follow, but the quinzee might be the most efficient and accessible. Just pile up a bunch of snow and hollow out the inside. Then make like outdoor instructor Micah Mortali: bring in a camping mattress, a sleeping bag, and a beeswax candle, and sleep in it on the winter solstice.
Make Homemade Hot Cocoa. Ditch the little paper packet and make the real deal on the stovetop. Milk, cocoa, sugar, a pinch of salt, and a splash of vanilla. Stir until smooth. Add whipped cream or marshmallows as a finishing touch.
Play Card Games. Winter is prime time for indoor pursuits, which makes it prime time for playing cards. Round up the family or a couple buddies, crack open a pack, and play a few hands to wile away the time.
Host a Dinner Party. We can sometimes want to be by ourselves more in the winter, and while leaning into a little reflective solitude is fine, socializing is one of the best ways to keep up your spirits during the dark months. And one of the best ways to socialize is to host a dinner party. It doesn’t have to be fancy: make a simple meal, light a few candles, and invite friends to enjoy some cozy fellowship.
Do a Polar Plunge. There’s been plenty of ink spilt about the health benefits of cold plunges of late, but it’s worth doing for purely ineffable reasons; the bravery points required, the invigoration, and the sheer novelty. Whether it’s a ring-in-the-New-Year’s ritual or just a random dip in February, a polar plunge shocks your system in the best possible way. You’ll feel like you can wrestle a moose afterward. For extra winter points, pair your plunge with a sauna session.
Listen to a Record. Winter is the perfect season for vinyl. Put on a record, sit down, and just listen. No multitasking. The warm crackle of vinyl pairs nicely with the warm crackle of a fire. If you’re looking for albums to listen to, check out our suggestions for jazz albums for beginners; for some reason, jazz pairs especially well with long winter evenings.
Make a Big Pot of Chili. Cold weather calls for soups, stews, and, of course, chili. Big batches of it. Enough leftovers to feed yourself for days. Whether you’re a no-beans purist or a “throw everything in the pot” guy, chili is one of winter’s great comfort foods. Don’t forget the Fritos and cheddar cheese.
Visit a Museum. When the weather outside is frightful, museums make for the perfect indoor recreation spots. Art, history, science — whatever strikes your fancy. Wandering through exhibits is a great way to spend a winter afternoon, and you’ll learn something new to boot.
Check out our guide on how to make the most of a museum visit.
Sit in the Sauna. Cultures that live with real, bone-cold and super dark winters, like Finland and Norway, figured out long ago that the best way to handle months of cold is to get in a sauna on the regular. A sauna session warms you up and offers both physical and psychological benefits. Pair the sauna with a polar plunge or just step out into the cold air and let that contrast hit you.
Start a Winter Project. Winter is ideal for tactile projects that you can work on in the great indoors. Whether it’s a small craft, like whittling a figurine or making a leather belt, or it’s something bigger like making a dining room table, there’s something satisfying about projects you can chip away at, day by day. Slow, steady progress feels good when everything outside is frozen.
Make a Winter Cocktail (or Mocktail). Whether alcoholic or non, winter drinks were invented to make cold nights more pleasant. Mulled cider, hot toddies, wassail — anything warm and/or spiced really hits the spot.
Go on a Night Walk. There’s something magical about walking at night. And that’s especially true in the winter. The atmosphere is stiller. The air is sharper and more bracing (and even smells better!). The stars seem brighter. After a walk in the inky winter dark, you feel more alive.
Dream About the New Year. In winter, trees look dormant, but underground they’re quietly growing roots that will support next spring’s surge. We can take the same approach. Use the seasonal slowdown to think about where you want to head once the weather warms up. Grab a notebook, jot down a few hopes for the coming year, and mull on them a bit. No need to make specific resolutions. You can wait until spring when the sap starts running — an even better time to make goals than January — to do that. For now, just cast a wide vision across the cold landscape.
