Quoted: Winter Evening Routine

If you’re looking for inspiration for how to embrace the cold winter season and cozy up, our community has you covered.

These tips offer simple ways to find joy and peace at home, helping you look forward to your evenings after a long day.

Set the mood with good lighting

“I try to embrace the fact that it gets darker earlier by turning off big lights and instead switching to candles and lamps to create a cozy atmosphere each evening.” — Anisha

Make your bed warm and cozy

“I boil water an hour before bed to ensure my hot water bottle can be at a nice and cozy (but not boiling!) temperature. Once I slide my hot water bottle under the covers, I know it’s time to put my pajamas on, turn the internet off, and wind down with a book or magazine!” — Amy

Try a relaxing evening activity

“My routine generally involves reading even more than usual. I also recently purchased some simple adult colouring books and use those to wind down.” — Mandy

Wind down to candlelight

“To help myself actually go to bed on time, I’ve started doing my bedtime routine by candlelight. It’s amazing how the irresistible urge to do “one last thing” just melts away when the room is so dark. My body just accepts that the day is over and there’s nothing left to do but sleep.” — Arielle

Get extra cuddles with your beloved pets

“After dinner, which I eat a bit earlier in the winter, I like to light candles, turn on a cozy fireplace background on YouTube, put my phone on silent, and read with my kitties cuddled around me.” — Naomi

Savor bath or shower time

“I try to have a warm shower early in the evening before I make dinner, as it feels like a nice transition from work into relaxation time.” — Amy

Cozy us with a warm beverage or treat

“After dinner, I settle down with a hot chocolate (or, if the occasion calls for it, a chocolate mug cake made in the microwave). I make sure I have ample blankets for me and the cats on the sofa, put on a binge-worthy show, and knit. I also have a dimmable lamp I almost exclusively use during winter on the warm light setting.” — Veronica

Across our community, winter evenings are less about doing more and more about shifting the environment to signal rest. Soft lighting, candles, warm beds, and comforting activities help mark a clear transition from the day into nighttime.

Many routines start before bedtime itself, through a warm shower, a peaceful activity like reading, knitting, or coloring, or a deliberate dimming of lights, to gently tell the body and mind that it’s time to slow down.

Just as important is the sense of rest and intention woven throughout these routines. Warm drinks, favorite blankets, beloved pets, and offline moments create small rituals that make evenings feel something to look forward to, not just endure.

Rather than chasing productivity, our community focuses on ease, coziness, and presence, building winter evenings that feel nurturing, grounded, and genuinely restorative.