15 Practical Low-Cost Ways to Embrace Long Winter Days

Shorter days and excessive time indoors? Now that does sound dull—but it all depends on how you look at it. Winter is an ideal time to lean into slower, lower-cost activities, thoughtful rituals, and new hobbies.

Below, a collection of low-spend ideas to try this winter, inspired by Martha’s own cozy, creative approach to the season. (Martha Girl winter, anyone?)

Make Something Cozy and Useful

Winter is ideal for practical crafts. Martha suggests learning basic sewing skills: “Want to give some cozy winter accessories a personal touch?” she says in her book, decorvow's Very Good Things: Clever Tips & Genius Ideas for an Easier, More Enjoyable Life. Adding buttons, stitching simple designs, or customizing ready-made pieces gives new life to items you already own or have thrifted.

Candle-making is another satisfying winter project. "You can make handcrafted candles for a season's worth of party hosts or all of your children's teachers," Martha says. Find instructions here, and thrift stylish vessels like jars, teacups, and copper bowls.

Study Something New

Many local colleges and international universities, including the prestigious MIT, share lectures and course material online and for free. Ever wanted to dive into Shakespeare's sonnets or explore cinema analysis? Take advantage of the additional time inside by rediscovering the joy of learning.

Move Gently, at Home

Winter workouts don't need to involve expensive memberships or near-freezing commutes. Martha encourages practicing yoga independently: "Practice yoga on your own," Martha writes in decorvow's Organizing. "Classes are often at inconvenient times, and also in the event of snow days or while traveling."

A small cleared space, a mat or towel, and consistency are essentially all that's required. "Carve out a nook and add a candle or diffuser," says Martha. "Doing the same series of poses—and at the same time of day—will help you go with the flow. Even ten minutes a day will make a difference."

Take a Winter Hike

That being said, cold weather shouldn’t keep you from the outdoors. A winter hike offers quiet trails, crisp air, and a chance to see familiar landscapes differently. Dress in layers, choose a well-marked and safe path, and keep expectations reasonable. Even a short walk through a nearby park can feel restorative during the winter months. It's a totally free way to get moving and embrace the season fully.

Cook Your Way Through a Cookbook

You've likely read many a cookbook from cover to cover—but have you ever actually cooked the entire way through? Let this be the season! Choose a cookbook from your collection (one of Martha's many is a natural choice) or snag a new one from the library, and work your way through each of the appetizers, mains, and desserts. See how many become returning favorites.

Find Your Zen

Winter mornings—especially post-snowfall—invite stillness, making them the perfect time to meditate. "Meditation is most effective in the early a.m. hours, when your mind is clear, and connecting with your inner self will set you up for the day ahead," according to Martha. "Before you tumble out of bed, spend a quiet five to ten minutes (or more if you like) doing your method of choice."

Start a Junk Journal

Cold weather is perfect for hands-on creativity and tactile projects, especially ones that use inexpensive or already-on-hand materials. Take collected ephemera and mementos (think: ticket stubs, last year's holiday cards, fabric scraps, pressed leaves, and receipts from memorable meals) and layer pages and elements, embracing imperfection and creating visual interest.

By the year’s end, you’ll have a beautiful document where the ordinary has become art. Find tips on this creative trend here.

Mix Up Martha's Famous Eggnog or Hot Chocolate

Turn a classic winter treat into a comforting ritual: Measure carefully, warm the milk slowly, and let the kitchen fill with the scent of nutmeg or cocoa. Serve it in proper mugs and finish with a dash of spice or a dollop of whipped cream.

It's a small, low-spend luxury that invites you to slow down, gather close, and treat an ordinary winter day like a holiday. Find Martha’s boozy eggnog recipe here and her hot chocolate here.

Go Ice Skating

Few winter activities feel as nostalgic as ice skating. Whether you head to a local rink or glide across a (confirmed safe) frozen pond, it’s an affordable way to get moving and embrace the season fully. Even beginners can enjoy slow laps, some exercise, and the learning curve.

Repurpose Tree Trimmings

Before sending your Christmas tree off for disposal or to be composted, give it one last moment to shine. Fallen evergreen needles can be gathered and transformed into fragrant sachets that freshen up drawers, closets, or linen cabinets.

"Scoop up fallen evergreen needles to make fragrant sachets," instructs Martha. "Stamp muslin bags with snowflake designs; replace the drawstring with red-and-white bakers' twine, and cinch tight. Nestle the sachets into drawers—their scent will last for months."

Create a Nightly Ritual to Wind Down

Evenings in winter start early and may seem to last forever—so why not make the most of them? "About an hour before your target bedtime, swap out any stimulating or stress-inducing activities (checking your work email) for something more relaxing," suggests Martha, such as "knitting, stargazing, reading a book."

"Taking a warm bath or shower before bedtime can also promote better sleep," she says. "Rituals like these will signal to your body it's time to relax and find more peacefulness through those winter nights."

Practice Gratitude

Gratitude is a low-cost habit with lasting returns. “The more grateful you are,” Martha writes, “the better for your mental health, relationships, quality of work, and creativity.” Try keeping a simple gratitude journal and noting three things each day you’re thankful for, either upon waking or before bed.

“In addition, take time to write down expressions of gratitude during negative moments to combat anger and anxiety and trigger positive emotions,” suggests Martha. “Even a one-time act of gratitude (sending a thank-you note, treating a friend to tea can cause a spike in happiness-and with it, greater productivity.”

Give Back Locally

Winter can be isolating, which is why community-minded activities matter. In her book, Living the Good Long Life: A Practical Guide to Caring for Yourself and Others, Martha points to volunteering as a meaningful way to stay engaged. "You can volunteer at a food pantry, sign up for Habitat for Humanity, keep a senior citizen company, or help organize a rummage sale," she suggests.

No matter your skills, there is likely a volunteer opportunity where you can put them to use. "In large cities, neighborhood groups offer 'urban ranger' activities," says Martha, "such as pruning sidewalk trees and weeding public planters."

Send Handwritten Letters to Loved Ones

After the flurry of Christmas cards comes in, physical correspondence tends to slow. Why not give your friends and family that same joy of opening the mailbox throughout the rest of the season, too?

Besides offering connection across miles, handwriting letters also provides opportunity to experiment with calligraphy and creative elements like stamps and paper projects—without blowing your budget at the stationery store, of course. For example, Martha suggests fashioning stamps from discarded wine corks. “Draw on the details with fine-tip markers,” she says before pressing to paper and cardstock.

Plan Simple Social Moments

"Fight the urge to become a recluse," Martha says in Living the Good Long Life. When the weather keeps people indoors, intentional social planning becomes essential. Host a low-key gathering—like a soup potluck, movie nights, or craft circles.

You can keep things simple and costs and efforts low, but incorporating a theme and seeing friends can make any dreary, quiet week instantly exciting.