We are almost in the middle of winter. Shorter days and longer nights are okay but what makes winter feel gloomy is winter evenings. We are forced to stay indoors to keep the combo of darkness and cold at bay. Ticking of the clock seems to get slow and the scary evenings loom longer. While winter is a favorite season of many, there are people who love to be outdoors, and winter confines them indoors against their will. This article focuses on the latter and suggests some fun and creative ways to make winter evenings a unique experience. Looking at the bright side, we can used winter as an opportunity to take a pause, sit back, ponder over, relax, reconnect and recreate as a family unit.

Play Board and Card Games
Dust off the boards lying in the storeroom waiting for the same attention that the family used to give once. Gather the cards to have a competitive game that cultivates strategy and teamwork. 
Solve Puzzles 
Give jigsaw puzzles a twist by making two teams and assigning half of the puzzle pieces to each. Hide the pieces around. Set a timer to relocate them and complete the puzzle. Take out old newspapers or puzzle books and enjoy solving crossword puzzles. 
Set up Indoor Obstacle Course
This will surely fill the space with laughter. Create obstacles by using big card boxes or other suitable items. Invite all the family members to navigate through them while being timed. Set up a camp indoors. Bring pillows, sleeping bags and flashlights. You also need some snacks to munch on while telling ghost stories to one another. 
Build a Blanket and Pillow Fort 
Build a fort with the help of pillows, cushions, rugs and blankets. Sit in the fort and indulge in your favorite hobbies or have a family talent show. 
Bonding Activities 
Make a Conference Call
Grab the opportunity to make a conference call with your old buddies or cousins that you grew up with. It will give you positive energy and cultivate a deeper connection. 
Recall Memories 
Get pleasure from listening to family stories. In a typical household, there are three generations. Each generation has something unique to tell others. Notice how things evolved from generation to generation. Take out family albums and go through the photos together. Going through these albums will make you realize how time flies and how quickly we are creating memories and moving on. 
DIY or Fix Things Together
There are always some things that need to be fixed or do-it-yourself (DIY) projects being delayed. Pick one project every evening and complete it, involving all the family members. 
Selfcare 
Workout or Exercise 
You want to set a walk routine but it does not fit in your schedule easily. These long evenings are perfect for a walk if the weather allows, or a workout in the comfort of your home.
Skin and Hair Care Routines 
In winter, your skin and hair ask for more care. Create a DIY beauty salon. Either follow your tried and tested remedies or try new ones and share your experiences. 
Eat Healthy Food
Eating healthy food takes much effort and time, not much money though. Healthy food has a shorter shelf life. You have to buy, prepare and cook more often. Winter evenings give you plenty of time to make and eat healthy meals. 
Declutter Your Space and Devices 
Clutter is a source of stress, be it physical or digital. Get the whole family involved and sort out your physical possessions and consider discarding, giving away, keeping, or relocating. Same goes for the soft clutter in your devices. It might not be a joyful experience but it gives you a lighter feeling in the end. 
Joyful Experiences 
Bake Together for Evening Tea 
Evening teas are an ideal time for family bonding. Make it more fun by choosing a recipe that everyone can contribute to. This collaborative baking experience will incorporate the taste of love. 
Cook Your Signature Dish Or Try a New Recipe 
Prepare your signature dish as now there are more hands available to help you with your special but effort consuming recipe. Or, embark on a culinary adventure and try a new recipe every evening. Give the chance of picking a recipe to all family members turn by turn. 
Make and Have Hot Drinks 
What else can make a winter evening worthwhile than having a hot drink of your choice. Set up a hot drink bar in your home that offers a variety of aromatic hot drinks. Involve the whole family in making and serving these drinks.
Knit Something 
Anyone can learn basic knitting regardless of gender. Give your brain and hands a workout. It will be a leisure activity and the outcome, be it a scarf, muffler or pair of mittens, will be a bonus. 
Artistic Pursuits 
Read Out Loud
Read stories out loud to kids and teens in the family. Or choose a self-help book to read out loud to adults. Take turns to make the experience more inclusive. 
Arrange a Storytelling Session 
Rekindle those beautiful memories in which different family members would tell a story, share anecdotes or even create new stories. 
Do Art and Craft 
Gather your art supplies and equipment and make greeting cards. Write letters that include trinkets and drawings to one another, or to your on future self. 
Read Books or Blogs 
Set up a cozy nook, grab a book and read it. Give yourself a challenge to finish it from cover to cover. Or if you are not into reading the long form, read blogs online and expand your outlook on life. 
Run a Readathon 
If you are anything like me who buys periodicals, numbers them and arranges them in a chronological order, but hardly finds time to go through them, run a readathon! Take the pile out, speed-read and write a roundup. 
Watch Interviews and Talks 
Invest your time watching interviews of the people who did something worthwhile in their lives and have many feathers in their caps. 
Have a Family Journaling Session 
Make a shared family journal where members can express their thoughts, feelings and gratitude notes. It will be a treasure for the days to come. 
Energy-Infused Entertainment 
Throw a Party 
If you ever feel down, throw a party. Invite your friends and family who can easily get to your place. Share your food, and play games. 
Play Geography 
Last but not least, play a geography game. Assign one country to each person. They are to learn about the culture, food, currency and other highlights of the assigned country. If possible they should dress up or paint their faces accordingly. Participants are supposed to learn and share knowledge, and answer questions. 

Ideas know no boundaries. Just be creative and innovative and the winter’s chill will not haunt you. Instead, spend it in a lighthearted and enjoyable manner. You will collect a treasure trove of cherished memories that are everlasting. 

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