When the days get shorter and the diary is overflowing, nothing beats two days just for you. A cosy weekend isn't about staying shut in doing nothing: it's about choosing gentle activities that genuinely rest you, at home and a little outdoors. Here are 15 ideas, from Friday evening to Sunday, to recharge your batteries in the middle of winter.
The essentials
- Switch off screens and notifications from Friday evening.
- Balance rest at home with a proper outing in the fresh air every day.
- Stay in soft clothes and warm slippers all weekend.
- Plan simple, comforting meals, prepared in advance if you can.
- End Sunday by getting the week ready, then have an early night.
How do you plan a cosy weekend?
The secret is to plan almost nothing… but to plan it. Do the food shop on Thursday, push any non-urgent tasks to the following week and let the people around you know you'll be in hibernation mode. Then keep a light thread running through it: one outing a day, one good meal, one moment for yourself. The rest depends on how you feel.
Friday evening: switch off
1. Turn off notifications
Put your phone on "do not disturb" and tuck it away in a drawer. Two days without alerts is enough to slow the pace.
2. Change as soon as you get in
Swap your workweek clothes for a soft set, thick socks and your slippers. This simple gesture marks the start of the weekend. Our Merano cosy sherpa slippers, with their wide faux-fur cuff, are made for exactly this moment.
3. An effortless, comforting dinner
Homemade soup, a gratin or a pasta bake made the day before: just reheat, settle in and take your time over dinner.
Saturday: slow down and get some air
4. A guilt-free lie-in
No alarm. Then a long breakfast: toast, fruit and a hot drink you actually drink while it's still hot.
5. A winter walk
Even on a grey day, an hour outside works wonders: daylight, cold air, the sound of your footsteps. Choose warm, steady footwear, like our Cortina sherpa-lined booties, lace-free with a grooved platform sole. They slip on in seconds and keep your feet warm.
6. A slow-cooked dish
A stew, a curry, a vegetable soup: a dish that simmers all afternoon fills the house with its aroma and brings everyone to the table in the evening.
7. Read without counting the pages
A novel, an armchair, a throw. If you don't have a proper spot for it yet, here's how to create a cosy reading nook.
8. A creative project
Knitting, a jigsaw, watercolours, baking: working with your hands clears your head. The goal isn't the result, it's the moment.
9. A hot bath or a foot pamper
After your walk, a hot bath or a simple foot soak, followed by a rich cream and soft socks. To go further, try our winter foot care routine.
10. A games or film night
Board games, cards or a film under a throw: time together, without everyone on their own screen.
Sunday: recharge and get ready for the week
11. A homemade brunch
Scrambled eggs, pancakes, fruit salad: Sunday brunch is made together and enjoyed slowly.
12. Tidy one small space
Not the whole house: one drawer, one shelf, the hallway. The pleasure of finishing something, without spending all day on it.
13. Write a few lines
A notebook, three things that did you good this week, one wish for next week. Ten minutes, no more.
14. Ease into the week ahead
Pick your outfits, plan two or three meals, check your diary: Monday instantly feels lighter. Our cosy Sunday rituals offer more ideas for a gentle end to the weekend.
15. Have an early night
A herbal tea, soft lighting, a book rather than a screen, and into bed a little earlier than usual. Our tips for sleeping well in winter will help the benefits of the weekend last.
A cosy weekend alone, as a couple or with family?
On your own, choose activities that feel like you: reading, walking, a creative project. As a couple, cook together and plan a film night. With the family, keep things flexible, with an outing in the fresh air so the children can run around, and a quiet moment in the afternoon for everyone.
Either way, comfort matters: soft clothes, slippers that keep you warm and lined booties for going out. All our styles are made from vegan suede, a microfibre with a peach-skin feel and no animal materials. They are true to size: if you're between two sizes, take the larger one.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cosy weekend?
It's a weekend devoted to rest and comfort, mostly at home: fewer screens, gentle activities, good food and an outing in the fresh air.
What can you do at home on a winter weekend?
Read, cook a slow-cooked dish, do a jigsaw or a creative project, watch a film under a throw, have a hot bath and go for a walk during the day.
How can you recharge in just one weekend?
Turn off notifications, sleep without an alarm, spend at least an hour outdoors each day and keep some time unplanned. On Sunday evening, have an early night.
Read next
For a weekend of pure comfort, discover all our vegan suede styles.
