If you’re anything like me, you’re probably nursing a red wine hangover from the Christmas dinner you’re still full up from (and yet planning tonight’s stuffing sandwich). I’m firmly of the belief that boxing day is the OG lazy day, so I’m rolling with it.

But then we slide headfirst into ’Twixmas’, and every day seems to blur into the next while we wait for second high of NYE. It’s pretty easy to fall into a bit of a slump during these down days, but why not keep the festive feeling going while we can?

This year, I’m setting out to make the absolute most of this in-between period. I’ve taken the time off work and made a list of fun and cosy things to do to continue the good vibes all the way through to New Year. Hopefully it will inspire you to do the same.  

Put your walking shoes on, fill a flask with your toddy of choice (hot chocolate, mulled cider etc) and head to the trees, hills, beach, park – whatever slice of nature is nearby. For me, the only thing that feels better than breathing in the crisp winter air is following it up with a chaser of mulled wine.  

Over New Year’s resolutions? Me too. Why not approach things differently for 2024 and make yourself a creative, visual representation of what you’d like the year ahead to look like. Keep your board somewhere you can see it often to remind you to manifest what you want from 2024. If you’re not feeling crafty, you could create a digital vision board on Pinterest instead. 

If you’re feeling sociable, this is a good time to drop in on someone you’ve not seen in a while – the chances are they’re far more free than usual to do something spontaneous. If you’re heading home, maybe you can catch up with an old friend from school over a coffee or cocktail. 

Keep things low-key and get some R&R with a string of movie nights. Put together a checklist of films you’ve been meaning to watch and work your way through. I love making an occasion of it at this time of year: invite a couple of friends over, get some popcorn and debrief afterwards. 

You know that thing you’ve been meaning to try but never got around to? Well, now’s a great time to give it a whirl. Whether it’s making bread from scratch, roller skating or watercolour painting, you’ll feel smug entering the new year with a new skill under your belt. 

Choose a book set in the festive period to keep yourself immersed in that holiday feeling. I’ve recently finished One Day In December by Josie Silver, which is a lovely and very readable ‘will they, won’t they’ romance. If you want a few more ideas, we’ve written about some great ones here. 

Now this might not be to everyone’s fancy, but some of the Stylist team are planning on embracing the December weather by diving into it – literally. Cold water exposure has been repeatedly shown to have incredible benefits including stress-reduction and mood-boosting. So I challenge you to head down to your local lake, lido or beach to banish any Twixmas blues. 

There’s something magical about stepping into a different time, and a quick google search will likely show that you’ve got plenty of historical locations to visit right on your doorstep. Many National Trust properties are open over this period and they’re a great and often affordable option for a day out. Plenty also have their lights up so they are also a sure-fire way to keep you in the spirit – because festive joy is not just for Christmas. 

Images: Getty