Romanticizing Life | A List of Favorite Cozy Things

I first came across the term “romanticizing life” while watching a lot of cozy vlogs during the pandemic. Immediately I loved the concept of approaching the everyday as if all of it is a special occasion. While I do think it can be really easy to get caught up in the pursuit of the Perfect Cozy Aesthetic, romanticizing the little things doesn’t require any of that. It’s just a way of adding a little magic and whimsy to the norm (and I’ve found it is also a nice way to incorporate gratitude in my daily life).

So here are a few of my favorite ways to romanticize life:

COZY DRINKS

I have a weakness for a cute little mug, and making cozy drinks is a good reason to make sure I’m actually using them! When the weather is cool, I usually go for hot tea, lattes, or hot chocolate. For iced drinks, I like iced tea or sparkling cranberry juice (with a splash of orange juice for an extra fancy spin).

BAKING

While I haven't been baking as much as I used to lately, this is still one of my favorite cozy hobbies. There's just something calming about it, and of course, you end up with a treat!

FAIRY LIGHTS

I don’t think you can ever have too many fairy lights? They create such a cozy glow!

DOCUMENTING

I’ve kept a journal for over half my lifetime now, and while most of it is kept in words, I also like to add in fun washi tape and stickers, or memento scraps like tickets or wrapping paper samples from gifts.

I also love taking photos, and one of my hopes for this year is to have more of my digital ones printed for my photo album! Making mini vlogs is a neat way to document moments as well, and it’s fun to look back on them and recall a certain event or time.

CANDLES

Cozy, “warm” scents tend to be my favorites, but I also really enjoy candles inspired by characters or books! 

SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE

One of my favorite things to do is take a book outside and read, even if it’s just for a few minutes. I also enjoy taking “photography walks,” especially to get pictures of flowers or pretty autumn leaves.

TRYING OUT NEW HOBBIES

This is usually dictated by my mood, but trying out different hobbies is so fun! Sometimes it’s making another attempt at knitting or crocheting (alas, I don’t think I’m quite cut out for either of these), or picking up one of my old Nintendo DS or GameBoy games and replaying them. Lately, I’ve been mostly playing card games, coloring, or doing word search puzzles. 

These are also hobbies that are fun to pair with listening to an audiobook or podcast, or watching a TV show or vlog.

What are some of your favorite ways to romanticize life?