5 cozy hobbies I'm embracing as the weather gets colder

Published Nov 6, 2026, 6:30 PM EST Adam has a degree in Engineering and has a life-long interest in technology. He has been writing for over a decade for various print and online publications, with a focus on consumer tech. He joined How-To Geek in 2024 while working at Pocket-lint. As well as being a long-term fan of Apple products, he also has a strong interest in smart home tech, running a Home Assistant server at home to automate all his smart home devices. He believes that the ideal smart home should work with minimal interaction from the user, with automations running as if by magic rather than requiring you to push buttons on a control panel. You can find more of his work on Muck Rack. During the insane heat of the summer, I couldn't imagine ever being cold again, and yet just a couple of months later, I'm shivering in my home office wearing a thick wool sweater. As the weather gets colder, it's the perfect time to enjoy some cozy hobbies to take your mind off the temperature. Keeping my brain in shape with puzzles A cryptic crossword is a real mental workout I love a good puzzle; I even vibe-coded my own word-based puzzle that my friends and family play every day. Puzzles are a great cozy hobby, and they're a good way to keep your mind in shape, too. I play word puzzles such as Connections and Hardle every day, but my absolute favorites are cryptic crosswords. These are far more popular in the UK than in the US and can be found in many newspapers. Each clue is its own miniature word puzzle that needs to be solved, with the crossing letters for other completed clues helping you solve the clues you're struggling with the most. An example would be the clue "Senator arranged crime" with a seven-letter answer. ARRANGED is what is known as an anagram indicator (or anagrind), which suggests that you need to rearrange the letters of one of the other words. If you rearrange the letters of SENATOR, you get TREASON, which fits the clue's definition: CRIME. The challenge is that you don't know which parts of the clue are the definition, which are the indicators, and which are the fodder (the letters to be manipulated). Completing a cryptic crossword can take some time, but it's immensely satisfying when you enter the final answer. If you've never tried cryptic crosswords before, I can recommend the Quick Cryptic crossword from the Guardian. These are smaller puzzles that teach you specific types of cryptic crossword clues each week and are a great way to learn the secrets of these awesome puzzles. Curling up with a good book There's one accessory that's a must-have for winter Reading is one of my favorite hobbies of all time. I still remember the first real book I read to myself as a kid: Five Go to Demon's Rocks by Enid Blyton. I read it in the back of the car on the long drive to my grandparents' house, and it blew me away. I've never looked back; my home is packed to the rafters with books. I always read something every day no matter where I am, and while I much prefer real, physical books, eReaders are a big part of my life, too. The tiny Xteink X3 eReader is my new favorite device. It's small enough to fit in my pocket, so whenever I have a moment to spare, I can pull it out and read instead of doomscrolling on my phone. Winter can be an even better time for reading, because when the weather is cold, you can't beat cozying up somewhere warm and reading a good book. Possibly the greatest purchase I've ever made is the heated blanket I bought for my wife one Christmas. Sitting on the sofa under the toasty blanket reading a great novel is about as good as it gets. Learning a new instrument It's easier than ever to learn They say that learning something new is a great way to keep your mind sharp and your memory strong. I've played musical instruments all my life, and I've always loved trying to learn more. I recently found a cello that was being sold for just $50 at a rummage sale, and I couldn't resist. I'd never learned a string instrument before (one that you play with a bow, rather than something like a guitar, which I have far too many of already). I've been able to teach myself a few instruments, such as the flute, but I knew I'd need help with this. Music lessons can be expensive, but I discovered that you can find tutors online who are located all around the world, and the prices can be much lower. I'm now having cello lessons from someone in Spain via video call, and it's been a lot of fun. Building LEGO LEGO isn't just for kids (as the prices will confirm) I loved LEGO as a child, and my kids are obsessed with it, too. I hadn't played with any LEGO for years until my kids started getting into it, but helping them build stuff was a lot of fun. Then for my birthday, my family bought me some Star Wars LEGO intended for adults, and I was hooked. There's something incredibly relaxing about sitting down and slowly building a LEGO model piece by piece. In the initial stages, it's hard to imagine that your build will ever end up looking like the finished product, but gradually it begins to take shape. When you're finished, there's an awesome sense of satisfaction. LEGO isn't cheap; my friends and I chipped in to buy another friend a LEGO Millennium Falcon for a major birthday, and it cost us hundreds of dollars. If you'd rather not remortgage your home, there are cheaper alternatives, and on sites such as Temu you can find building block kits for incredibly low prices. Retro gaming wherever I want A handheld is the perfect device for winter Gaming is always a fun hobby, but it's not always the coziest pastime. You can't really curl up under a blanket and play, as you need your arms free for the controller. Handheld gaming devices make it much easier to get your gaming fix in a cozier environment. I recently bought an R36 Ultra, which is a small handheld Linux device that can run game emulators. It's a similar form factor to an old Game Boy, but with analog sticks and shoulder buttons included. It's a great option for playing retro games. Now I can curl up in bed and play retro games to my heart's content. It also means I don't have to fight my kids for use of the TV. There's nothing quite like a cozy hobby Whatever your hobby of choice, winter is the perfect time to get involved. With less daylight available for outdoor activities, it's a perfect excuse to cozy up under a blanket and enjoy a good hobby.