There’s literally only three weeks of this year left. It doesn’t really feel like that to me personally as I still feel like I have to get lots done. I think it's quite easy to feel super overwhelmed or stressed with uni or work during this time of year. However I am such a big believer of positive thinking and practising gratitude, even when it feels like you're running around like a headless chicken, as it can make such a massive difference in your well being. So while we can all feel quite overwhelmed and stressed during this time of year, I thought I would share some smaller things in life that I love and feel grateful for during when the festive season rolls around.

Hot chocolate season

The first thing I have really appreciated about autumn and winter these past few weeks is hot chocolate weather. 2019 is the year I gave up caffeine and coffee and it has had a positive impact on my anxiety. However it can get a bit boring to order a matcha latte or a tea every time you're out and about. It's why I end up ordering hot chocolates a lot more often nowadays than I normally would. I have fallen completely back in love with hot chocolates. I make them at home for myself with some oat milk and love to order festive hot chocolates that coffee shops have available during the festive season.

Festive TV season

Next thing I love about the festive season is the festive TV season. I am a sucker for Christmas films and series, so one of the things I always tend to look forward to at the end of the day, is to spend my evenings watching Christmas films and series I have seen over a hundred times already. I think I am very close to reciting all the lines from The Holiday from the top of my head... Christmas films just always make you feel so happy and good, which is just what you need after a bit of a hectic, stressful or overwhelming day. I honestly think there's nothing better than to spend an evening at home watching feel-good Christmas films or series.

Spending cosy time at home

If you don't know by now, I am a big homebody. Like I said before, I love spending my evenings at home, preferably in my cosy bed watching Christmas films or series. This year I spent a lot of time being cosy at home actually, and I absolutely love it. You may have noticed on my Instagram that I actually spent a lot of time in the kitchen during the weekends cooking or baking, but I am also easily entertained by spending time at home with some festive series, a cosy blanket, a winter candle and a slice of my festive banana bread. I think it's good to focus on self-care during this time of year and at the moment I am loving and really getting a lot of energy from spending time cosy at home. There’s something that makes me feel so happy about being all toasty and cosy under a blanket on the sofa or in bed.

Layers upon layers upon layers of clothing

This next thing that makes me happy is actually something that might be quite controversial, but I have finally started to enjoy the colder weather. I love wearing layers of clothes. Getting dressed in the morning is just so much more interesting during this time of year, isn't it? I might struggle with the cold when it first hits me in autumn, but once I have my multiple layers on and feel super cosy and warm I actually enjoy the colder weather. It's something I don't think most people tend to appreciate, but I actually love to wear my knits and style them in different ways.
I have to say that most of my friends and I tend to complain about being cold when we’re out and about though. But this past month I really started wearing proper layers again and realised I could actually wear a cute coat outside instead of my super warm, waterproof, windproof, but not too cute looking coat. So yes, I have discovered my love for layering again and now I am a cosy bear even though it might look like I am freezing, I can assure you 90% of the time I actually am not freezing.

Seeing people you love and care about

Lastly, one of the things I am most grateful for in December is being able to see and hang out with people you love and care about. We’re only a week into December and I have already seen lots of my friends, I had a catch up with my cousin and I spent lots of time with my parents, my brother and his girlfriend and I just love it! As much as I love spending down time at home on my own, I also love seeing my people and it usually brings me a lot of energy. Even though people can be stressed during this time of year, I also tend to find people slightly chirpier than in October or November for example. There's this electric excitement around the month of December and people seem happy during this time of year. I think people feel excited for Christmas, to have a few days off and maybe go on a little holiday, which is why they seem to be happy like in summer.