Alright, I know there’s not much snow outside, but let’s imagine there is to set the scene: It’s a freezing winter night, one that’s enveloping us with blinding flurries, and you’re driving behind a long line of traffic over black ice that’s camouflaged by fresh snow. The absence of both the sun’s blazing rays and the moon’s dim light are why it’s so dark outside despite the time just ticking past 5 p.m. Condensation fogs up your windshield as you’re barely inching your way home. Annoyed yet? You might be if you’re not a winter person — although I’d find it hard to imagine anybody being fond of driving on slippery roads. The only thing to do after a long day like this, which I can almost promise you will come very soon, is to take it easy and decompress!
I found that the year zoomed by quickly — too quickly, as if each month was obscured by some sort of motion blur — to the point where I wish I could find more time to enjoy the little cozy things in life, and more importantly, to not avoid the need to relax. But you know the saying: There’s no time like the present. In this post, I’ll be assembling a range of recommendations and activities about different topics that I find relaxing, ones that I hope you can also quietly revel in to unwind — before we’re eventually, and too quickly, catapulted into the new year. I don’t think we should feel guilty about occasionally having a lazy day; dedicating some time to doing a whole lot of nothing is a great way to recharge your batteries! Let’s think of it as athletes having a rest day, shall we?
Renovations and Design Chaos: From the Comfort of Your Couch
Don’t be afraid of the coach potato title — because there’s nothing that a bowl of fruits (or a bowl of popcorn) and a good TV show can’t fix!
And speaking of fixing, watching renovations of other people’s homes in the comfort of your own can be quite relaxing, in a stress-free and there’s-no-messes-to-clean-up sort of way. Even if you get somewhat envious by the end of it, seeing the before and after of a home can be satisfying after seeing its arduous renovation process, almost as if we were actually there ourselves for the ride. If you’re up for some wall-busting demolition or creative concepts, shows like Property Brothers, Holmes on Homes, and Netflix’s Hack My Home are the standards of bingeworthy watches. Oh, and speaking of the Property Brothers, they also have a book that’s all about achieving your dream house!
Flipping through periodicals such as HGTV Magazine, Canadian House and Home, and Architectural Digest can also help spark a dose of inspiration for those who love interior design and/or home décor. While the shows are hypnotic, physical books and magazines are easier on the eyes, especially for folks like me whose eyes get tired after staring at a screen for too long. There’s something about the home renovation/improvement genre that just hooks you — so don’t be surprised when there’s a temporary crater in your couch when you’re finished with these picks!
Jackpot! Here for the Big Bucks
Virtual card games and gambling are the epitome of gratification, especially when it’s low stakes — in other words, no real money is involved. Balatro amplifies those feelings and dials up the dopamine levels, courtesy of its addicting sound effects and absorbing gameplay that’ll leave you wondering how much time has passed. It may be a bit difficult to get into if you’re not already familiar with poker, although learning the game and sticking with it is rewarding once you figure out different strategies to use with Joker cards and all of the combinations you can make.
Cha-ching! In a game about accumulating wealth, it’s no surprise that Grand Theft Auto V’s online mode features a casino with virtual chips that’s worth in-game currency. There’s blackjack, poker, roulette, and more — all the classic casino games that you’d find and probably wouldn’t want to pour a good chunk of (real) change into. Since this is a Grand Theft Auto game, you’ll likely have to go on a crime spree via the online mode’s missions to earn cash to spend at the casino. From the sounds of that, maybe this isn’t as stress-free as this post intends, although playing this title could get you pumped for the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto VI, which is set to release in November 2026.
Take a Trip: Going Out While Staying In
Do you have a desire to travel but feel too lazy to actually plan for a vacation? This tug of war between wanderlust and procrastination is quite paradoxical, but I’m sure it exists for many of us. Soak in the atmosphere of our natural Canadian landscapes inside the comfort of your home with Canada by Daryl Benson, where you get to travel across our breathtaking country through these immersive photographs. Each picture is also accompanied by a small caption that tells you where the photographs were taken, which would be helpful for your future national travel plans!
Here’s a call for all citizens or neighbours of Vaughan: If you want something more local, check out Great Walks of Vaughan: Walking Trails Guide. Even though it’s from 2018, having a tangible booklet containing images of the greenery in Vaughan can serve as a nice pick-me-up to remind you what lies beyond these frosty days. There’s also a PDF version on the City of Vaughan’s webpage, in case you’d prefer digital resources.
Finally, gaze in astonishment at the photographs in Night Vision: Magical Photographs of Life After Dark, which brings the nightlife from around the world to the high-quality pages at your fingertips. While I adore everything the night can amplify for us, such as the twinkling stars in the skies or the neon lights that flash from tall buildings, I’m one of those folks who struggle to stay up late enough to admire the beauty of late nights. That’s why this Natural Geographic book is great for both lazy days and early sleepers, as it lays out the glamour beyond the walls of our home for us to admire. Oh yeah, there are also endearing photos of our furry friends, including one of a labrador jumping up into the snowy air and another of a flying squirrel who’s about to takeoff.
A Trip Down Memory Lane
Do you have an overload of photographs on your phone? Would you want to convert them into something tangible? If you ever decide to print out those photos or already have a few pictures and mementos, consider putting them into a scrapbook for memories! The Practical Step-by-step Guide to Scrapbooking by Alison Lindsay will teach you all about scrapbooking in case it’s new to you. While there are a few tips here that are more basic, you’ll also find advice that’ll certainly take some learning and time, so be prepared in case you plan on turning your lazy day into a productive one! (I think going for a laid-back aesthetic can also be a good idea!)
Another way of preserving memories while unleashing your creativity is by journalling. Write about anything! It could be about fond memories and how you feel looking back, for example. Or go beyond the past and write about the present; freewriting is an effective way of letting everything out of your system and onto the page.
That’s My Jam!
Is it too cold? Dancing to your favourite tunes can shake the shivers from your body!
December 3rd is what would’ve been the legendary Ozzy Osbourne’s 77th birthday. After his passing, going through Osbourne’s and Black Sabbath’s discographies, watching The Osbournes TV show, and reading I Am Ozzy hit very hard. His 2009 autobiography is particularly engrossing, as Osbourne’s raw and honest voice is what makes the reflection upon his life so captivating. From biting a bat’s head off during a concert to the ups and downs of his relationship with Sharon Osbourne, particularly when he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol, there’s no question that he certainly had his moments; however, nobody can deny how the Prince of Darkness left an indelible mark on both music and culture as we know it — and it’s how he recounts his life and acknowledges his mistakes which make him so human. Grab a box of tissues for this one!
For more Ozzy, also check out Last Rites, which covers more recent events that transpired after the publication of his aforementioned 2009 memoir, including struggles with his health and his Back to the Beginning concert. If you haven’t seen clips of it, you’ll also need another box of tissues for it, especially for his “Mama, I’m Coming Home” performance.
For something melancholic, try Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven for an ambient post-rock experience that merges upbeat sections with more atmospheric and desolate instrumentation. This record, concocted by the Montreal-based band, almost sounds dystopian, demonstrating a mixture of dejection and more groovy upbeat sections that perfectly showcases the band’s mastery in moving between segments and tracks in a cinematic manner. Maybe their discography will sink you into some sort of internal philosophical pondering, too!
To end it off, my last bit of advice is to consider digging through our audiobooks collection if you just want to squeeze your eyes shut and listen to books, rather than reading them. As mentioned in the first section about home renovation shows, staring at a screen for extended periods can be tiring; some of us may also feel the same way about reading books for too long, especially books with smaller texts (Large Prints for the win!). It’s great to listen and not have to wrestle the blanket over your arms while holding those heavy hardcovers. See you next year!