It’s getting cold out there, y’all. Cue: endless #hygge posts on Instagram. For the uninitiated, Hygge is the Danish philosophy centered around living a cozy life, basically. And this week’s roundup of ways to upgrade your week—workouts, activities, recipes and more—centers on that theme. Because, I repeat: It’s getting cold out there.
Below, find the cozy socks you need to get on your feet, stat, a delicious soup recipe that gets better as it sits in the fridge, plants that are nearly impossible to kill (hey, black thumbs have to spruce up their homes for hibernation, too!), and an ode to saunas. Take your pick of one or all of ‘em and watch your week get better.
Monday
Grocery shop better. Consider Iovine’s in Reading Terminal Market your cold-weather farmer’s market—they have a huge selection of produce and amazing prices (I’ve gotten bigger-than-my-torso bags of spinach there for $6). And if the Reading Terminal Market crowds scare you, note that weekdays are far less claustrophobic. Do it.
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Tuesday
Run to fries! Shack Track + Field’s monthly run to—you guessed it!—Shake Shack is back this Tuesday. The three-to- five-mile run starts at Philadelphia Runner in Center City and ends at the University City Shake Shack. Added workout incentive: Your first drink is covered once you make it there. Do it.
Wednesday
Get cozy! A good pair of socks is like a vacuum: You know you’re officially a full-grown adult when you’ve developed an appreciation—or, dare I say, an enthusiasm—for a good pair of socks. And with winter creeping in on us, it’s time to stock up. Old City’s Cuttalossa, full of all sorts of lust-worthy adult items (table linens! Beautiful towels! Fruit bowls!), stocks alpaca socks that are cute, comfy and warm AF. Do it.
Thursday
Walk it out! It’s National Gratitude Month, and it’s no secret that a steady gratitude practice is good for us. If journaling isn’t your jam, try a gratitude walk—it’s exactly what it sounds like, but you can find an explanation over on MindBodyGreen. Do it.
Friday
Sit still for a minute. Sauna appreciation is seasonal (after all, we basically live in a sauna from June through August)—and with plummeting temps, access to a sauna is really appreciated right now. Schedule your Friday workout at one of our sauna-equipped clubs, and stop in for a moment of me-time (how often do you just sit and do nothing? Never, right?) and warmth afterward. Do it.
Saturday
Pick up a plant or two. We can’t control the sad, leaves-less trees outside, but we can surround ourselves with copious green leaves inside. And black thumbs need not be wary: STUMP’s Emily Kellett pointed out five plants for us that are hard to destroy. (Praise be.) Do it.
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Sunday
Make a Sunday soup! This is a solid Sunday practice to pick up—a little work gets you a big pot of soup you can eat all week long. (Hello, Hygge.) This Healthyish farro and escarole soup is a good place to start. Do it.
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