The Ultimate Cozy Weekend Checklist
I love the idea of having a weekend where you don't really have anywhere you need to be. When there's no complicated plans or not having to wake up early because there is somewhere to go. I love a weekend where I can just do whatever sounds good. Maybe that's playing a game for a few hours, finally watching the movie you've had on your list forever, get some reading done, work on a hobby, make something good to eat, or leave the house for a little adventure. Honestly, it can be a combination of all those things
That's what I think makes a cozy weekend so much fun. There isn't really a right way to do it, just something that works for you. I put together a little checklist of ideas you can mix and match depending on what kind of weekend you're looking for!
You definitely don't need to do everything on this list, please don't turn your relaxing weekend into a second job! Pick a few things that sound fun and go from there.
Cozy Weekend Ideas: Start With a Game
For me, gaming is an easy way to start my cozy weekend checklist. Sometimes I want something where I can just take my time while other times, I want something that gives me an actual goal to work toward. There are a lot of different ways to make gaming part of your weekend, depending on what you're in the mood for.
You could:
Start a new game you've been wanting to try
Go back to a game you haven't played in a while
Work on a challenge or save you've been putting off
Play something you've already beaten just because it's fun
Try a cozy game you've never played before
Play a multiplayer game with your partner, friends, or family
Spend an embarrassing amount of time decorating something
And if you don't know what you want to play, there's always the option of scrolling through your game library for way too long before eventually choosing the same game you've played a hundred times.
I've definitely never done that... I'm definitely never scrolling through Steam to see if my wishlist games are on sale...
Weekend quest: Play something for a while without worrying about whether you're being "productive" with your time.
Have a Movie Night
There's something about watching a movie at home when you don't have anything else you need to do that makes it feel a little more special. You could finally watch something that's been sitting on your watchlist, put on an old favorite, or pick something completely random.
You could even make it a little theme night.
I am not typically a movie person, but the fall is when I am more inclined to want to watch one. I love a good Halloween movie, a horror, or just a cozy fall movie. Just don't forget the snacks!
You don't need to make a whole production out of it, either. Get comfortable, make some popcorn, turn the lights down, and actually watch the movie instead of spending half of it scrolling on your phone. Although I'm not saying I've never done that, either. Just ask my husband.
Read a Little
You don't have to finish an entire book for it to count as reading.
Read a chapter.
Read for twenty minutes.
Read before bed.
Read while you're drinking your coffee.
If you've been trying to get back into reading, a cozy weekend is a pretty good excuse to pick your book back up without putting a bunch of pressure on yourself. I've been getting back into reading myself, and Project Hail Mary was one of the books that helped get me excited about picking up a book again. If you want to hear my thought about it read my other blog, I Don’t Like Sci-Fi Books… So Why Couldn’t I Put Down Project Hail Mary?
You could:
Start a new book
Continue the one you're already reading
Re-read an old favorite
Read a graphic novel or manga
Visit a bookstore or library and find something new
Read somewhere other than your normal spot
Listen to an audiobook
And if you have a book you've been meaning to read for approximately six months, this is your sign.
Make Something Good to Eat
I'm not saying you need to spend your Saturday making an elaborate recipe from scratch. Sometimes a cozy weekend snack is just your favorite popcorn, cookies, ice cream, soup, or ordering in what you've been craving all week. But if you enjoy cooking or baking, you could also use the weekend to try something new.
Personally, I have restarted my sourdough journey and am currently trying to keep my starter alive. You could also find a recipe you've saved and actually make it, try a new coffee or tea, make homemade pizza, put together a snack board, bake something you've never made before. or make something you've had before but haven't had in a long time.
The point is really just to have something you actually want to eat. That's enough of a weekend activity for me.
Spend Some Time on a Hobby
This is probably the easiest thing to keep putting off when life gets busy. You think, "I'll work on that this weekend," and then suddenly it's Sunday night and you haven't touched it. All I'm saying is to pick something and actually give yourself some time to do it. It doesn't have to be a huge project at all.
If you like photography, take your camera somewhere and take some pictures. Edit some of the photos you've had sitting on your computer. Try a photography challenge. Photography is one of the hobbies I've been finding my way back to, so this is definitely one I'd put on my own weekend list.
If you like drawing, draw something.
If you scrapbook, make a page.
If you like writing, write.
If you like gaming, play a game.
If you like crafting, work on that project you've had sitting around. I've talked before about some of the creative hobbies I've picked up over the years, and I still think there's something really nice about having a hobby that's just yours. Read How I Balance Too Many Creative Interests for more!
And it doesn't have to be good. I think that's one of the easiest things to forget about hobbies. Not everything needs to turn into content, a finished project, or something you're proud enough to post online. Sometimes you can just enjoy doing it.
Do One Small Thing Around the House
Trust me, I know. Cleaning isn't exactly what comes to mind when you hear "cozy weekend."
But hear me out! I don't mean take the whole weekend and do a deep clean of everything, that can be a lot. All I'm saying is to pick one thing.
You could wash your sheets, clean your nightstand, reset your desk space, finally put that laundry pile away, organize your photo library. The point is, just pick something small to help you reset and leave it at that. We aren't trying to start a cleaning marathon; that's for a different weekend. It's just nice when one small part of your space feels a little bit better.
Go on a Little Adventure
A cozy weekend doesn't have to mean staying home the entire time. Sometimes getting out of the house for a couple of hours is exactly what you need. One of my favorite weekend cozy adventures is to go to our favorite used bookstore or even walk around an antique mall.
You could try a coffee shop you've never been to before, go thrifting, visit the library, explore a local market, go for a walk, visit a museum, take some photos, or try a restaurant you've been curious about. You could even just get in the car and go somewhere without having a huge plan.
That's one of my favorite things about the idea of a "side quest." It doesn't have to be important, and you can just decide that you're going to go see what you find. Sometimes a little adventure turns into a much bigger one. I've had a few of those moments myself, including our Utopia of the Seas trip which you can read more about here.
If you live somewhere that has a lot to do, there's probably a pretty good chance that you've been driving past places for months without ever actually stopping! Maybe this weekend is when you finally do.
Make Your Space Feel Cozy
You don't need to completely redecorate your house every time you want a cozy weekend.
Sometimes it's just a few little things like:
Putting on a playlist.
Turning off the big light.
Grabbing a blanket.
Putting on comfortable clothes.
Making your favorite drink.
Lighting a candle.
Putting your phone on Do Not Disturb for a while.
Basically, make your space feel like somewhere you actually want to spend the day. And if it's still approximately a million degrees outside because you live in Florida and fall hasn't shown up yet, that's okay. You can still have a fall-ish cozy weekend without wearing a sweater and pretending you're not sweating.
Spend Time with Someone
Cozy weekends don't have to be a solo thing, either. You could have a movie night with your partner or friends, play a co-op game, go get coffee, try a new restaurant, visit a bookstore, or just hang out at home.
Honestly, sometimes the best plans are when you and another person are both doing your own thing in the same room. My husband and I do that a lot! One of us is gaming while the other is editing his next YouTube video. Maybe we have Danny Phantom playing in the background. Speaking of my husband and his YouTube, if you have not taken the time to check out his channel, he makes videos talking about your favorite things in media from a Christian perspective! Go check him out at Nazirite Media. I'm so proud of him.
Need Help Deciding? Make It a Side Quest
If you can't decide what to do, you can always make it a game! Grab yourself a six-sided die and let it choose your activity. You can even throw this into a spinner wheel and see what you get. Or, if you don't feel like making your own, you can use my Roll a Quest generator on the home page and let it pick your next little adventure for you.
1) Gaming: Pick a game and play for a while.
2) Movie: Have a movie night.
3) Reading: Read for at least 20 minutes.
4) Creative: Work on a hobby or make something.
5) Food: Make or try a snack you've never had before.
6) Adventure: Leave the house and go somewhere you've never been.
And if you don't like what you rolled? Roll again.
I'm not going to tell you how to run your own side quest. Plus, there's no actual rules here!
Want to keep track of your side quests? I made a free Side Quest Tracker for exactly that! Use it to jot down the little adventures, activities, and random things you want to try. You can find it with my other freebies on the "Freebies," page!
The Ultimate Cozy Weekend Checklist
If you just want the short version, here's your checklist.
Entertainment
☐ Play a game
☐ Watch a movie
☐ Rewatch a favorite show
☐ Read a book
Food
☐ Make a favorite snack
☐ Try a new recipe
☐ Make a cozy drink
☐ Get your favorite takeout
Hobbies
☐ Take some photos
☐ Work on a creative project
☐ Pick up a hobby you've been neglecting
☐ Try something new
Home
☐ Change your sheets
☐ Tidy one small area
☐ Make your favorite space a little cozier
☐ Put on a playlist
Adventures
☐ Try somewhere new
☐ Go for a walk
☐ Visit a bookstore, market, or museum
☐ Complete a random side quest
People
☐ Have a game night
☐ Have a movie night
☐ Get coffee with someone
☐ Plan a date or little outing
Make Your Own Cozy Weekend
If you want an easy formula, pick one thing from each category:
Something to play.
Something to watch.
Something to eat.
Something to read.
Something creative.
Something fun to do outside the house.
You don't even have to do all of them. Maybe your perfect weekend is staying home in pajamas and playing games all day, or maybe you want to go out for coffee, browse a bookstore, and come home and watch a movie. Maybe you want to spend Saturday taking pictures and Sunday doing absolutely nothing. All of those are valid.
I think sometimes we put way too much pressure on our weekends to be exciting. We try to fill every available hour because we're afraid we'll "waste" our time. Sometimes doing something you enjoy is enough to fulfill your weekend.
So, pick a few things from the list, make yourself a snack, get comfortable, and see where the weekend takes you. If you happen to complete a few side quests along the way, even better!
Your Side Quest:
What does your perfect cozy weekend look like? Are you gaming, reading, watching a movie, getting out of the house, working on a hobby, or doing absolutely nothing?
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