Have you ever found yourself tired of the cold weather, exhausted from upcoming deadlines, or lacking that much-needed sunshine? I don’t know about you, but winter has never been twice as easy for me and even the least difficult daily tasks seem harder than ever. Sometimes I feel good for nothing and cannot leave the warmth of my apartment. So, I came up with a couple of tips and tricks for you on how to make your day in the gloomy weather worth it or at least a bit better.

Go and see

There is no better start than going for a walk. If you do not have a destination in mind, just wander through the streets and enjoy the luxury of being in a beautiful city like Amsterdam. I know it might not sound like the most useful advice you were hoping for, but what better plan can you make for yourself than to get absorbed in the streets of the city?

If you do not feel like aimlessly wandering, try doing something new for the very first time. Go to that street that your friend told you about, but you never actually found time to see it. Visit that coffee place that you have seen and saved on Instagram, but never went to. Take yourself on a date to see that exhibition you read about but had no one to go with. Do it for yourself. Small accomplishments of the day are still accomplishments. So just go and see. I recommend checking the big villa houses past Vondelpark from the benches by the pond while daydreaming about the life you cannot quite afford yet. Another spot worth stopping by is Museumplein, where I suggest sitting at the top of the curved lawn in front of Stedelijk and fully committing to people-watching.

Indulge yourself

Treat yourself to something, something tasty and delicious. Something, that will make your tastebuds sad once you finish eating. Maybe even one you’ll find yourself thinking about days later. While this tip is a quick and easy fix, it is also weatherproof. Even when it’s raining cats and dogs, you can still order anything online and get it delivered. Nevertheless, the best place I go to experience genuine pleasure is BunBun. This small artisan bakehouse sells buns made of layered croissant dough filled with the most delicious creams and is going to comfort all of your cravings (it will also haunt you in your sleep till you get some more). Another spot I go to for some pleasure is the Darras Coffee Roasters booth at Albert Cyupmarkt, where I always get a warm cup of dirty chai latte. Not only is this the best chai latte I have ever had, but it is also being sold by a very friendly barista who will always give you a kind smile as a side of your drink.

The last spot I would like to highlight, while still staying at Albert Cyupmarkt is Twins Olives. A fine wrap stuffed with mango hummus, dried tomatoes, flavorful anchovies, and a good handful of olives never disappoints. If you would like to enjoy it from your cozy bed, buy yourself their godlike hummus, tapenades and some crackers to-go. You can munch on these while watching Netflix later. This is a dreamlike Saturday to me.

Lèche-vitrine and splurging

The French term lèche-vitrine in literal translation means window licking, which is my favorite activity. It pleases the eye as much as it pleases the wallet because it is not financially demanding if you are there only to window shop. However, it is very dangerous, and it can cost you an arm and a leg if you are not careful. The ideal street I would point out is P.C. Hooftstraat, where high fashion brands reside in the most dazzling buildings (specifically check out Hermés). Their window displays are an art form in itself—and do not even get me started on what you can find inside the designer houses. My curiosity often takes me out strolling by Gerard Doustraat or Elandsgracht, where I let myself splurge. What you can find are different curated vintage stores such as Enso, offering timeless pieces of clothing with which you only reap success, Baskéts and their assortment of trendy sneakers, or the hot and make-your-ex-jealous underwear by Love Stories.

If you get on a bike, a tram, or go on foot for 10 minutes, you never know where you might find yourself. You can get lost, aimlessly wander, lick the rest of the frosting from the paper of your bun or window shop. Afterall, whatever you end up doing will make your day better.