For most of us, winter can be a long, hard season. This is especially true if it's a particularly harsh winter, with multiple snowstorms, freezing rain, and ice. This can create treacherous conditions, preventing people not only from getting things done but also from enjoying many outdoor activities.
This winter, many states have endured an especially hard winter. A couple of snowstorms dumped over a foot of snow, followed by frigid temperatures that kept it on the ground for months. Although this was common in decades past, many states have not seen snow remain on the ground for this long. As a result, it has been very difficult for people to enjoy winter, as it feels as if it's dragging on indefinitely.
There are ways to enjoy winter rather than counting down the days to spring. Here are some ways to enjoy—and even thrive—during the winter months:
Start an Indoor Hobby
Many people love spring and summer because they can enjoy time outdoors. This allows them to participate in outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, running, and walking, and to enjoy the fresh air and connect with nature. It not only helps people care for their physical health but also helps them connect with God spiritually. When winter brings heavy snowfall, outdoor activities become very difficult.
Brainstorm things you can do indoors that you can enjoy. You may prefer quiet activities, such as puzzles, crossword puzzles, or arts and crafts. If you long to exercise, buy an indoor walking pad. This slim walking pad resembles a treadmill without the bar, which helps you hold on. When set up in your living room, it can face the television. You can walk and watch TV or enjoy a movie at the same time. This will not only help you meet your step goal but also improve your physical health.
If you can afford it, invest in an indoor gym. Get some weights, a bench, or other equipment to perform weight-bearing activities that not only help you build muscle but also improve cardiovascular health. Weight-bearing exercises can have significant effects on physical health, often more than walking or jogging. Substitute indoor gym time for outdoor walking time. You may find it challenging to increase muscle and reduce fat.
For an added incentive, challenge a friend or two to exercise with you. They can either be physically present with you while you exercise, or you can do the exercises at home. Check in with each other regularly and see how well you're doing. You can make weight-bearing exercises more engaging and challenging through healthy competition.
Play Board Games
Although games on the computer or the phone can pass the hours, nothing beats an old-fashioned board game. Invite some friends over and play. It can be a classic game like Monopoly for Scrabble, or a new game like Ticket to Ride or What Do You Meme? No matter what game you choose, seek to have fun with friends. Although you may not be able to fulfill your desire to go out and enjoy the fresh air and nature, you can replace it by spending time with friends and making memories.
If hosting friends at your home is not possible, consider a Zoom call. You can have friends join you on Zoom, all have the game in front of them, and play together. By using strategy and skill, you can find a group game that builds on team-building and strengthens your bond, which may be more effective than going for a walk.
Make a Winter- Themed Night
If you are creative, think of games and activities you can do when it is cold outside. Make snow cones, crumple up white pieces of paper, and have an indoor snowball fight, or make old-fashioned ice cream. You can also watch winter-themed movies and talk about what you love about winter. Being together will not only strengthen your family bond but also put a positive spin on an otherwise dull and dreary season.
You can also go out and enjoy the snow on the ground. Make snow angels or make a snowman. Even if it's just you and a significant other or spouse, relive old childhood memories by enjoying an old-fashioned day out in the snow. The memories you build by putting a positive spin on a tough season will help you bond as a couple or as a family in new and exciting ways.
Do Your Spring-Clean Early
Instead of spending warm days indoors cleaning your house, make it a winter cleaning session. Each week, focus on cleaning one area of your home. Declutter closets, clean the garage, wash curtains, and replace bedding. You can also take it one step further and redecorate or create themes for each room in your house. If the budget allows, you can purchase new throw pillows, bedspreads, and rugs. It can be exciting to explore all the creative possibilities for your home.
You could also create a different theme for each room in your house and decorate accordingly. For example, the bathroom could have a beach theme, the kitchen a farmhouse theme, and the living room a contemporary theme. It's also a great way to make the most of extra indoor time without spending it indoors on days when you'd rather be outside.
If doing chores doesn't excite you, consider taking on a new home project. You can redecorate your home's walls or tackle that project you've been wanting to do but have put off. You can put hardwood floors in your home or update a kitchen or living space.
Use the time you would spend outdoors to strategically plan projects you may want to pursue as you count down the days to spring.
Watch Old Movies
If passive activities are exciting, consider watching movies you have not seen before. Do some research on some classic movies or movies from the decade in which you were born, and watch those titles. Compare and contrast how life has changed and what is depicted in those old movies versus what is depicted today. Discuss with your spouse or someone else watching the movie, and share your ideas on what you're glad has changed and what you wish would come back from the good old days.
Take it one step further and dress up as a favorite character, or create a skit or play based on what you see. Take one of the characters from the movies you watch and make something new. Write a screenplay outlining the character of your choice. Write a play or movie based on what their life might be like outside of the movie you watched. It will be fun brainstorming together what it will look like to create new people in new plots as you take a stab at the screenwriting world and create new movies and characters for others to enjoy.
For some, winter can feel like it's dragging on and lasting for ages. However, it doesn't have to be that way. By implementing some of the suggestions above or coming up with your own, winter can be a fun and exciting time for you and your family. All it takes is a little creativity, ingenuity, and a positive outlook on a season that brings with it frigid temperatures and barren trees.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/skynesher
