Making the Most of Winter

Winter. Where we live it can be a hard season for various reasons: it’s dark (in the mornings when you rise & it starts getting dark late afternoon); it’s cold; it’s grey & dreary; it’s long. In all honestly, I love living where we get to enjoy all the seasons. And when it’s winter I want there to be snow. This year has been rather strange so far as we haven’t had much snow at all - a lot of rain. It’s not fun for the kiddos and I find the rain quite a bit more gloomy than snow. So here’s hoping for some more snow before spring arrives!

All that being said, If you find the winter months long & dreary here’s some things that may help.

Ways you can make the most of winter:

• Get outside. I love it outside & I love taking my kids outside. However, in winter it can be a bit more challenging to do this. I mean, it’s cold. So getting everyone winter ready is a bit of a chore & sometimes, let’s be honest, a wrestling match (at least with the current age my kids are at). That being said, once we get outside it’s great and I always feel so much better afterwards.

Have you heard of “1000 Hours Outside”? It’s where you track your outdoor hours for a year (obviously trying to reach 1000hrs of outdoor time). This is the second year I’m attempting to do this with the kiddos. There’s a printable you can use to log your hours and some really great ideas of things you can do if you’re feeling a bit stuck. Plus, they have an app that makes it really easy to track your time - I opted to get this as it makes it a wee bit more convenient. It’s kind of fun to see how many hours you log over the course of a year! Plus, it’s also a great motivator to get outside.

• Get a new house plant (or two). Seriously, when everything seems dead outside bring something living into your home. It will brighten things up a bit. I share about some of my favourite house plants here.

• Read more. This is something I’ve been trying to do for the last year. You know, pick up a book instead of my phone and opt not to turn on Netflix. Winter is a great time to read more, especially in the evenings. For the most part we’re all probably inside more so instead of turning on Netflix or aimlessly scrolling, try reading. It’s also great chance to utilize the library! I love that I can go online, find some books, and schedule a pick-up (I just did this this weekend!).

• Cook or bake something new. Try the new recipes you’ve been wanting to try. Maybe get a new cookbook (or borrow one from the library!). Pinterest is also a great place to search for recipes. There’s nothing like comfort food this time of year so why not try something new? This year I’m finally learning sourdough & I love it!

• Make it cozy. Light the candles. Add a lamp, blankets/throws, pillows, slippers, etc. Just make it a priority to create cozy in your home. Need some cozy tips? The Little Book of Hygge is a great read if you’re looking for some ideas.

• Enjoy all the warm drinks. I’ll have my coffee in the morning, and in the winter my afternoons are generally filled with tea. I can usually be found drinking herbal tea either after my kids get home from school or I’ll make a cup to enjoy while I’m cooking dinner.

• Do a puzzle. Yes, a puzzle. There’s something about working on a puzzle that’s relaxing. Or maybe that’s just me? It’s something to do other than TV or being on your phone. There’s so many cute ones out there.

• Create an evening rhythm or routine. Don’t underestimate a good evening rhythm/routine. Again, you’re probably inside more, the evenings are dark so why not set up a nice routine that you can look forward to each (or most) nights? My evening routine generally includes a quick tidy, a bit of prep for the next day, my skincare routine, sometimes tea, and relaxing. I try and get the bulk of house tasks done throughout the day so that the evenings can be chill.

What would you add to the list??