Embracing Winter

How are you faring this winter? Has it been mild and muddy or have you been buried under snow? Are your days dragging or are they moving quickly? With a little more than a month until the first official day of spring, we thought we’d share some fun ideas to help you get through the next few weeks of cold! 

Get Outside Everyday! 

Yep. Get fresh air every single day. Dress in comfortable layers of clothing and appropriate outerwear for the conditions. If sidewalks are icy, consider wearing boots with good traction or add some removable ice cleats to your shoes. If you get hooked on winter walks, cold weather enthusiasts swear by neck gaiters, a lightweight but warm addition to keep your neck warm and hold in your body heat. Layer up and head out! Soak up sunshine when you can get it and move your body. 

Lamp O’ Clock

Dark mornings, afternoons, and early evenings can be a real bummer. Lean into the shorter days and cozy up your home with lamps and candles. Skip the overhead lights and invest in table and task lighting. Turn these on as dusk is falling and bring the cozy in. Currently the market is flooded with tons of fun, small, rechargeable lamps. Most hold a charge for 8-9 hours and we love adding to rooms for another layer of warmth (this cute one is on sale)!

Game Night 

Do people in your house love games? Loathe games? Pick one night a week for game night. Learn a new game together (our families recently got hooked on this fast-paced one) or play an old favorite. Let family members take turns choosing a game and gather together with some favorite snacks and music for a cozy night in. Invite friends over or keep it small. 

Citrus 

Tis the season to enjoy all the citrus things. Brighten up meal times with citrus fruit, make a jar of citrus dressing to use for dinners throughout the week, diffuse citrus oils, and bring pops of yellow and orange into your home to lift the dreary days. We love to make a batch of these for quick afternoon snacks. 

Take Advantage of Indoor Time

Chores you put off during the warmer months? Closet you’ve been avoiding? Messy desktop when you open your computer? Drawers chock full of winter layers and summer clothes? Take advantage of the slower, indoor days and tackle some of the more time consuming chores you’ve put off. Tackle one drawer or closet at a time. We like to empty the entirety of the drawer or closet and do a quick sort; trash, recycling, donate, keep. Move the first three out of your space quickly and organize what remains. Commit to putting things away properly and enjoy your newly refreshed and organized space. We recently purchased these to organize miscellaneous items under the kitchen sink (sponges, dishwasher soap pods, straw cleaners, etc.) and it is a whole new world of order and organization! 

Warming Dinners and Drinks

This time of year our bodies crave warmth. Warm foods can be gentle on our digestion and make us feel good when temperatures outside cool. Cozying up with a bowl of delicious food on a cold night feels like a reward after a long day. We love to make soup or roast vegetables on Sundays to enjoy for lunch throughout the week. Baked casseroles and one skillet meals bring comfort and ease to weeknights. Another family favorite around here is to cook a pot of beans and serve with rice and toppings for everyone to customize their own bowl. Keep things simple and comforting! 

Host a Gathering

No need to be a hermit when it’s cold. Invite friends over for a fun dinner, a themed game night, or work a jigsaw puzzle together. Make a pot of hot chocolate and host friends to watch old classic movies or play cards. Have a fondue night and have friends volunteer to bring different items to dip in cheese or chocolate. Have a fireplace? Burn a rainbow fire stick and have a cozy night by the fire playing dominoes or charades. 

Winter won’t stick around forever! Already the afternoons are staying light a little bit longer and soon enough we will be managing busy spring calendars. The more we can embrace the season instead of wishing it away, the happier our days will feel and the more content we will be. We’d love to hear from you in the comments. How are you embracing your winter days? What are your tips for battling the cold? Stay warm and cozy!