Against the Winter Blues: Things to Do
The winter season brings cold winds and possible snowfall. Many of us take this as an opportunity to relax and distance ourselves from the vigor of our usual working lives. Layered clothes, a cup of hot chocolate, and a crackling fire can instantly calm our weary minds and souls. Time spent with loved ones indoors can be therapeutic in this fast-moving world.
But for those who love the high energy that the bright sunny days give, the cold winter can be dark, gloomy, and even depressing. To keep our moods up, we will have to keep our bodies moving as well. Doing physical activities during the winter not only helps to ignore the cold, but spending as little as ten minutes of your day to break some sweat will greatly lift your present disposition.
So to get out of the emotional rut brought by winter, here is a list of activities you can do outside your home to keep your energy flowing.
1. Stroll around the neighborhood
Going for a walk around town can be fun during the winter season. Fewer people roam the streets, giving you a clearer look at the surroundings. You get to see the different lights and decorations your neighbors put up for the holidays. Shopping centers are displaying various winter-themed things. Warm food and drinks are being sold everywhere. It’s like having a whole different perspective on the same area you’ve been living in.
Get your friends and family to walk with you. Having company can make time fly, and you won’t even feel how far you’ve walked around.
2. Go hiking
Some people think that summer is the time for hiking. But during the winter, more people are staying inside their homes, meaning that fewer people go on hikes so you can take your time while to take in the view. The cold changes the scenery, from greens and browns to grays and whites, bringing an atmosphere of peace.
Try to begin your hike early, as the dark may catch you while still on the trail. Just make sure that the weather is fine, and the trail is safe for hikers during the season.
3. Try winter sports
If you are feeling athletic during especially frosty days, you can always try winter sports for leisure.
For newbies, ice skating makes us imagine graceful ballerinas dancing and twirling on thin ice. Although this image will not exactly reflect on us while flailing around on those metal blades, even just attempting to skate makes for a bit of exercise. Falling is unavoidable if we want to learn, but we’ll be skating like it’s the most natural thing in the world with some patience.
If you are more into sliding down a snowy slope, you have skiing and snowboarding as options. Both of these are relatively easy as you are just letting gravity pull you down the incline. The hard part is maintaining your balance, making you work out your core and lower body muscles. Just ready your sports gear, your winter skipants from Bogner, and a few pairs of gloves for catching yourself from falling face-first into the snow.
4. Maintain your yard
If you don’t really feel like leaving your home to move around, you can always look for chores to do around your yard because there’s always something to do! If the ground is not frozen, you can do a bit of gardening. Remove weeds and dead plants.
Apply mulch on flower beds. If snow is beginning to pile up, rev your snowblower or start shoveling as a safety measure for your sidewalks and driveways. Clear your gutters. Rake excess leaves. Yard work is an all-year-round activity that you can certainly use as daily exercise.
5. Play in the snow
Want to feel like a kid again? Get your family to play in the snow with you to forget about all your worries temporarily. Build a snowman or make unique and funny snow sculptures. Lie on the ground and make snow angels. Hide in a snow fort and start a snowball fight. The nostalgic feel of snow in your hands can bring a feeling of warmth to the heart (and the activities will surely keep you from being idle inside your home).
6. Swim in an indoor pool
Swimming in an indoor pool can make it feel like summer again. With pools usually heated for the season, you can enjoy all pool activities while ignoring the cold outside. Parents can also use this opportunity to teach their children to swim for when summer beach trips come again next year.
These tips will definitely keep your whole family up and moving during the coming cold months. Just make sure that you take all safety precautions before going outside. But don’t forget to also take a break and enjoy the warm fire and hot drinks because that’s what the winter season is all about.