I’ve never really been a winter person. As a kid, the lights, magic, and sweets of the holidays all seemed to take the chill out of the air. I devoured every soup commercial and very special Christmas episode of Touched by an Angel featuring Randy Travis as if they alone held the key to Yuletide happiness. But underneath all that was the dread of Christmas Day actually arriving, giving way to the cold, dark, and damp. When it seemed like there was nothing special to look forward to but the coming of spring.
After living in the mountains from age 18-25, I was REALLY DONE. Done with snow, ice, and seasonal affective disorder. Done with my feet feeling frozen solid all season. Done with bundling up to go out, then unbundling and being saddled with carrying around the bundle of bundles. I’d basically devolved into Dustin Hoffman’s character from Midnight Cowboy, shivering cold and muttering about how I had to get to Florida.
I’m not sure why, but I think I’m finally kind of looking forward to winter this year. I feel ready to embrace extreme coziness. I’m ready for blankets, books, and hot beverages. I’m ready for time to slow down. I’m ready for it… Maybe.
Something I’ve always struggled with is what to do in January and February. When I look up ideas online, a lot of them are very snow-based, which isn’t really helpful where I live now. So, I’ve decided to brainstorm my own list of ideas to enjoy winter (or just muddle through if I decide I hate this season again after a few weeks). Here’s what I’ve come up with so far! You can tell me if you have anything to add (or just say “Hi!” to let me know I’m not typing into the void)!
Check out the events at your local library. There’s usually a ton of interesting stuff going on for all ages. In addition to in-person activities, ours is having a community winter reading challenge. For every 5 hours of reading, you win a prize or are entered into a grand prize drawing at the end. (Spoiler alert: The adult reading prize was a calendar, which I was actually really excited to get. I’d just been thinking about how I needed a new calendar and the universe provided!)
Take part in February’s annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Spend at least 15 minutes identifying all the birds you see and hear in any area you choose. We did this last year in our neighborhood and it was so fun! The GBBC gave us a reason to spend a little time outdoors in mid-February. We also ended up chatting with a neighbor who asked why we were walking around with binoculars. I’m not sure if you’d consider that a positive or a negative, but I didn’t mind telling her a little bit about birding. For more info, visit https://www.birdcount.org
Visit a local museum or other indoor attraction. You know, one of those places you normally only think of to entertain out-of-town guests. It can be fun to play tourist in your own town every once in a while! One of the museums near us has a children’s play area, so that alone could be a good reason to visit with our daughter on a chilly day.
Start (or finish) reading one of the books that’s been collecting dust on your shelf. If it doesn’t grab you, pick something else. Because it’s a brand new year and we’re not here for suffering. Don’t be like me at 21, beating my head against a wall trying to finish 454 pages of We Were the Mulvaneys. (Potential comedy bit idea for John Mulaney: We Were the Mulaneys? No? Yeah, okay.) In any event, grab your snuggliest blanket and get cozy with a good read!
Start seedlings indoors for your spring garden (6-8 weeks before you expect the last frost in your area). There’s something so joyful about seeing that first little bit of green springing up from the dirt! We did this for several years with tomatoes and peppers, but haven’t done any gardening since becoming parents. It might be time to ease back into growing and teach our kid about plants!
Go Geocaching on a day when the weather isn’t too bad. A dreary, barren landscape can really work to your advantage when trying to find things hidden outside!
Add a city that’s way colder than where you live to your weather app. Almost every day in the winter, I check up on the good people of Coldfoot, Alaska to gain a little perspective. We’re all very much entitled to hate whatever weather we want, but it does make me feel less whiny to remember that some places probably consider any non-negative temperature a warm day. (Fun fact: I once met someone who eloped in Coldfoot because it would make such a cute story to literally have cold feet on their wedding day.)
Make something warm to eat or drink. Homemade soup, chili, quiche, banana bread to eat toasted with butter. All the teas, coffees, and hot chocolates. A warm winter belly can be so deeply satisfying.
Clean and declutter your living space. Why wait until spring? If you’re going to be cooped up, it might as well be in an environment that makes you feel happy and relaxed.
Give yourself a break if you don’t do anything at all this season. It’s a tough one. If you accomplish more than a bear would, consider it a win.
I’ll see if I can come up with more ideas for February! Let me know what else I should try, and what you love or hate about winter!
