With the winter months quickly approaching, many people are starting to feel the winter blues (totally common and valid). That being said, there are a few ways to make the most out of the winter season and keep your spirits high. This year in particular will be more challenging due to COVID, but I assure you, there are ways to conquer the cold!
The first part of this article is going to focus on outdoor winter activities. It is so important to get outside even when it is cold!!! So, go bundle up and head outside!
Ice skating!
- Many cities offer indoor and outdoor public skating for free or a cheap price, so grab your skates and lace up! It’s also a great way to get some physical activity and can be a fun socially distanced activity to do with some friends or family!
Tobogganing
- If you live in a snowy city or a city with some mountains, grab your sled and feel the rush!
Go for walks and explore
- The winter transforms cities, whether it be by snow or by beautiful lights and nature. It’s the perfect time to grab your walking boots and take in all that your city has to offer. Getting fresh air will help fight the winter blues, plus it is a great source of physical activity! Try going for a walk every day, even if it’s just a short one.
Skiing/snowboarding
- More physical activity with exhilaration and breathtaking views! Lots of cities have ski and snowboarding spots and some great deals for the season. Even if you’re a newbie, this may be the perfect time to give it a try!
Now onto the indoor activities that are perfect for the winter!
Getting into a new hobby
- If you haven’t already found your quarantine hobby or if you are looking for a new one, there are lots of fun things to do besides watching Netflix and scrolling on social media. Baking, sewing, journaling, scrapbooking, vision boarding, etc. are all great ideas. Pinterest is a great place for some inspo!
Staying active
- Whether this be hitting the gym or doing some YouTube vids, there are plenty of ways to stay active this winter. Many schools and cities have great resources on their websites involving what is open for in person workouts and virtual workouts. If your city is allowing fitness classes, there are lots of fitness studios like kickboxing, HIIT, spin biking, hot yoga, etc. that you could try out to keep yourself moving! Not only is it fun, but working out releases lots of ‘feel good’ endorphins that’ll help knock the winter blues.
Plan social events
- Having things to look forward to is so important when dealing with tough times. By planning virtual hangouts or socially distant and safe hangouts, you will have something to look forward to and help keep your social sanity. Isolation and loneliness are very common during the winter and especially now during the pandemic, so make it a priority to keep social (but safely of course)!
Take some time to organize or redecorate
- With spending more time inside, there are plenty of things you can do to help yourself enjoy your space. Organize your space and keep it clutter and mess free. Redecorating might also be fun for a fresh start and to keep your space fresh and feeling new!
Although this isn’t a winter activity, light therapy lamps can help battle seasonal depression and make winter feel a little less winter-y. It may be a good idea to invest. The health promotions team at uOttawa has some great resources on their Instagram page (@uohealth.uosante) about light therapy and other ways to fight the heavy side effects of winter.
My biggest tip is to try and embrace winter and plan your days with a variety of activities to avoid falling into a slump. Prioritize your mental and physical health and remember that there are plenty of resources through the university or through your local cities that provide help, ideas, and activities. All in all, do not hibernate till spring because winter is a beautiful time of year with a wide range of unique activities to do and views to explore!
