11 Tips: How to Survive (and Thrive) This Winter
UPDATED: 2/5/2023
For anyone who has been reading our blog for a while, you’ve seen them: the little kicks and punches I throw in the direction of winter. Sure, winter has its sunny spots (pun intended) like unexpectedly warm days popping up every so often to remind us that the season will eventually end. Of course, most of the unseasonably warm days are during the work week because winter always has the last laugh (I did not fact check this statement, but it feels accurate).
I am not alone. Likely you are with me to some extent. Winter registers as the least favorite season of Americans (only 11% of Americans prefer winter according to a 2003 Gallup poll, the latest I could find. I suspect those individuals live in a warm state.) Nationally, January and February are the least popular months with only 2% of people noting each as their favorite month (according to a 2005 Gallup survey). That means that even people born in those months are not likely to favor them.
I have found various ways to get through the drudgery of winter over the years. Some of my go-to options are not feasible as we head toward the one year anniversary of COVID. In past years, it has often been a time we have spent planning trips to have something fun to look forward to and a time to make a weekly excursions to our favorite Indian food restaurant to warm up from the inside out. Based on everything the experts are saying and we are all seeing, this winter is going to be a winter winter, a doubly whammy.
Winter is best experienced intentionally, in my opinion. I am thoughtful about my space and what I do to fight back against the short, dark days. Most years, I add something to the mix that makes winter just a little less awful, and I would love to hear your suggestions in the comments at the bottom of this post.
In no particular order, here is what I have found to cheer myself up during the winter:
- Lighting beeswax candles the second the sun sets or anytime on a cloudy day! - Any candles will do, and we use a variety, but beeswax are our favorite. Beeswax puts off a warm, homey smell and it is the safest type of candle since most others put off a small level of air pollution in your house. Be forewarned that the international rules around beeswax products are inconsistent so make sure you are buying 100% beeswax from a reputable source. We have used Candle Bee Farm for purchases going back probably about a decade. And you can't go wrong using a wick trimmer and candle snuffer - maybe it is just me, but there is something timeless and intentional about using these two implements. I have a wick trimmer similiar to this one, and have found memories from childhood using a candle snuffer - ours was a unique one shaped like a butterfly but there are other interesting options!
- Wearing comfy socks and warm slippers - Part of my challenge with winter is that I am continuously cold so in addition to enjoying the cozyness of socks and slippers, they help me stay warm. We wear Maggie's Organics hiking socks pretty much nonstop. Bonus points: Maggie’s Organics is sustainable, fair trade, uses organic cotton and wool, and has a focus on social responsibility. And our favorite slippers (I'm on my second pair) are these high-sided ones from L.L. Bean. (They come in men's and women's.)
- Listen to both calm and upbeat music - Putting on our favorite tunes while cooking, doing chores, etc. is a great way to elevate the mood. I also figured out a few years ago that Classical music works best in the evening, particularly when I'm trying to write or think since it is easier for wordless music to fade into the background. I picked up a box set for a nominal cost.
- Get outside when possible - Daylight and fresh air have been proven to elevate moods. Whenever there is a slighty warmer day, I try to get outside for a walk or run or spend some time sitting out on our porch writing or reading. If you live somewhere with good, unpopulated hiking trails, check those out in the winter and you will likely see a totally different view with the bare trees. We also enjoy using our firepit. We bought this artistic (and pricey) one from Plow and Hearth probably 8 years ago, though I think it wasn't quite this expensive at the time. Either way, do your research. A lot of firepits are made out of material that rusts within a year or two, so we wanted to buy one that would be long-lasting.
- Cook new dishes and savor old favorites - Confession: sometimes I cook in the winter to make the house warmer. Winter is when we tend to default to piping hot meals and comfort foods that range from cheese fondue, eaten over a steamy pot of cheese, to meatloaf. We also scour the internet for new ideas and like to try foods that we normally would get at a restaurant, like various curries and other spicy foods. There is also nothing like throwing a bunch of stuff into a slow cooker and tasting the food in the air throughout the house.
- Exercise even when you don't want to (especially when you don't want to) - The bonus of exercising in the winter: you'll warm up! When it's too cold and dark to go outside (most days), I head to the treadmill, elliptical, or stationary bike in the basement. I'm fortunate to have these. After 9 years, they have certainly paid for themselves over and over again compared to gym membership.
- Create (and stick to) a bedtime routine - While this is good year-end, I find it especially important when it gets dark so early. We have a joke around here that it is "a million o'clock" anytime after the sun sets in the winter. It's like those evenings when you look at the clock, expecting it to be really late, and it's something like 7pm. Or 6pm. For me, reading before bed is a great transition from the day and a way to ensure I'm making progress in the slew of books I'm reading at any one time. This winter, I'm also trying to create a new routine of tea (decaf) in the evening. And in 2020 I discovered the joy of making tea from loose leaf tea using a tea infuser. We've ordered our coffee and tea in bulk from CoffeeAM for years and select fair trade, sustainable options.
- Pursue a hobby, create a side business, or do something that you enjoy that also challenges you - Instead of whittling the hours away watching Netflix, YouTube, or TikTok , find something productive to do that will provide a sense of accomplishment and mental activity.
- Invest time on others - Whether finding a (safe) way to volunteer in your community, making a weekly call to a distant friend of family member, or rediscovering hand-written letters to light up someone's mail amidst bills and junk, focusing on others has benefits for both the giving and receiving side!
- Curl up with a good book - Preferrably with a hot drink and electric blanket in a comfortable spot. Reading is one of the most worthwhile (in my opinion) ways to expand our thinking and horizons, while still getting a temporary escape from the day-to-day worries and cares.
- Decorate with string lights - We just ordered a solar-powered strand of lights to hang outside on our porch. I have always loved seeing the twinkle of lights that neighbors string up and don't know why we haven't bought them before now!
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Looking for book ideas?
Check out our 12 favorite reads from 2020.