Beating the Winter "Blahs"

It’s been a long, cold winter, and for many of us, now that the holiday rush is over, spending so much time inside is starting to make us a little stir crazy. Unfortunately, we have several weeks of winter left, so the best thing to do is try to make the best of it.

Below are a few ways to pass the time inside while it’s snowing outside:

Get organized. Admit it—you’ve just been waiting to have enough time to clean out those closets, sort through the towering piles of papers in your desk drawer, or tackle another area of your home that could use some tidying. What are you waiting for? If you’re fortunate enough to get snow days from your employer or you’re stuck in the house all weekend, what better time to get to these projects. There are dozens of organizations that are always accepting donations—Goodwill and many local shelters accept clothing and household items; most local libraries accept used books and DVDs, and many day cares, nursery schools, and churches appreciate art and craft supplies (call before you drop anything off just to make sure they accept the items you want to donate).

Plan a family game night.  Wintry weather definitely gives you plenty of quality time with your family. If everyone in your house is spending a little too much time on electronic devices (including you!), put them away for one evening and dig out your old board games. You’ll all probably be surprised at how much you still enjoy them. A little good-natured competition isn’t a bad thing, either.

Have a movie marathon. Since renting DVDs has gone the way of the dinosaurs, you don’t have to leave the house to check out the latest releases (or old ones you never got around to watching). There’s no shortage of ways to stream movies, so put together a list of them to watch while the snow falls. Get everyone’s input for a family movie marathon, select a theme, or if no one’s up for hours of TV time, splurge on a few “guilty pleasure” flicks (sappy romances, cheesy action or horror movies, or comedies no one else in your house likes) to watch solo.

Get crafty. Whether you’re actively crafty or have “always meant to” start, why not give it a try this winter? Start with small projects you’re more likely to finish and work your way up to something more advanced. Check out instructional videos online if you’re starting something brand-new.

Exercise. If you’re active, these long winter months can seem even longer if you can’t do your regular workouts outside or at the gym. Find ways to improvise while you’re inside. Dig out the old exercise equipment you haven’t been using as often as you’d intended, or watch workout videos online to get that blood pumping. It’s tempting to sit on the couch with a bowl of something unhealthy, but try to stay motivated and do some kind of physical activity so it’s easier to stick to your routine once the weather improves.

How are you passing the time during the winter? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!