Winter is coming and it is going to be unlike any winter before it. For most of us parents, our kids will be home more than usual (if not all the time) and we will not be socializing as much as usual. With less playdates, hangouts and family gatherings, our kids will likely have more energy to burn and we will feel even more disconnected from our loved ones. While the idea of being isolated for the colder months of winter is daunting, we must attempt to make the most of it and find ways to connect and enjoy our days instead of giving in to feelings of misery. Although we can’t wait for things to return to “normal”, we cannot just wish away a handful of months so that we can get back to the lives we had before. Each and every day is still worth something, even if that something is very different than it was before. We parents have a responsibility here: we are in the middle of a pandemic and our kids are looking to us to see how they should react to incredibly stressful times. They are learning how they should cope in the future to their own difficult experiences by following our cues now. I know that is a scary thought for a lot of us who are leaning in hard to our crutches, but it is a thought worth contemplating for the sake of ourselves and our families.
Okay, at this point you are either over this whole “glass if half full” post and heading back to pulling the comforter over your head or you are ready to face up to what lies ahead. Hopefully you are still with me because I want to brainstorm some ideas about how to not go crazy this winter and I am hoping a couple of these will help get you through what is going to be a trying time for many. (By the way, many of the following links are affiliated).
The Great Outdoors
We all know this idea works pretty much every time. Getting outside, no matter the temperature, is key to our sanity. It makes returning to your warm home with its familiar scents and warm light that much better. I abhor being cold and so I understand the hesitation to leave your cozy couch with it’s throw blankets and pillows for the outdoors, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives here. Whether you are going on a walk by yourself or you’re trying to get your kids off their screens, going outside will revitalize you and help center you. I know for me, I always return to my home full of energy and motivation to get stuff done after going out on a walk. My time outside is almost always one of my bests for the day which proves to me that I should prioritize getting out there at least for a little while each and every day.
Snow pants And Long Underwear, Oh My!
This tip goes along with the last one. In order to embrace the frigid outdoors this winter, we need to be well equipped. If you are like me, every winter you make sure your kids are prepared with snow pants and warm hats and gloves, but you don’t always do the same for yourself. This year I am determined to be well prepared for actually playing in the snow with my kids. I have added this fleece lined long underwear set to my wishlist and also plan to find some hardcore adult snow pants (taking suggestions!) that will help me not wuss out and go back inside to my cozy bed, hot cocoa and book in hand.
A Good Book
We all need an escape when things get tough and my all time favorite way to do just that is to get into a book. This year I have read twenty five books so far (look I had to put that in somewhere, this is a huge accomplishment for me!) and will probably add a couple more to that list before the year is over. I think a lot of people struggle to read books these days when our phones are so much easier to pick up and scroll through. No deciding what book to read. No waiting on library pick up times. No spending money when we aren’t sure if we will even like the book. I get it. For years and years, I also chose my phone with its brightly colored alluring apps over the simplicity of a book, but I urge you to forgo your handheld attention sucker for a good old fashioned novel. Imagine waking up to a quiet house, turning on your Christmas tree lights, grabbing a cup of coffee and getting lost in a story that someone spent years creating just for you (well that is how I like to think about it). As someone who is forever curious about other peoples’ inner thoughts and experiences, books are like a peek inside strangers’ brains and I simply cannot get enough.
A Home You Love to be in
One of the reasons I don’t mind being stuck inside is because I absolutely adore my home. It is seriously my favorite place to be and I think my family would say the same. If you don’t have this same affection for your home, try to get to the bottom of why that is. Is your place too cluttered? Maybe you need to fill some donation boxes or have at least one room in your home that is a toy free zone. Or maybe you just need a reset. If so, consider joining me in doing Apartment Therapy’s “The January Cure”. I’ve taking part in The Cure at least two or three times and my home always feels fresher and more intentional when I am finished. If you need something more extreme, consider taking on the Marie Kondo approach. (You can read all about how her method changed my life for the better here). Maybe you just need to implement a more streamlined post-dinner kitchen clean up routine and then you will feel better about your home. Whatever is stopping you from loving being in your home, do your best to examine what it is and address it. You deserve to love where you wake up each day.
Podcasts
Oh how I love a good podcast. In a time where I can’t see my friends as much, hanging out with my podcast bffs is a damn good temporary replacement. (Okay, I think I am seriously losing it people. Send help). If you live in my neighborhood, maybe you saw me doing my best (not very successfully) at trying not to laugh out loud while listening to a Forever35 podcast. Little did I know, I probably looked completely insane since I was wearing my bluetooth hat which disguised the fact that I was listening to anything at all. No matter! I love my podcasts and so do my kids.
When I am desperate for something to entertain my four year old, I will pull out the Play-Doh and ask Alexa to play a podcast and I will be treated to thirty to sixty minutes of chill time. My seven year old often listens to a podcast before falling asleep. She recently told me that she learns more from her podcasts than she does from school (not sure if this is something to celebrate but whatever, at least she is learning). Here is a list of what we are listening to these days:
Adult Podcasts:
- Forever35 – Self care products and ways of life. Relatable. Hilarious discussions about life’s smallest moments.
- The Mom Hour – Great mom tips to help you not go insane while parenting. Comforting and non judgy. Love their More Than Mom episodes.
- This Naked Mind – Stories about why people became sober.
- The Daily – A news podcast that focuses on one current event or story per day.
- Tell Me What To Do – Jaime cracks me up. No subject is off limits. Smart, funny and in your face in the best kind of way.
- The Girl Next Door – Casual friendly chats. Cozy fall extravaganza episodes. Charming, soothing and smile inducing.
- Be Uncluttered with Bec & Tara – Great insights into their experiences of helping people declutter. Tips that are applicable.
- Millionaires Unveiled – Stories about how millionaires make their money.
- Where Should We Begin? Real therapy sessions between couples and the one and only Esther Perel. Intense and raw AF.
- The Slow Home Podcast – Don’t currently listen to this but it was my go-to for years. About living simply according to your values.
Kid Podcasts:
- Story Pirates – Professional improvisors and musicians take kids’ ideas and turn them into songs and hilarious stories.
- Wow in the World – Educational and entertaining. Exploring the wonders of the world.
- Brains On – Educational science podcast for curious kids.
- Smash Boom Best – A debate where a kid decides which of two cool things is the coolest.
Embrace Video Games
While I don’t consider myself to be much of a gamer, I have occasionally gotten downright obsessed with a video game or two. Spending two hours straight trying to complete levels with my husband brings me right back to my childhood, playing Super Mario and Donkey Kong on my Super Nintendo. It is pure fun in the most basic way. I am extremely picky about what games I like and the two that have met my standards (must remind me of the video games from my childhood, apparently this is called a platformer style game) are Rayman Legends and Little Big Planet 3. As for my kids, their favorites are Child of Light and Unravel Two. Although I try to limit screen time for my kids, I just love seeing them connect with their dad while the three of them try to battle the bad guys or explore new virtual lands. I just know they will look back at these times fondly when they grow up.
Phone a Friend
Okay, I am actually not much of a ‘talk on the phone’ kind of person these days. I guess I have been spoiled by the miracle that is texting and apps like Marco Polo (basically you send videos of yourself talking to your friend- basic idea, amazing way to stay connected with far away friends). As the cold months keep us from gathering around a fire with friends as we were doing in the Fall, feelings of isolation are bound to set in. What I have been trying to do to combat this is to text friends as soon as they come to mind. I am not on social media these days so I need to be very intentional in order to stay connected to friends and family. I know texting isn’t a replacement for face to face hang outs, but it really helps me feel like I know what is going on in my friends’ lives and it ensures that they know I am thinking of them. Next time you think of someone, shoot them a quick text and see what comes of it.
Embrace Your Hobbies
Easier said than done, I get it. Sometimes we are so exhausted by the day we need to just Netflix and chill and that is great. But during this long winter, try to get into one of your hobbies or even start a new one. Here are some ideas: knitting, scrapbooking, baking, puzzling, exercising (walking counts!), origami, playing the piano or whatever instrument that’s available, handwriting letters, quilting, disc golfing (my husband made me add that), hot sauce making (another one of his favs), journaling, discovering new music, houseplant collecting, blogging, hell you could even start your own podcast! Take advantage of being home more by embracing a hobby and you won’t be wishing the days away any longer.
MAKE THE DAMN BED 