Thriving in Winter
A cold-lover’s tips on making it through Deep North winter
I love winter. The cold helps me feel calm, ensures that I take big, deep breaths (hello nervous system regulation!), and catapults me into creative energy spikes. As a kid I spent hours outside in the snow diligently building couches and chairs out of packed snow. I dug out snow banks along our driveway to create a series of tunnels and domed rooms. I’m not kidding when I say that I was outside as long as my bladder would allow and my snowpants would be soaking wet by the time I was ready to come into the house.
These days I love taking winter walks outside in almost any level of cold weather, and the first deep cold breath I take in the morning is one of my tiny joys every day. I have my YakTrax at the ready for slippery days, and several pairs of boots for whatever will work best with the outdoor climate. My favorite time to be outside is right after it has snowed when the sounds are absorbed and it’s quiet except for the crunch of snow under my feet. It’s the best time to walk the lakes in the Twin Cities because everyone is staying inside and cozy, so you get the lake all to yourself (and maybe a few other diehards).
Part of loving winter is embracing the outdoors, and the other part is leaning into indoor activities and coziness. When I was a kiddo, I was a voracious reader and an eager crafter that always had multiple projects going on at once. I would be working my way through a Boxcar Children book or a Junie B. Jones book while balancing a crochet project, making a bead animal or a friendship bracelet, and creating some sort of small building for my beanie babies out of leftover cardboard and masking tape. I was always busy with my hands, even while watching the same VHS tapes over and over again through the winters.
As much as I like being outside in the snow and cold with my “serious coat” - one of those reflective heat puffer coats with a fur hood, I cherish my hygge vibes inside a little more. I have an assortment of blankets in various weights and sizes for chilly nights inside, candles, plenty of indoor hobbies and projects, and weekly routines to keep myself busy and happy. Much of my inside time is devoted to crocheting and food that takes a little more effort to make!
In the last few months, I have done so many food projects: hashbrowns from scratch, making my own daikon radish kimchi, roasting and freezing beets for future use, pickling jalapeños, and holiday cookie baking. Plus, I have my routine sourdough bread baking, baking cookies on Friday nights, braises and roasts on weekend nights, and an intentionally slower coffee making process in the mornings. The winter is the perfect time to really dive in to, and relish in the slowness of food prep, meals, and things you’ve never tried!
If you’re looking for something concrete of how to get through this winter in a “thriving” way instead of a “surviving” way, below are some ideas of how to thrive this winter.
Make a winter bucket list. You know I love a bucket list for seasons! Make one for yourself and/or do it with your partner or bestie so when you have some free time, or are feeling in a lull you can pull that out and do one! My husband and I use a Google Keep list that we both have access to so we can add things as they come to mind and we can check things off after we do them!
Get tougher with the cold. Hold out on your most serious (warmest) coat until it’s actually cold. If you push yourself to be a little cold when it’s 30 or 40 degrees F in a regular winter coat, then you’ll be able to be outside when it’s 10 degrees for a winter walk, even if just to the car, in your big puffer coat.
Pick an indoor project to work on all winter. You know I love a fiber arts granny project like crocheting, knitting, embroidery, and cross stitch. But it really can be anything - look up Rolling Stones best albums of all time and listen to as many as you can, check out AFI’s 100 best films list and see how many are streaming, or make every recipe that seems interesting to you in a cookbook you have. A project gives you something to look forward to, and gives you a sense of accomplishment as you check things off!
last winte I made a sweater vest for the first time! Commit to outdoor activities. Even if it’s just a walk! Rent cross country skis, hike, do outdoor fires, learn to ice fish! There are so many things that you can do outside that will help you appreciate the season.
Leave your house at night once a week or more. This one is hard but I swear it helps me so much. Just push yourself to get groceries in the dark sometimes, or do a weeknight Costco run (my fave), or wander around your local mall. What you do is not as important as pushing yourself to get your feet out the door. You can do it!
Cozy vibes & aesthetics. Just because the holiday season is over doesn’t mean that you still can’t have snowflake decorations everywhere with twinkle lights, candles, and blankets galore.
Get supportive slippers. If you stand in the kitchen a lot, I highly recommend making your life more comfortable and keeping your feet supported with a supportive soled slipper. Mine are from Vionic Shoes and they have truly changed the game for me. I can be in the kitchen all day and not have any foot pain!
Play games. These can be with your partner, with your friends and family, or solo! Don’t limit yourself to only doing board games or card games, although those are some of my favorite ways to spend time in the winter. My husband and I are playing through a video game called Pentiment that we play every Wednesday night through the winter and it’s so fun to spend time together in a new way.
Start a weekly tradition with friends. We just re-started doing dinner and watching True Detective on Sunday nights with friends, and it’s the perfect way to end the weekend, ease the Sunday Scaries, and ensure that we see each other even when we’d rather just stay in our own respective homes.
Go to a new museum. I’m sure there’s at least one that you haven’t been to in your area! Make a point of checking it out and grab a little treat for yourself while you’re out and about.
Take vitamin D supplements. Those of us in the Deep North need it because of the shorter daylight hours.
Wear layers and get proper outdoor clothes. It makes a huge difference when you are warm and dry outside in the winter. I recommend checking out the end of winter sales to get what you need for the next year! I have a big, aforementioned, coat, adult size snow pants, two pairs of waterproof boots, YakTrax, and many hats, mittens, and neck warmers to maximize my fun while outside.
Things I Like
Be brave and ask people to hang out. I asked that of some friends this week and everyone was so lovely and supportive.
I’ve been making a batch of cookies or brownies on Friday nights the last few weeks and it’s such a fun routine that ends in cookies! What’s not to love?
Winter coffee syrup - It’s not over for warming spices and citrus yet!
Teeny tiny tattoos
Dying your clothes! I attempted my first project dying something I crocheted and I’m thrilled with how it turned out!
May your week be gentle and may you eat well. 🌲🥣
Winter is my thriving season because I become so dysregulated in summer heat. I bought myself hiking boots (FINALLY) so I’m hoping to do some more winter hikes when it warms up a bit. But thanks for the reminder that I need more than just my favorite LL bean jacket that goes to my knees. Those subzero temps definitely call for a true parka. But much like you, cozy things come alive in winter like crocheting and other things.