Activities to Fight the Winter Blues

I have made no secret of my dislike of the cold, so as you might expect winter in not my favorite season. It is not even in the top four. However, there are certain activities that are just better in the cold. While the cooler conditions are a necessity for some of these activities, its contribution to other pastimes is seemingly intangible. We don’t know why reading is better when it is raining, but it just is. In that spirit, here are a few activities that are just more magical in the winter.

In the Cold

One of the first things that come to mind when talking about cold weather pastimes is ice-skating. Whether you are spending quality rink time with your family or turning an ordinary date into a magical evening, rent a pair of skates and partake in this cold weather classic.

If your area is enjoying a fresh blanket of snow, why not get in some sledding. Unlike most snow sports that require quite a bit of equipment and time, sledding requires only snow, uneven ground, and something smooth to sit on.

If you haven’t already done so, go out as a family to pick out your tree. Home Depot has their tree lot set up, and nothing makes it feel more like Christmas than picking out the perfect pine to protect your presents. Once you have your tree picked out, the associates will trim, package, and even load up your tree for you.    

In the House

You don’t have to brave the elements in order to fight off boredom this winter. There is a plethora of activities you can do from inside your house that take advantage of the dropping temperature, which are perfect now that the kids out of school for winter vacation.

Since the elements are keeping you inside anyway, why not pass the time with a family game night? Target has tons of classic board games for under $20 that can provide hours of entertainment. After a few rounds of Scattergories (my personal favorite), toast marshmallows in the fireplace.

A classic bad weather tradition is to have a movie night. Let your kids pick out their favorite Christmas movie, and make hot chocolate for everyone to sip on throughout the film. If you don’t have any little ones, this idea can still make for a fun evening. Replace the hot cocoa with eggnog and make a drinking game out of your favorite Christmas movie. If you are looking for recommendations, you can never go wrong with Die Hard. To add another element to the movie night, have everyone make a batch of cookies before they come over. This takes minimal time and effort, and what else says Christmas like baking?

If you are really looking for a project to pass the time, make some Christmas cards. Hand made cards require you to commit little more than your time and creativity, yet can be the perfect personal gift for that outlier on your gift list.