11 Readers Share Mood-Boosting Winter Activities
How’s your winter going? This season has been cold and intense, so we asked readers on Instagram how they’re keeping up their spirits, and hundreds of replies came rolling in. Here, 11 readers share great ideas for staying upbeat…
Above: “I’m a teacher in Minneapolis. During these months of ICE operations, we are hugging and caring for our students, staff and neighbors to the max. Here’s me and my bff, Otis, barely managing. Thank you so much for giving our community the attention it deserves.” — Mel
“Museums are big for my daughter and me. They get us out of the house, slow us down, and remind us there is beauty everywhere. We recently saw the Monet exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. Watching my daughter take in the colors made the experience feel so joyful.” — Fariha
“My friends and I went all out to plan an Ina Garten themed dinner to celebrate her birthday. We even dressed up as Queen Ina, complete with bob wigs. The dinner itself was delicious (shoutout to Ina for the recipes!) and included tomato crostini with whipped feta, balsamic roasted beet salad, orange-roasted rainbow carrots and baked rigatoni with lamb ragù, and brownie pudding. I showed up in a big denim shirt exclaiming ‘how easy is that?!’” — Tenley (second from left)
“Five years ago, we moved to the Pacific Northwest. Be prepared for the rain, they said. Yeah, yeah we get it, it’s wet. No, but for real — it’s dark and cold and rains so, so much! Solution: sauna. All sorts of studies that talk about the health benefits, but wow does it warm you up and make you feel great. Bonus? Selfies in the sauna are hawt.” — Rosalyn
“Three of my neighbors and I have been hosting an art night where we teach each other crafts. A few months ago, I taught linoleum block printmaking. Before the holidays, we did pinch pots and sgraffito with my potter friend. Next up, jewelry making and felting. It’s been wonderful to spend time with women of different ages, and these meetups have inspired so much laughter and community.” — Susan
“My husband and I first tried cold water swimming during the pandemic. I just wanted to…feel something. I immediately got addicted to the high, he was like ‘that was fun, never again!’ Now, I’ve been doing it for six years, and my swimming friends and I call ourselves the North Fork Polar Bears. I’ve trained myself to stay in the water for 15 minutes. Learning to stay is a whole other art, and it’s just that: staying. Before I go in, I feel excited and nervous, and when I get out, I feel a rush of dopamine.” — Leah
“I bought a few Himalayan salt lamps, and I love turning them on and lighting all my candles. I’ve reframed the narrative: instead of ‘ugh, it gets so dark so early,’ I’ll say, ‘It’s time for my mood lighting.’” — Destinee
“Our Run Club has been going strong for 10 years. We lace up in the early morning, two or three times a week, year round. But the real power of Run Club shines in winter. Slogging through snowy sidewalks, jumping over puddles, and running in the dark on a 10° morning leaves us feeling alive! We end our runs with a coffee and gab session before dashing off to work or home to help with the morning kid shuffle. Knowing there is a gaggle of gal pals waiting on the sidewalk at 6:30 a.m. donning Yaks Traks and headlamps, gets us out of bed and through the season together.” — Sara
“My kids play travel hockey, so we are often doubling down on the cold with weekday practices and weekend games. We’re all excitedly following the Olympics, especially hockey and speed skating.” — Clothilde Ewing
“Out of nowhere, I have become a suburban bird watcher. It has been very cold here in Stockholm, so I randomly put up a bird feeder in the apple tree in front of our kitchen window. We’ve fed birds before, but I was never that interested. Now I’ve been spending weekends standing by the window and looking up common winter birds in Sweden to identify them. My husband seems as perplexed by this as I am!” — Mina
“I live in a particularly wintry Canadian city: Ottawa (hello, Heated Rivalry, season two!). I usually spend the season cross-country skiing, but now with a baby, our weekly highlight has become Mom + Baby Aquafit at a local pool, which I was delighted to discover is heated! Bliss! It’s very soothing on sore muscles from rocking and carrying the baby everywhere. Some babies get so relaxed that they even fall asleep.” — Fiona
We’d love to hear your ideas for beating the winter blues, if you’d like to share. Thank you so much! xoxoxo
P.S. Ten readers share their winter outfits, and 14 (more) ideas for staying upbeat this winter.
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175 commentsI am a 365 days a year walker! Rain, snow, ice, sunshine, negative temps….I’m here for all of it! You can’t beat the dopamine rush of getting outside and speed walking. Now that my oldest is almost 12, I can finally trust him to watch his little sisters while I walk laps around the block near my house! I cannot express how life giving walking is. It is my favorite part of the day!
I feel this pull between the hibernation season and embracing winter activities out and about.
I love cozy season & a beautiful snow! Things I do to make this season special: – cooking hearty braises and soups or things that cook all day – hunkering down with lots of reading – bubble baths – little outings to get fancy coffees or desserts around town for a daily weekend activity to break up the day a bit!
Thank you all for sharing these, and CoJ for rounding them up. I got a very clear vicarious dopamine hit just from reading this! xoxo PS Rosayln, girl, you do look hawt in that sauna!
This post is lovely! And loved reading all the comments too. It’s been a hard winter in so many ways, and I’m still struggling to build community in the city we moved to two years ago. What’s getting me through this winter – sauna/steam at my gym, lighting taper candles, noticing the days are getting lighter, and a great therapist who’s helping me learn self-compassion.
I also moved to a new place around 2 years ago and the community building has felt slow at times. You are not alone and I hope you find your people soon. It sounds like you’re doing a great job of enjoying the journey along the way <3
Santa installed a rope swing inside our home on Christmas Eve so our young children can swing and climb throughout the wet, cold Seattle winter.
This has been the strangest winter of my 53 years in Montana. (For lots of reasons, but the weather is a huge one) Today was another almost 50° day with no snow on the ground in our valley. I just checked the forecast and *maybe* next Wednesday there’s a chance of snow? By this point every year we’ve had feet of snow, more storms than anyone could count, and weeks of sub zero temps. This is the warmest winter on record for us, by so much it’s hard to even believe. Day after day after day in the high 40s and 50s. That’s literally 20/30 degrees higher than normal. The snow pack on our mountains is record low. If I hear one more person talk about how we are all gonna burn up this summer…….. What will make this even worse is the complete gutting of our wild lands fire services by the Trump administration, the gutting of the forest service, and that we’ve had many wet years recently so a lot of fuel to burn. If you are planning a summer trip out west this summer, honestly, I wouldn’t. I think we’ve already gone past any point where this season is recoverable as far as summer fires go. And even normal years can be brutal. I suggest stocking up on hepa filters and good masks, because of course our smoke reaches the rest of the country (and it’s not just mild in Montana, it’s the entire west). It feels scary and apocalyptic. To the point it’s honestly hard to enjoy. Well, that was the gloom report. In happier news, dogs, tea, hikes, chocolate, and twinkle lights can get one through a lot.
Feeling the exact same way in Idaho. Trying not to get too scared about the coming fire season already but things are not boding well.
Terrified alongside you Sasha and Emily, just a bit further north in Calgary – overwhelming climate anxiety over this year’s “winter”. I also feel personally robbed because I LOVE snow! Big hugs, and hoping for a rainy spring for all of us.
The same is true here in western Oregon. We have about 1/3 of the usual snowpack. The sunny dry winter days may be pretty, but we are supposed to have lots of rain in January! Instead, we’re setting warm weather temp records and the ski areas (Mt Hood) only recently had enough snow to open.
Feeling the same way in Colorado! I’ve lived here my whole life and I cannot remember a winter like this. The West is so incredibly dry and there is little solace in the mild temperatures knowing what is to come as a result of the lack of snow. But sure, let’s repeal greenhouse gas endangerment findings and keep denying that climate change is real and has enormous impacts. Sigh.
This gave me the chills in a bad way. I can’t hate this administration any more than I do, for gutting everything important, for encouraging the climate change-deniers and for everything they touch turning to garbage. Praying this nightmare ends.
The bird watching picture…I love how fluffy birds get in the cold! It’s so cute! I live in Texas so I don’t get to see it that often.
Why do birds become so interesting as you age? Says the lady who left mid lifting session this morning to switch the container my mealworms were in to one more appealing to the birds. Don’t worry. I went back and finished my lifts, but did check on the bowl of worms between every set.
lol Whitney!!
It’s so baffling Whitney! Literally a few months ago I couldn’t have cared less. And now that bird feeder is my whole personality.
The cold water swimming sounds amazing but I don’t think I could ever! I do hope that my girlfriends and I can have a consistent run club for many years to come! We aren’t that committed yet, but we try! And, my son also plays travel hockey so I totally relate to the doubling down on cold! Last weekend we were in a hotel and our room had no hot water. The temperature outside was in the negatives, the rinks were so cold, and we just didn’t shower! I often think these times with my son are simultaneously terrible and also the absolute best. Lastly, I second some of the comments below that this felt like a real winter and I (mostly) loved it!
This may be already swept away in the tide of comments, but I have a tangentially-related question I could really use advice on! I live far away from my wonderful, complicated, loving, kind, demanding mother, who is having a tough winter (caretaking full-time for my dad, dealing with her own health issues, etc). Her birthday is coming up and I can’t fly out to be with her. I’m helping to coordinate a special celebration with the rest of my family who lives near her (catered brunch, slideshow, dance party with her favorite songs, customized chocolate bars, cake!) but I am at a TOTAL LOSS when it comes to a big present! She’s my mom, I should know what she wants, but… – she already has everything and is trying to declutter – she is EXTREMELY PICKY (returns a lot of gifts!!) – she REALLY likes to be celebrated with gifts and puts a lot of unintentional pressure on us to get it right, but doesn’t offer suggestions?? – she can’t do much in the way of experiences right now (see: immunocompromised and full time caretaker), so a weekend away or something won’t cut it. Any ideas for a thoughtful gift for the woman who has everything and wants nothing but also wants a nice gift?!
Do something very personal. This book that you complete, or something like it, would be good: https://www.amazon.com/Want-You-Know-My-Portrait/dp/B0DHNBV1LS I think you can get it at gretchenrubin.com to avoid Bezos.
How about a photo book with current and past photos of family memories, combined with captions written by folks, with a really luxe and upgraded binding? (Leather, gold embossing etc). Impossible to return and hard to get wrong!
You sound like a very thoughtful daughter. Depending on the weather where she’s at, what about something warming and soft? Luxurious socks + a scented heating pad like others have mentioned for winter coziness? Something practical but made of gorgeous materials might survive decluttering or returning. :)
No suggestions, but lots of empathy. My mom pretty much has this same list of constraints (has everything, trying to declutter, picky, really likes to be celebrated with gifts…) so I’m following along. Every birthday and holiday, I think to myself how truly impossible this challenge is! I love the celebration you are coordinating from afar.
We’ve done a couple of times the big yard sign rentals. Like I’m talking 15ft long, totally obnoxious and really clear that you are making a big fuss over someone. I would look for a company near you but they are pretty similar, you pay for about 24 hours rental (I like that’s it no waste and you’re not left with a giant sign), sneak in the yard the evening before and put it up. Lovely surprise to wake up to!
How about a bird box with a camera? You can connect it to the TV and she can observe the birds making nest, laying eggs and feeding her babies. I gifted one for my dad years ago and he loves it.
I also have an incredibly hard to shop for mother whose most common response upon opening a gift from me is to say something like ‘oh, wow! Thank you sweetie! Here, why don’t you have it. No no, take it, I want you to have this.’ Here are the presents that she has actually loved: a bag of tons of different makeup brands and products for her to try, in the kinds of shades I know she wears A kindle linked to my own account that I pre-stocked and curated with dozens and dozens of books from my own library i thought she’d like Installed a vpn on her computer so she can watch her favourite British shows from California I am becoming aware this is hyper specific and thus potentially unhelpful, but I’ve written it now, and written it shall remain. Also every time she compliments me on something material I get it for her.
What about a flower subscription? Everyone loves flowers. It’s more than “just flowers” because it will come monthly. It’s great for the person who has everything. It will give her something to look forward to just for herself each month. It’s experiential to unbox, arrange, watch bloom. (Full transparency- I work for a flower company but my intent is pure! I genuinely think it’s a great gift for the person you described- hard to shop for! I’ve given it to my MIL for Christmas for years now and she still delights in it.) Wishing you the best in your shopping endeavors!
My mom cherished a framed photo I sent her of me and my brother when we were young. So much so that she hung it on the wall of her home (also an extremely picky, hard-to-please person). My brother and I each wrote out the funniest memories of our childhood in our handwriting in a cute little notebook and gave her that too. Whenever we come over, she asks us to add another one. Nothing gave my brother more pleasure than writing out the story of his retaliation against my too-long showers…dressing up head to toe as a unicorn and neighing on the steps of our house so that he could fully embarrass me in front of my brand new high school boyfriend who came to properly pick me up for our first date.
Maybe a subscription to something? A journalist or an artist that she would want to support, a fancy magazine… sometimes a local farm will have a flower CSA in the spring/summer, and if you get it in the winter, it’s a nice way to support them (and if you do it locally, a nice way to not participate in Big Global Flower). I once got my mom a local tulip subscription for her January birthday, and for four weeks in April she got a fresh bouquet from people she knew in the community.
1. Something antique or luxurious to replace something she already has? A cashmere blanket or very fancy scissors, for example. 2. Something meaningful, like a charm bracelet with important memories you share: https://thesagevintage.com/collections/medium-clip-anywhere-charms?page=2 (Etsy is another source for affordable charms) 3. Does she collect something already or have a particular author she likes? Maybe a first-edition book or a particularly beautiful set of hardcovers? 4. Replace something she loved as a child or something you remember her having that got lost/broken?
Gorgeous handmade ceramics made by an artist – bowls, trays, etc, in a classic style, nobody can ever have too many. Or hand blown glass flowers, or a pitcher or similar. monthly floral arrangement delivery by a local flower farm or florist who does unique work. A unique and nourishing physical treatment modality – craniosacral therapy, thai yoga massage, acupuncture, reiki, or similar – and give a few sessions to get into the experience. Bonus is that it might actually help. Maybe hire someone locally to come in to help around the house for a few sessions – to clean, or prepare meals for her, or similar.
Also, remember that some cups can’t be filled. You are really bending over backward to please someone who seems to like rejecting people who try to please her. What you’ve done is already enough. Write a card. If she’s snide, be honest–there doesn’t seem to be any pleasing her. Unfortunately, many of us have people with these maladaptive coping mechanisms in our lives. It’s impossible to fix with a gift, so do what you feel is meaningful and enough.
Ok, some more. Etsy has so many cool beeswax candles, you could get her a collection. Random ones i found quickly: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4329974790/twisted-beeswax-pillar-candle-decorative?ls=s&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=beeswax+unique+candle&ref=sr_gallery-1-21&organic_search_click=1&content_source=e4ba5d91-168b-4c8a-bd90-e6a479e082ec%253ALT646995bcedc20eaa0282cfbc8176986d9fbc7222&logging_key=e4ba5d91-168b-4c8a-bd90-e6a479e082ec%3ALT646995bcedc20eaa0282cfbc8176986d9fbc7222 Use suno ai to write a silly AI song celebrating her in her favorite style of music. Beautiful puzzle, they make a lot of gorgeous ones these days, if she does puzzles. Upgraded versions of nice things in the house that are often used. A fantastic japanese knife, for example. Bearaby makes a great weighted blanket out of chunky yarn thats super cozy and all seasons.
That sounds like quite the challenge, but also reminds me a lot of my mom! My siblings and I have the mantra “beautiful but useless” for any gifts we give her. It’s tongue in cheek :) but basically anything decadent and only for her alone to enjoy and not be something functional or shared to have the full effect. Things like an elegant necklace or a spa day or a gorgeous cashmere scarf or shearling slippers or a gift card to her favorite store. Little luxuries that will make her feel taken care of while she cares for others. Hope this helps spark some ideas!
I agree with Andrea. Was thinking the same thing. A card. All the things you are already doing are more than enough.
Oh, you absolute angels. I am so moved by the thoughtful and creative responses to my plea for help — truly did not expect so many! These are REALLY helpful. Just texted a bunch of the ideas to my sister so we can scheme. Bird box and flower subscription may be our two winners, but I’m not sure, because there are so many gems! Thank you, sincerely.
I don’t think I saw any recommendations for consumables – a mixture of interesting teas or soups or flours (depending on her interest). Pretzel making kit? A box of greeting cards and stamps? Assuming she still uses analog – a filled out address book or calendar with important events/bdays/anniversaries?
My mother in law is like this. She is extremely picky and does not like “thoughtful gifts” that are cheap (photo books, mugs, calendars), gifts to charity, gifts of service, etc. She is not sentimental at all, which may or may not be the case with your mother. Many people above me have offered lovely sentimental gift options, but I will offer my own advice in gifting for someone who is not sentimental. The only things that have been a success are: 1. Ask outright what she wants – not elegant but it works – this has resulted in us getting her shoes, jewelry, bags, etc. that she specifically wants. 2. Something expensive in a genre of items she likes – Diptyque candle, Le Creuset Pot, designer perfume (risky unless you know what scent she likes), expensive skincare, jewelry from a brand she likes, upmarket or rare cooking ingredients, etc. 3. Not useful in this instance but take her out to dinner and/or a show 4. Electronic picture frame or a similar thoughtful gift that is EXPENSIVE. The key here is the expense and prestige of the gift. Kind of gauche to say but this has been my experience with the type of people who are extremely picky about gifts but not sentimental. It has been hard won advice since these are basically the opposite of the kind of gifts that I want for myself, but different strokes and whatnot.
A beautiful handmade quilt or woven wool blanket?
For older folks trying to declutter and downsize I think you can’t go wrong with things that won’t last like flowers or food. If she likes ice cream Jenni’s ice cream can be sent through the mail and it’s the most incredible ice cream I’ve ever tasted! I think I’ve raved about it recently on this blog and I swear I don’t work for the company. It’s just heavenly stuff!!
If she’s a reader you could purchase an eReader, along with a subscription for Kindle Unlimited/Kobo Plus. So many books to explore and a nice way to relax when she gets the chance. Plus no clutter.
OMG Fiona – hello from a fellow Ottawan! I recognized the Dovercourt pool + those floating fishes immediately from back when I did those same classes with my son (now 6!)
Me too! We took our son there when he was a baby. Only now he’s 18!
Same here…I love Dovercourt. Now I spend days outside on the sledding hill. Hello from another Ottawan :)
This winter has been colder than most in many places, but warmer than most in many others! I’m in the latter camp in the PNW. It’s been lovely to have a gentlerwinter — the forest is luxuriantly green and mushroom season went on forever — but I am hungering for a good freeze and snowy hibernation. I started cold plunging at the end of August, inspired by Katherine May’s exquisite “Wintering” and Catherine Newman’s piece here. My desk-prone husband joined when we had adventurous friends visiting in September and we’ve gone every Sunday since. It’s wild to want to set an alarm on Sunday morning! We tumble out of the house by 8:30, drive to the beach with the top down, and meet up with 50-70 of our small town neighbors. We warm up in a big circle and then wade into the sea to spend 10 minutes there. As Leah noted in the post, you feel amazing all day! I’ve been super looking forward to doing it with snow on the beach, but so far we’ve only had one day of frost and no snow. Last time we heard from Catherine she was dealing with odd symptoms and working toward a diagnosis — I’ve had a prayer flag for her on my altar ever since. Love love love to you, you sweet creature.
I started skiing this year! For the first time! In my 40’s! I used to dread winter, and now I spend my days checking the weather and hoping for more snow. No one is more surprised about this development than me.
me too!!! it’s so fun!! my friends are all sick of hearing me talk about it lolol
Way to go. Me too. I hate hate hated winter. At 40 (2 years ago), i took up skiing. Other than being slightly terrified at times…. I am constantly hoping for snow.
This is extremely cool because I’m about to go skiing for the first time in…20 years? (I’m 38.) I’m very nervous I’ll get up there and my body will say “NOPE,” but I’m hopeful it might just say “OK, sure!”
Cheering you on, Catherine! We’re going skiing today and it’ll be nearly 50 in MN where I live so it’ll be interesting! Excited for you, hope all goes well!
Happy to see that photo of kiddos on our beloved skating ribbon in Chicago! My kids and I had a blast there this year. We’ve had a doozy of a cold winter, and I’ve embraced both more rest and more activity… I let things like laundry folding and cleaning go a bit more than usual in favor of lounging and sleeping, AND I (foolishly?) signed up for a half marathon in April, which means I have to run more. Can’t do it all on a treadmill, so it’s getting me geared up and outside a lot! As long as it’s not windy, I can handle running in some pretty cold temps without issue. And exercise is really the immediate cure for me when I am feeling down about the weather.
Mina – There’s an app called Merlin that’s kind of like Shazam, but for bird sounds. It listens and then identifies the bird. I think it only recognizes species that are native to your area.
I am devoted to the Merlin app! My kids and I use it all the time!!
Amazing! Will definitely try this – thanks so much for the tip!
Big thumbs up for Merlin and the associated e Bird! You can download different “bird packs” when you travel – super interesting to learn about birds wherever you are! If you are ever near Ithaca, go to Cornell’s bird sanctuary (Cornell owns Merlin and eBird) and you’ll lose your mind, it’s so neat. If someone likes bird, I recommend the Bird magazine Cornell puts out. They have some beautiful items to buy too. I also got seriously into birds during Covid. Such a pleasant, happy hobby.
Love love love all of these!!! I live in Madison WI and leaned into mood lighting like Destinee this year. Bought some fun new lamps and timers so they all automatically come on at dusk. Feels like magic!
Last weekend I went on a weekend trip with 8 girlfriends, and we stayed at a house with an indoor basketball court. Leading up to the trip we joked about having a game, and then we did and it was SO MUCH FUN. no one was good, but everyone had huge smiles plastered to their faces the entire time. We got home and immediately scheduled a date for another game at a local park (California winter here, so not cold)
Hi Laura! Northern Californian here – do you mind sending a link to the rental house? I’ve been wanting to do a reading retreat and this house sounds dreamy!
That photo of Leah shedding her robe as she walks into the icy sea is so gorgeous and moving. Feels like a beautiful metaphor.
Yes! I came to say the same thing. Incredible photo! Just stunning.
So stunning!!
am I the only one who loves the winter, has been excited that we have actually HAD a winter this year? Like, there have been so many comments and articles about how long this winter has been; but this feels like a regular winter to me, like one from my childhood. This is the first winter in a while that I haven’t felt despair about the 70 degree days in December, flowers blooming in late January etc. And with all of those anomalous winter days are the think pieces about the “good weather” we are having when it’s just a reminder that the world is warming. I’ve loved this winter. I’ve spent so much time outside and I feel alive.
I’m loving this winter!! Right there with you. Can’t get enough of it.
Same! I call it cozy season. I love “blaming” the weather on having to stay inside all warm and cozy. I light my candles, make tea, and read books. It’s heavenly!
Loving our cold and snowy winter in southeastern Ontario, Canada! Leaning into it with cozy fires, sunny dog walks, soups and stews, puzzles, snowshoeing and lots of beeswax candles. If you can’t get out of it, get into it! That, and a fur coat and a week away in Mexico. ;) Last year went to Florida and would love to return but like many Canadians, am boycotting USA travel.
This was so good to read. I’ve been going through what feels like the worst winter of my life – it’s cold, grey and dreary, no snow, and we learned 3 weeks ago that my second pregnancy ended in a missed abortion. Now I’m basically waiting for a miscarriage, for my body to notice it’s miscarrying. It feels so hard, some days I can barely get out of bed. Sending hugs to anyone who hates this time of year as well and is trying to find some small pockets of joy.
This is so hard. Hugs to you. Spring will come.
Thinking of you, Anna.
Anna, I am so sorry you are going through this. It’s such a tough experience and can feel so isolating, even though a lot of people go through it. I had a miscarriage last year and it took me a while to feel like me again. For months it felt like I had these “miscarriage sunglasses” on and everything in my life was colored by them. But over time, I started being able to take the glasses off, and now I feel so much more like myself. Myself, but a version that has been changed by going through something hard. Not everyone is the same, but I wanted to provide that hope because I could have used it a year ago. I hope you find your pockets of joy and are kind to yourself during this hard season. <3
I live in California, so it’s not really “winter” here like in other places, but still. It gets dark early. It’s colder. It sounds pretty basic, but one thing that’s been helping me is going out to work in coffee shops. I work from home, and it can be so easy to just stay inside in sweats all day. Washing my face, putting on an outfit, and going out into the world to be around other people really helps.
All the ladies in this story are beautiful, but Fiona, with that gorgeous smile and those precious babies warmed up my heart all the way to my home in Indiana, Thank you for sharing!!!
Read through all the 60+ comments so far and not a single mention of how INSANE it would be to spend FIFTEEN MINUTES in a freezing body of water?! HOLY HELL that seems intense. When do you start to worry about hypothermia? I’m sure you are being safe, I’m just in awe of that commitment. I’ve never done a cold plunge but I’m quite certain if I did, it wouldn’t morph into a 15-minute regular thing ;) WOW WOW WOW
I could not agree more!! I 100% respect her bravery and commitment. As for me, I’ve decided based on zero facts or evidence other than vibes, that cold water is Very Bad for me.
That sounds crazy and fantastic. Also, is there snow on the sand??
Haha, I definitely don’t recommend starting off with 15 minutes! I mentioned in the article that I trained myself to stay in that long, so 1 min, 2 min, 3 min … 15. Like anything: baby steps! And also like anything, so much easier with a friend.
Otis is clearly staring down ICE and I am HERE for it. Also, yes you do look hot in that sauna ma’am!
This year for my birthday at the end of January, my partner threw me a diorama birthday party. We provided shoe boxes, glue, and lots of miniature things, and everyone brought their own little things to add to their dioramas. I’m 43, so well out of the normal diorama-making demographic, so I felt a little silly when I had the idea and wasn’t sure my friends would be into it, but they totally were! It was a very weird and fun party, and the dioramas were so quirky and unique (an F1 racetrack! a gnome house! a woodland library! a rugby pitch!). This will not be my last niche craft party.
This sounds so unique and fun!
I love little dioramas! I may steal this idea, thank you!
Thank you, Mel for teaching lovingly during this heartbreaking and enraging time. You & Otis look like gorgeous Winter twins in that photo! Sending big hugs from Cape Cod.
My husband and I both work remotely–one of the only positive outcomes of COVID–and as we approached our 1-millionth winter in rural Wisconsin (we both grew up here and still live here), we realized we really wanted to shake things up and spend winter somewhere else. So we saved our pennies enough to cover two months of a rental in a beautiful Colorado town that appeared to have the vibe we wanted, took our two kids out of school for the semester, and temporarily relocated. the kids are in a really neat outdoor education program here where they get to snowshoe in the mountains, we go skiing as a family every weekend, and we’ve taken a side-quest trip to Arches National Park and Moab already, which was an easy 3 hour drive away. Coming from a very rural area, it feels miraculous to have just a little more infrastructure and resources to take advantage of…being able to go out to dinner at some great restaurants, or order Thai food for delivery–things we can’t do at home. The change of scene and pace has been really welcome for us all, and it also feels good to miss and pine a little for the unique things about home that make it so special, too.
What a fun adventure with your family!
I’ve never lived anywhere very cold! And yet I still start to dread the short days every year. What has helped me is actually avoiding something – alcohol. The nightly wine was actually making me more depressed. Once I figured this out, I never looked back.
I wish I could sauna/ take long hot baths! *cries in rosacea*
Surely you already know this so I apologize in advance but have you tried eliminating gluten and pasteurized dairy? It can make a world of difference for some.
I started a habit while I’m at work of drinking tea and walking around in the afternoon–I work at a university, and my building is right at the end of one of the quads, so I make a cup of tea and do a lap around the quad, which takes about 10-15 minutes depending on how crowded it is. My office is in a windowless basement so it doubles as exercise and a chance to get some daylight/vitamin D/serotonin. I’ll probably keep it up when it gets hot outside, but I might swap out for iced tea at that point.
I’m with Sara! Getting out for a 5 am run with my running buddies, no matter how cold in winter or hot in summer, has allowed me to actually enjoy and celebrate all of the seasons. The wind chill here in Indiana was -24 one day two weeks ago, but we still got out there! It would be so hard to do by myself on these early, dark, and cold winter mornings, but knowing my equally-crazy crew will meet me there makes all the difference.
I used to do yoga (pre kids!) and recently my BFF got me back into it. But this time, I tried HOT yoga. I was skeptical (the smell?! the sweat?!) but now I confess that I am REALLY into it!!! With all the horrible things going on in the world, it feels great to just shut my brain off and sweat out alllll the bad vibes. I feel so aware of my body and what it’s capable of — a bit of hope and positivity during these difficult (and so coooold) times. Plus, sweating with a friend is more fun!
The Ina Garten party is iconic! You all look amazing!
Came here to say this – it’s so good!!
This!
Omg it’s SO GOOD!!!! Brilliant idea for a party.
Seconding Fariha re: museums. Did you know that art museums are climate-controlled? In order to protect art, they keep them warmer than we do our home, and they also maintain a higher humidity. Add those two facts to your mental well-being of enjoying beauty, history, and even time-travel (in your mind), and you come away feeling refreshed. You don’t have to go through an entire museum when you visit; pick one exhibit that interests you, then stop by the cafe for a coffee or tea and people watch. All good!
Art museum people watching is the best people watching! People wear their cool outfits to go to art museums. Every age group comes. And at least near me, the art museum cafes have good desserts. Getting a piece of carrot cake and watching the other museum-goers is at least as much fun as seeing the exhibits.
Shout out to Fiona from a fellow Ottawan! I recognize that pool and have been there many times. The warm water is divine. Ottawa has had a very snowy, very cold winter that we haven’t had in many years. Trying to maintain a normal routine with commuting and getting kids to school has been tough. I’m mostly just been hunkering down and waiting until spring. Getting a lot of reading done.
“It may be cold here in Saskatchewan, but here at the international prospect cup, players are hoping for something hot on the ice.” (this comment is for Fiona)
Oh I’m so excited to get the reference ;-) . So my energy booster has been watching heated rivalry: it helped me intensified my yoga practice (1h30 everyday), because i want to feel strong and beautiful, but also, im writing a paper for a specialized review (a paper on HR and the representation of sex and the gaybody).I am so excited and thankful, depression and anxiety are further away. Love from Paris
THIS COMMENT IS FOR EVERYONE, thank you for your service :). I look for HR references literally everywhere, I’m glad I’m not the only one still living at the cottage
Also adding that I live close to thenQC border in northern Vermont… there’s a Nordic spa with saunas, steam rooms, cold plunges, and thermal baths about 90 min north of us. About $40 for three hours can’t be beat, and everyone is speaking (well, whispering) in French, so it REALLY feels like you’re getting away from it all! https://www.balnea.ca/en/?srsltid=AfmBOorYaY3qUHYE-iDMq3YuPr58cGw58AXJ3HY4akPWUXG6hi4xwwoY
I love that region of the Eastern Townships though we only go in the summer to our friend’s lake cottage on Lake Memphremagog. Need to work up the nerve to go in the winter sometime and this spa is helping!
I may be a rare cold weather enthusiast, but this winter has been a dream in Vermont. No fifty degree melt that turns our snow to dirty slush piles every week, like it has done so many winters lately. Everything is magical and white and fluffy. I love all things winter sports- downhill skiing, skating, snowshoeing, XC skiing- and I hate sweating. There’s something so magical about coming inside from a cold weather workout gliding on snow to rosy cheeks, hot cocoa, and a warm fireplace. I adore living somewhere with four seasons, but this one is so fleeting and absolutely my fave.
Yes! I feel the same way in Wisconsin. Winter activities like skiing make the snow something to look forward to instead of dread.
Loving it! Cheering the safe girls runners – it is great how visible you are 😍 To get some oxygen and remind myself that the spring will come, the place to visit is botanical garden. Poland during winter can be heavy and depressing, but this year is different: white snow and many sunny days.
Remember those potholders you made as a kid? My daughter got a Friendly Loom for Christmas, but I’ve commandeered it and now I’m in deep- free patterns online, a weaving design “wizard” on the Friendly Loom site! I’m making a rug! I can’t stop! It’s great to keep hands busy while the Olympics is on. (What will I do with all these potholders tho…)
Could you stitch all the potholders together and make a picnic blanket? Probably not too comfy to snuggle underneath, but I bet it would be good to sit on!
There are some great books all about potholder loom patterns and creative ideas! (Not just rugs, but purses, animals, etc.) Jessica Stevens at Warmly (Substack) also wrote about making a rug and Lena Corwin made her own big loom, also for a rug.
I’ve bought a number of Friendly Looms as gifts, and they are tops…..the website offers so many interesting patterns and the colors are wonderful. You must order the wooden ring “handles” if you haven’t already….they are easy to use and look great. What’s more wintry than weaving? Hardly anything — enjoy! PS — the potholders also look terrific framed in shadow boxes….they almost take on an Amish quilt vibe, and would look lovely hanging in multiples — almost like a museum installation.
The picture of a baby sleeping inside a pool just made my day! Babies are the funniest people!
what beatrice said!
Babies ARE the funniest people!
This is just wonderful. It made my week. Love from a very hot Cape Town
Jess, I live in San Diego and it’s been warm all of 2026 so far! Which can be typical, but seeing all the snowy posts makes me want to huddle up somewhere, watch the birds, drink cocoa, have a roaring fire, and snuggle. But only for a weekend ha ha!
I would love to see a roundup post of reader photos of other funny/adorable places babies have fallen asleep. So cute!
Brilliant! Yes please!
Once a month, I take a friend’s kid on an adventure where we learn to make something or do something. Planning what we will do and then showing it off to their parents has been so fun. More often, I go to a small local gym to powerlift with a set routine. I see the same people but don’t talk (introvert!), get to move my body, and can’t think about anything else when trying to focus on picking up heavy things. Helps so much with winter blues.
As a new-ish mom still looking for community, this warmed my heart. I’m sure your friends’ kid and your friends appreciate those adventures SO much!
I fell into sourdough break making in mid-Jan, when a friend gave me a bit of starter. After a few weeks of utter confusion (I am no baker), it started making sense. I’ve made five boules and oh so many discard waffles. There’s something soothing about feeding this pet on the counter (who periodically feeds us!), watching her change, and doing something relatively easy and simple over a lperiod of time that then yields a nourishing result. Bread, guys. Who knew?!
So many candles and fires in the fireplace! Still working on my cozy lighting game but when all else fails, I turn them all off and just go with firelight.
The house we bought this fall has a gas fireplace so every evening we curl up in front of it. I live in Vermont so I’ve just been embracing winter and getting out to ski mostly, but also finding novelties that only happen in winter like ice fishing! We’ve gone ice skating and snowshoeing a couple times. And lots of dance parties!
That baby asleep on the pool floatie! 😍 Rosalyn, is that sauna in your home or your local gym or…? Where does one sauna? I’d like to try but my local rec center doesn’t have a sauna.
Up in Canada a lot of Good Life gyms have them! There’s also two gorgeous nordic spas that have ones near me (shoutout Nature Folk and Sensea) that are absolute blissssss – look up infrared sauna near you for that one she’s in specifically which I HIGHLY recommend.
Local business! Seem to be popping up all over the PNW (know your audience!) but lots of gyms and pools have them too! And spas / free to use with a service!
Gang! Saunas are the best. We got a sauna box to see if we enjoyed it, and it’s been a hit. They are a great way to give it a whirl before making a huge investment. Check it out: https://saunabox.com/products/saunabox-smartsteam-kit
The photo of Fiona and the babies is amazing! Such a random moment of pure joy. Love this. What a great glimmer for today.
Saunas yes! I also moonbathe in the winter. Not as long or as little-clothes as in the warmer months, but it’s so helpful for hormone regulation, sleep, and mood. We’ve had an unusually warm, clear winter in the PNW and I’ve taken advantage of several winter full moons even with little on for a few minutes. It’s life changing!
I’ve been feeling pretty blue this winter (I live in Boston where it’s been especially brutal weather-wise). This post really lifted my spirits. The baby asleep on the floaty?! We’re all in this together, figuring it out, and trying to find the good in a trying time. I built my first real fire in our fireplace last night, and it filled me with so much pride!
I’m in Australia and we are having a dreadfully hot summer February, so I’m surviving that by looking at all these icy pics! Love the small moments of joy everyone is managing here. Sometimes you’ve got to make it happen.
I’ve lived in Minneapolis all my life and just this winter I decided to try downhill skiing and it has truly changed my relationship with winter. And since I’m a Minnesotan that means it’s changed my life. I am having so much fun, and spending so much time outdoors. For the first time in my LIFE, I’m not just counting down the days until spring, I’m actually enjoying winter. I’m so glad I gave it a go!!!
I read Kari Leibowitz’s ‘How to Winter’ earlier this year and oh my goodness it should be required reading for all of us winter folk. It’s changed my outlook completely and it’s wild to now notice how easily we accept the winter doldrums instead of choosing/noticing winter joy. Check her out!
+1 for this book recc. It’s amazing!!!
I also read this earlier this year (I guess it was just last month, but January felt seven years long). It was such a delight! I’m in the PNW but still typically pine for the sunny south where I grew up. Since reading that book, I notice the sun that we DO have so much more, and I’ve been religiously going outside for a walk on my lunch break, no matter the weather. My mom didn’t even read the book yet, but when I told her about the author’s explanation about relishing the cozy light of candles, she went right out and got some, and now has her “candle time” in the evenings.
I second this rec!
Also i’ll say, i’m struggling – i’m in nursing school and commute 2 hrs each way on the train, i’m up at 4am, it’s full on and my school is such a chaotic mess it’s very draining on the spirit. I know i need more community and loveliness in my life to stay resourced in a very dreary season (i know we’re all struggling rn) but i’m feeling burnt out on time and finding new friends feels like a lot of work right now. Looking for something to carry me through, just not sure what.
Nadia, I admire your commitment to nursing school! That is a heck of a long commute. It sounds like this season of your life is testing you for what is to come with me with a hectic nursing career. Running on little sleep just makes everything so, so much harder… (You didn’t say you were lacking sleep, but I can only imagine how much of a sleep deficit I’d be in getting up at 4 a.m.) Honestly, I have no suggestions for building friendships at this point when it seems like just getting through each day is enough of a challenge. I’m sure you’ll be bonding with classmates, but the commute would make many meetups difficult… Just sending you support. 💕
Hi Nadia. That’s a really hard schedule! Since you’re on the train is there a way to utilize that time to bring joy? You might have to study, but maybe you can carve out 15 mins of coloring/journaling/reading for pleasure? Also, when I was in nursing school I just picked two friends who I was close with and who were most available and pretty much only kept in touch with them. They were my social lifeline. Then once I was done and could emerge from survival mode, I came back out into society and rekindled friendships/made new friends. Sometimes there’s a season where you have to pick where to invest your time, and who to invest in.
I totally understand what you’re saying. I also would love to have such a beautiful community but man, is it hard to develop and find! It is also really tiring and this is speaking from my going on three years of really putting myself out there, starting a social group, hosting people, etc. I have made one true friend in that time, which is great! But man, building a community is hard and takes a TON of effort. If it helps, I think has gotten harder over time to make new friends. This isn’t a great suggestion, I mostly just sympathize with your situation but have you tried finding an online community you really connect with (CoJ comments section??) I spent a lot of time on one friendly subreddit where I had an interest and it fulfilled some social need for a short period
Nadia that sounds so hard. Is there one little thing you can start with to look forward coming home to? Maybe it’s a cup of tea, a ten-minute funny youtube video, a crossword, a phone call with family or a friend, or some other small ritual? I find if there’s something nice waiting for me at the end of a trying task/day, it makes all the difference. Good luck to you, and thank you for pursuing a career in nursing! Nurses are golden.
Hang in there! You’ve picked an incredible career. When I was in school for my health degree these things helped. First, the semester is almost over. You’ve got like three months? Just think “I can do anything for three months!” Second, I made no friends in grad school. I was waiting tables and couldn’t do anything social. Now? My closest friends are former coworkers and they are lifelong. Last, is there a self care activity you could add to your commute? Audiobook novels? Therapy phone sessions? I hate giving advice. And I feel you in this time!!! It’s rough and you’re doing an amazing thing!
Oh my gosh, this is so much and sounds really hard. I agree with everyone about seasons. Don’t add anything more to your plate that feels like work. One idea: look for a book club at your local library or bookstore. (fyi for the bookstore one– you don’t HAVE to buy the book! borrowing/thrifting is fine. –in case budget it a factor.) Make sure it is a book that is FUN for you. (Not something that feels like homework!!) Then listen on your commute. (But don’t stress about finishing it! You can go even if you haven’t finished it.) You might not meet a BFF, but it is a good way to get out into your community and meet cool people. Can you plan something fun/nice/ restorative for when your semester is done? I feel like having something to look forward to (even if its like buying a cheap face mask + having a home spa day, or getting a coffee etc) can be really helpful. Also remember to be PROUD OF YOURSELF. (like put sticky notes to yourself everywhere about how rad you are.) This is HARD. You are crushing it.
Pre-Covid, when I commuted by light rail to downtown, I made friends with two other regulars that I noticed waiting for the train day after day. Do you see or sit next to the same people? You might try starting a conversation and see how it goes!
Man, i’m so inspired, but just not sure how to find friends who are interested in doing these sorts of things. Would like to know more about the nuts and bolts logistics behind these group activities and casual meetups. Like do i find random acquaintances and say “i want to start a soup group” , and how do you not end up doing all the legwork and the organizing? How did she meet her cold water swim friends? etc etc. Thanks
I just read the book “We Should Get Together” by Kay Vellos (th audiobook was 4 hours which I blew through as a WFH-er who can multitask and it really inspired me to put myself out there socially and build some community. I will say that a lot of it boils down to taking social risks and just going for it, but I think it’s like a muscle and the more you work it the easier it gets, and the results tend to build on themselves.
I had this issue with bookclub until I finally automated it. Same day of the week every month, pick a book AT the meeting for 1-2 months ahead, and someone usually volunteers to host a few days before. But I definitely did a lot of legwork initially. Also, if you end up doing all the organizing all the time, I think it’s reasonable to say “I love these gatherings but I’m struggling with feeling like I’m holding them together.”
I’m a parent and it’s easy enough to see which of my kids’ friends I vibe with these days, but yeah, I mean, I’ve gone to the same yoga class as some women probably like, 40 times now and I still don’t feel brave enough to be like “does anyone want to get a beer after class” Someone’s gotta take the risk though!
Totally agree, Nadia. I also find the logistics so daunting… there are some fellow parents that I’ve lightly engaged during daycare drop-offs, but everyone is so busy they literally always hoof it back to their car to get to work (same in the evening, but to activities/dinner/home.) Feels like I might as well ask them to meet me on the moon than to schedule a regular meetup before/after school or weekends.
We have gotten THEEEE BEST home made Christmas gift for the very long wintry season we’re having in the central PA area: microwaveable rice bags! We have used them as bedwarmers and re-requested them as gifts this year because our first ones were so well loved. This winter, they have been companions during the day as well as when we are going to bed. Curling up with a book and something warm at our feet or on our laps has been wonderful. (I do realize that people with pets probably have similar experiences, but we’re a household of 11, so this works for us:)
I’ve been making these for ages and we love them. A super easy project with a sewing machine, but not bad to hand sew either. https://gettinmyhealthyon.com/diy-rice-heating-pad/ We take them to bed on cold nights, snuggle with them when we’re sick and use them on bellies for period cramps. Do yourself a favor and make one, stat!
Ok funny story about microwavable rice bags. This Christmas my extended family did hand made gifts only, so I made a TON of rice bags (they’re so easy to make) including adding lavender so they smell good. Showed up on Christmas and started handing them out when my sister goes “KEL. NO.” and pulls out… her own handmade rice bags to hand out as gifts. Including the addition of lavender to make them smell good. We still laugh about showing with the exact same niche hand made gift. I will happily admit that her design was better than mine, which was basically three “pockets” of rice so you can drape it over your neck and get nice warm shoulders.
Oh my gosh, this is like full circle comments. I also have a sister named Kelly. I can literally hear myself saying “Kel, no.” But double rice bags is not a problem–especially if they smell the same!!!
A relative gave us some homemade microwaveable rice bags a few years ago and we love them, especially for bedwarmers and when our kids are sick. xo
I fill mine with feed corn from the farm supply store. They seem to hold the heat a bit longer than rice.
How lovely! I’m inspired! I do enjoy colder weather, usually. Sledding is my favorite winter activity so if there’s enough snowfall and a friendly hill available I’m planning a visit. Second to that is sitting in my garden under a tree watching my yard breathe with a cup of coffee. Bowls of ramen or soup waiting for my return. Winter is cozy-thinking.
Dress right, spiked boots, poles, out my door onto the trails! I love walking in the woods in winter. Then home to the wood stove and a cup of tea.
that baby asleep in the warm water is my new role model
Haha yes! I came here to say that baby asleep in the warm water is my kindred spirit
Love, love, love the photo of Fiona and the babies! The looks on all three faces are just wonderful. Thanks for making me smile today!
Gonna be stalking these comments – my day job is in one arena being attacked by the federal government and my volunteer work is in another. Just found out a good friend is dating someone doing expensive business with the feds that affects both of my areas of work in profoundly negative ways. This whole time is just… a lot. I’m stoked for alllllll the ideas people post.
I live in rainy dreary Portland. Good rain gear (shout out to Bogs) gets us out most winter days. My new thing this winter is to open all the windows in our house for ~10 minutes after breakfast to air it out. It’s refreshing to get a breath of cold air in the rooms.
Haley, hello to you in my home state! I now live in Germany, where airing out our house daily is required in most leases (homes here are well-insulated so humidity and mold can build up quickly). We’re all over here thinking this American “discovery” of “House Burping” is hilarious. And why are we calling it that?! But in all seriousness, I recommend to everyone airing out your house in all weather – you don’t even know it’s stuffy until you’ve aired it out!
TEACHER IN MINNESOTA IM SENDING THE BIGGEST HUG EVER!! I teach in Chicago and ICE being here was less intense than MN by a lot but still horrible… holding all the fear that kiddos had sucked!! I watched so much bad reality tv and ate a lot of THC gummies and I wish your version of that for you :)
I love these ideas so much!! I’m in frigid Boston and trying to find a sauna to go to. Any Boston area readers have recs?
A bit further north, but this Plum Island one looks amazing: https://www.skog-stone.co/. It’s 5 minutes from my house and I’m looking forward to trying it soon.
Moki Sauna! They have one in Southie and Allston, I am at the Allston one every Friday :) It’s cold plunge + sauna, but you can just do Sauna if you like. I’ve gone when it’s raining, snowing, and frigid temps. The vibe is super chill and the staff are great. https://www.mokisauna.com/
Moki Sauna! They are in Allston and Southie, they have cold plunge + sauna. https://www.mokisauna.com/
I love the sauna at Soft Space Wellness! In Bow Market in Union Sq Somerville. Pretty affordable and a fun area to hang out in after
A bit outside of Boston but my pals opened this sauna. It is pure ambiance. https://www.moonrisesauna.com/
Your local YMCA might have a sauna. Mine does!
A little outside the city, Dryp Yoga and Pilates in Burlington has an awesome set up with infrared sauna and cold plunge. They call it Recovery. I love it! https://drypyogaburlington.com/
What a delightful post! I love all of these – want to swim, do art, take a sauna, be Ina!
I’m in the southern plains (Oklahoma), and we’ve been riding the weather roller coaster for weeks. Ice/heavy snow, then 80 degrees F ten days later–we’ve had it all. It’s fun trying to figure out clothing every day, but even more fun watching the college boys run around in shorts and tank tops in February. I’m heartened by the fact that spring training has started, which means baseball is on the horizon.
This winter I got into soups and have been experimenting with some tasty recipes. My favorites are Hungarian Goulash, Chicken broth with stracciatella (whipped eggs and permesan) and lentils soup with smoked sausage
Soup is my love language! I just made some tonight with a rack of ribs because it’s what we had. It turned out surprisingly well.
@ Sara B, I’ve never had soup with ribs but it sounds tasty! Should pair well with potatoes and legumes How do you make it?
I love this post. Thank you for sharing all these lovely ways of living during the darkest season. My wife used to head to Mexico each winter before we were married. But over the last 10 years, I’ve brought her around to the joys of New England from December to April. -Candles -Cross-country skiing. I mean, this is the winter sport of the people. We see just as many folks on ancient skis wearing jeans as we do in fancy lycra. You’re in the woods or in fields. You get to go fast but not for too long. You fall over for no reason. Rosy cheeks. Tea after. It’s great! -Noticing the changing light -Celebrating Solstice and Imbolc/St. Bridigs day -Investing in lots of wool sweaters -Long hot baths -Museum and bowling dates
I love this description of cross country skiing. My skis and poles are from the curb, and my boots are my grandma’s! No fancy here. But enthusiasm? You bet.