Some of my favorite winter memories are hanging out with friends, going sledding, or making snow angels in my backyard, but when the snow is a little too crazy, or the temperatures are below the desirable winter crisp, it is hard to find things to do. These simple tips can prevent you from picking up your phone and scrolling for hours on end.
Board Games
Board games are a great way to do something fun while staying warm in the comfort of your own home. Unfortunately, for most common board games, you need more players than just yourself, so hopefully, you can find a sibling or parent to play with you. If you’re an only child like me, I recommend trying to coerce your parents into playing with you. If they are busy, puzzles are another great option to keep your brain busy. After a while, puzzles can get boring, so taking snack breaks every hour or so is essential for peak performance.
Music
A second great cure for the winter blues is listening to music; finding a comfort album or song can help with the claustrophobic feeling of not being able to go outside. If you aren’t a huge music person or are trying it for the first time, I recommend using a free music app before diving into a payment plan. I have tried a few free apps that I would recommend to the user looking for quality music for free, such as Spotify, Pandora, or Amazon Music (if you already have an existing Prime account).
If you are a consistent music listener, another way to have more fun when stuck indoors is to experiment outside of your usual genres. It can get boring listening to the same predictable tunes all the time, so changing it up occasionally can spice up your experience.
Art
Drawing, painting, or coloring are more things that can help get you out of the lonely winter slump. These are great outlets to unleash creativity and unlock a potential that you didn’t think you had. I enjoy painting abstract paintings because I find it less stressful than trying to copy an image online, which I tend to try to make too perfect. And not looking online for inspiration will help decrease your likelihood of getting stuck in Instagram reels. Drawing can be a way to create works for years to come that you can look back on in the future and laugh at how good you thought you were. Coloring books are very stress relieving when you have a lot on your mind and need a brainless activity where you can zone out and have a gorgeous, colored piece at the end.
Yoga
Completing yoga exercises is very good for your body and mind. You can choose the difficulty of the exercises, so you do not push your body past its limits; it is especially fun if you do it by a window while watching the glistening snow fall outside. This will make the time pass quicker and even give you a sense of accomplishment after completing an exercise. It can help if you look on YouTube for a guided tutorial on how to do simple poses.
Whether you try to play board games, listen to a new music genre, paint a new masterpiece, or try a new yoga pose, many things can enhance your indoor experience during the winter.
