Finding joy in all seasons

Looking forward to the winter months.

Not everyone agrees with me when I say I look forward to winter. 

Frankly, if you despise the winter season, why do you live in Cleveland? Just saying.  I'm not advocating that it has to be your favorite, let's just move to take the negativity out of winter. 

I actually came to truly appreciate winter after having lived in Florida for 6+ years. The lack of true seasonal changes had me feeling out of sorts every year, and I realized I missed the coziness and beauty of winter.

It takes a mindset shift, but rather than focusing solely on the dreary weather forecast, focus your attention on the little things that you can find enjoyment in during the season.

Here’s a few suggestions:

• Cozy sweaters, fuzzy socks, soft warm blankets, and hot beverages. Enough said. 

• Rest and reflect. With less outdoor chores and activities, take the extra time to relax in the quiet (no electronics, music or TV), let your thoughts roll and wonder. This is a great time to journal. 

• Catch up on reading. Put on your favorite cozy loungewear, grab a blanket, a hot cup of tea or coffee, and read a book that’s been on your list for a while.  Bonus if you have a fireplace to cozy up to.

• Take a cooking class or sign up for a meal delivery service. Eating healthy foods in the winter, instead of overly heavy or fast-food, will keep your body nourished and keep your energy levels up.  You may find a new favorite!

• Get outside! There I said it. Call me a little crazy, I love running in the winter (unless it’s overly icy of course), it’s peaceful, winter scenery can be beautiful, and I always feel refreshed when I return. Getting outside as often as you can during the winter will boost your mood and refresh your feelings about winter - in fact, it will help increase your serotonin levels in the body will help ward off the winter blues. On a sunny day, enjoy a walk along Lake Erie or in a park; go for a hike at Brandywine Falls or in CVNP to see frozen water falls.

• Learn to snowshoe, ski or go sledding.  We have such great snow sport amenities nearby to take advantage of - Brandywine ski area, Edgewater has a great sledding hill, and the Metroparks have rentable snowshoes!

Practicing mindfulness, gratitude, and staying active through winter will boost your mood and stave-off seasonal affective disorder.

Need more warm indoor activity ideas? Here’s a winter bucket list blog post I found with lots of fun ideas:

More ideas for winter fun