What Helps You Get Through Winter?
Winter can be a hard season. Add in social distancing, stay-at-home orders, discouraging news, and a raging pandemic and winter got a whole lot harder this year. I’ve found myself cursing the season and surfing Zillow for an old house on a tropical island way more than normal this year. Ha! But really…today I wanted to ask you, what helps you get through winter? And I’m sharing 4 small things I do on the day-to-day to help me stay sane this time of year.
pink vase, pitcher, jeans (similar), about my gray hair, kitchen sources
It’s probably obvious, but I am not a winter person. In high school, when we wrote letters to our adult selves (which we opened on our 10-year high school reunion), I predicted I’d be living on a Caribbean island. I’m still a little surprised I’m not. But of course we have to sprout where we’re planted and the Pacific Northwest is home. To get through our cold and gray winters I’ve found a big dose of healthy living is required (eating well, getting sleep, exercising, etc), plus on top of that, these four small things give my mood a boost when I need it and get me through the cold season…
One // fresh flowers
Flowers are my go-to when I need a fix for a grumpy mood or when cabin-fever sets in. Colorful blooms have the power to lighten my mood and make me enjoy my home more. In the summer, we grow our own flowers, but in the winter I buy from the grocery store, florist, or online. It’s not something I do often - maybe a few times a winter - but I’m always glad I did. Something as simple as a bundle of pink carnations or babies breath from the grocery store can work miracles.
Two // pick up a new book
One of my favorite ways to enjoy the early evenings of winter is curl up with a good book. At Christmas I bought a few hardbacks for Garrett and I and we’ve spent almost every night reading before bed. This time of year I especially appreciate physical books since I can really dive in without distractions (I’m a shameless multitasker when it comes to audio books!). Books offer an escape and a reprieve from winter and I love them for it!
psst: If you need a good book, here are roundups of my favorite reads from Dec 2020, June 2020, and Dec 2019.
nightstand DIY, letterpress, pitcher, + bedroom sources
Three // Work on mastering a new recipe
Working on mastering a new recipe can be a great way to enjoy being inside and focus intensely on learning a new skill (dirty hands, clean mind and all that). One year I focused on learning the ins and outs of sourdough bread and started a weekly sourdough bread practice that I have kept up (read about our process here). And this winter I’m working on healthy-ish, not-too-sweet sourdough breakfast rolls. I keep notes and make tweaks and play with the schedule. And best of all, the house smells delicious!
psst: this is the base roll recipe I’ve been using
batter bowl, Farmhouse kitchen sources
Four // Get outside
Some fresh air, a change of scenery, and a vigerous walk or run does wonders for my mood. This time of year I find myself needing to get outside basically every single day (and the kids too!). I snapped these on my iPhone the other day from a walk around our property (can you spot our garden and flower field?) but most of the time I’m out on the road for a run.
What small things (or big things!) help you get through winter?