 |
| Ⓒ Provided by Sunny Sweet Days |
By Krystal, Sunny Sweet Days
At the start of winter, it’s delightful to see ice and snow! Cold weather feels refreshing, and cloudy days offer a welcome reprieve from the hot sun. However, your feelings about winter may change when it’s windy and chilly for months on end. Whether you’re tired of shoveling snow or freezing rain, it’s time to focus on beating the winter blues instead. Mood-boosting activities will help you brave the weather until spring. From cozy new treats to exciting seasonal activities, our ideas will warm you up and inspire you through winter’s end.
Everyone loves a hot and delicious winter drink! Hot cocoa is perfect for relaxing at a mountain lodge or ice skating with friends. If you like coffee drinks, chocolate mochas are a comforting pick-me-up on a winter morning. If you’re making hot chocolate at home, why not craft it with quality plant based chocolate? Heat 65% bittersweet cacao drinking chocolate crumbles, and then dress up the chocolate with sugar and spices or plant-based milk. When you make your chocolate beverages this way, you’ll experience the delight of craft hot cocoa and take your mochas to the next level.
When it comes to hot and tasty winter beverages, you can’t go wrong with espresso or black coffee. There are many ways to dress up your java to make it fun and seasonal, including adding spices like cinnamon and nutmeg or flavoring with peppermint or white chocolate. Pair your rich and delicious drink with some of the treats you received for the holidays, like homemade cookies or confections from stocking stuffers and chocolate gift boxes. The delightful pairings will lift your spirits and excite you about the season’s offerings.
There are many hot beverages to warm you up and help you beat the winter blues, including hot apple cider and chai tea. Herbal teas offer a fruity flavor that helps to hydrate and pairs well with many meals and snacks. If you’re looking for an energizing pick-me-up, try hot lemonade!
Read More: 7 Easy Ways to Keep Your House Warm All Winter
1. Get Some Sun
Getting outdoors is an excellent way to lift your mood during winter. The fresh air will invigorate you and help to boost your energy. Besides the crisp atmosphere, getting sunlight has its own wellness advantages. Exposing yourself to the winter sun for just a few minutes will help to increase the hormones in your brain that help you to feel calm and focused.
Along with a natural increase in serotonin, the health benefits of sunlight include improved sleep and a stronger immune system. When you sleep well in winter and get sick less often from colds and other illnesses, you’ll feel happier and more energetic. Fend off the stress and depression that can make the end of the season tougher to bear.
Along with backyard adventures and neighborhood walks, our favorite way to get sun during winter is to bundle up and enjoy an outside activity. Make a snowperson or a snow angel. Go sledding with friends or try tubing. If the weather is nice, find a hiking trail and forge a new path. Shop at an outdoor marketplace or have a daytime bonfire with hot beverages and tasty snacks.
2. Try a New Sport
Winter sports offer an exciting and competitive option for getting outdoors and lifting your spirits! Even if it’s cold outside, it’s a great time to meet up and get moving. Some of our favorite outdoor winter sports include ice hockey and skiing. If you want to try something new, ice fishing and snowmobiling can help you discover new places and learn valuable skills. Looking for something unique to do? Relieve stress and free your mind while snowboarding or curling.
If you prefer to take your sporting events indoors, no problem. There are plenty of winter activities that let you bond with friends while you stay warm. For example, play a game of pick-up basketball, or try your hand at indoor rock climbing. Winter is an excellent time to start indoor cycling or martial arts. If you’re searching for an activity for all ages, go bowling. Some communities have indoor soccer or flag football leagues. You may also be interested in indoor court games like squash or badminton.
3. Take a Vacation
Everyone thinks about a summer vacation, but how about swapping it for a winter trip? Some locations are more affordable during winter, and others are warm enough to make you feel like it’s already spring. In addition, winter vacations inspire you to get outside and enjoy new experiences.
Combine your trip with your holiday vacation time or extend your time off when you visit someplace interesting. If you want to go somewhere tropical, travel to Mexico or Hawaii. It’ll still be warm enough to sunbathe in Aruba and Antigua, but you can also bask in the winter sun in Spain or the Virgin Islands. Instead of going somewhere warm, celebrate the sights and sounds of winter at a mountain getaway. Ski towns are picturesque yet surprisingly affordable this time of year.
Read More: 7 Hacks to Make Your Home Warmer and Cozier This Winter
4. Enjoy a New Recipe
Hot, satisfying food can help beat the winter blues. So why not try a new recipe and enjoy its cozy goodness? We’re big fans of soup recipes this time of year. While they’re easy to make, they’re surprisingly flavorful. Combine your favorite vegetables and herbs for a soothing and nourishing meal. Everyone loves a good noodle soup recipe, but you can’t go wrong with a cream of broccoli or cauliflower soup. Butternut squash soup is a rich and creamy offering perfect for lunch or dinner. If you’re looking for classic comfort, make a batch of baked potato or French onion soup.
Along with a hot meal, we recommend chocolate recipes to make you more optimistic. Making brownies or chocolate chip cookies is always fun, but you can take this time to learn new techniques and work with tasty ingredients. Our favorite chocolate dessert recipes for winter include fudgy chocolate mousse cake and rich dark chocolate caramel tarts. Impress your friends with chocolate cream puffs or chocolate swirl bread.
Our other favorite winter meals include one-pot pasta with soothing ingredients like white wine and mushrooms. An “elevated” macaroni and cheese recipe with Gruyere or plant-based cheese and shallots will highlight your cooking skills yet make you feel like a kid again. You can’t go wrong with grilled vegan cheese, especially when you pair it with your hot soup.
Stay Cozy and Fend Off the Winter Blues
It’s not always easy to stay energized and motivated during winter, but there are plenty of ways to help reinvigorate your spirit and nourish your body! These tips and ideas will ensure that your winter season will feel more exciting than before. With so much to do and enjoy, you’ll forget how long it’s been cloudy and cold. Keep a positive attitude as you approach spring. You’ll look back on the season and your unique, memorable experiences.
Read More: 9 Ways to Warm Up the Bedroom Without Running the Heat
See more at Sunny Sweet Days
