Beat the Winter Blahs

Bored and tired of winter? I am from Wisconsin and the winter can drag on and on. It used to bother me to no end. I wanted to move so bad. Why didn't I? Because my husband of twenty one years would not. Now that we have three children it's even harder to move. Also, I am now happy to be raising our children in a state with four seasons. (Secretly I hope one moves to a warmer climate so we can visit him!)

The items below helped me to not dread winter as I always used to stay indoors:

Find something you always wanted to learn and do, but never had time, thought you were too old, or just put off. Ever since I was a child I wanted to learn how to play the piano. My parents were even offered a piano but due to "no room" in the house they declined. I was devastated! Last year I had the amazing opportunity to bid on a piano at an auction at work. I won! This winter I am taking piano lessons and loving it! I am following my dream, using other parts of my brain, and I hope by Christmas to gather around the piano and sing carols with my family. Also, I am showing my three son's what I am learning!

Got kids? Go outside with them! Build snowmen, forts, ice skate, snowmobile, and sled! Get a fun photo you can use for this December's Christmas card! Be careful not to build forts by the road. That seems like the best place because the snow plow leaves huge piles there. I have been watching on the news how kids are actually getting hit by cars and snow plows because they cannot see them.

Bundle up and walk in the crisp air! Exercise makes us feel good. We all should be exercising thirty minutes a day. A wonderful way to get vitamin D from the sunshine, too. Have fun and make it a couple or family adventure that includes your dog. Get a neighbor to join you. If you get another person to walk with you, you are likely to keep it up. On one or more of your walks take a camera. There are so many gorgeous nature shots most people take for granted until they have a camera with them.

Stay active at the library. Curl up and unwind with a good book before bed. I am currently working on my "Books to Read" list. At this time I am reading the poignant and mesmerizing love story "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks. Ask others what some of their favorite books are and what the book is about. If it sounds good to you, check it out!

Most libraries also carry free movies to check out. We are too busy in the summer, as most people, for movies except maybe the one big children's hit. So winter is the perfect time to catch up and watch that horror flick, drama, comedy or love story. I also have a list of old time classic movies I wish to see. "Gone With the Wind" is on my list to view this week!

Go out to dinner with friends at least once a month. What a great way to catch up and relax. I always feel rejuvenated and happy after many laughs with my best friends!

Treat yourself to a manicure, pedicure or massage. The benefits of looking good to oneself makes for a happier and healthier you! It is also something to look forward to. If it is not in your budget, unwind in a warm fragrant bath. Relax with a good book or meditate. Afterward, paint your own nails.

If you are a crafty person, think about making something you specialize in and selling it at local craft fairs! I was surprised at how many local craft fairs there were in my area when I decided to make my unique necklaces.

Grab your cookbooks and find a dish you want to try. Or watch Rachel Ray. She has a website with a lot of her recipes on. I tried some of them and they are delicious!

Bake cookies with your children. They will love the togetherness they are sharing with you. Also, food tastes even better to a child who feels they contributed.

Not too fun but tackle the closets, cabinets and medicine cabinet. No one wants to spend nice weather organizing!

Challenge your child to their favorite Wii, Xbox or PlayStation game. More time spent with each other.

Write a letter to a relative in another state. With computers nowadays snail mail is becoming a lost art.

Volunteer in your child's classroom, at a nursing home, or humane society. It will help your child's teacher and you will get to know the teacher better. By building a bond with your child's teacher, he or she may even share some things you didn't know were going on with your child. Visiting the elderly at the nursing home will become more enjoyable to you than it is to the elderly! They love seeing new people and getting someone to talk to. Once you get to know the people, you will want to come back to visit more and more! The people are such sweethearts and have so much history to be shared. If you love animals the humane society is a great way to make a difference!

Hopefully some of these things helped you. Remember if you keep busy and are not focusing on the cold dreary winter like I used to, it will be spring before you know it!