Cozy Up Your Winter
Chicago winters are cold, seemingly endless, dreary, gray and gloomy. But they don’t have to be! There are lots of ways to make the winter not just bearable but completely enjoyable! Here are several ideas that are fun and easy:
Buy great gear! My daughter went to a Waldorf school where they were essentially required to go outside no matter what the weather was that day. It was there that I learned there is no bad weather, just bad gear (or the lack thereof). There is a wealth of places to buy good gear and places like REI and Patagonia have gently used gear at discounted rates or, if you want a little more adventure in your search, go to the thrift store. Wherever you find it, having snow pants, a great coat, a warm, comfortable hat and gloves and an excellent pair of boots are game changers! Here are some activities that allow you to embrace the cold:
Skating Maggie Daley Ribbon, Millenium Park
Skiing Galena
Local sledding like Mount Trashmore
Ice skating at Chicago Parks, Millennium Park or the Maggie Daley Ribbon
Snow shoeing
Hiking
Walking along the lake
Get into warm drinks! There are lots of great warm drinks to keep you warm throughout the days and nights of a long winter. Tea is a great go-to whether you like herbal tea, black tea with milk, pre-made teas that come in a box that you mix with milk like Chai or Turmeric. There is also mushroom tea, hot chocolate and here are a couple of my favorites:
Consider taking classes where the temperature is elevated like hot yoga. This is a great way to relax, exercise and be warm all at the same time!
Have a weekly game night with your friends or family
Learn a new cozy hobby like knitting, crocheting or sewing
Listen to cozy podcasts like The Sister Project
Make a list of indoor projects you’ve been meaning to get to and kept putting off.
Have a winter solstice or other themed party! Invite your friends to celebrate the longest night of the year. I love this night because it means that every day after the winter solstice, the days begin to get longer! If you keep your eye on the sunset every evening, you will begin to notice the days getting longer, little by little which means spring is right around the corner. This year’s winter solstice is December 21st which means there’s only a couple of weeks until the days start getting longer!
Change your lighting. In the winter, it can feel warmer to have lighting that is dimmer and softer. This can be achieved in several ways:
Put dimmers on your light switches
Light a bunch of candles every night and not just for special occasions (use battery operated ones if that feels better)
Change out your lightbulbs from white/blue to yellow/pink
Reorganize anything: Silverware drawer/basement/closets/your desk/jewelry box
Make new outfits out of the clothes you already own
Make a new budget
Look up ways to repurpose things around the house
Visit places that embrace the magic of winter and have vintage charm like the festivities in Woodstock, Illinois.
Learn to cook and bake. There’s nothing like filling your home with the delicious smells of food and the warmth of the kitchen like cooking and baking. If you’re concerned about overeating, share it with your friends, family and neighbors. It will make all of you feel good!
However you decide to spend your time during what is often a long winter in Chicago, know that you have many options to make it warm, welcoming, fun and even productive. It’s a great time to lean into friends, family and new pursuits.
If you would like more fun and practical tips or, if your winter blues are something you would like help with alleviating, please reach out to us at SG Therapy Group. We have a number of skilled and compassionate clinicians who are here to provide support and get you through the winter!
Aviva Brill, LCSW
About the Author
Aviva Brill, LCSW is a clinical social worker specializing in aging parents, anxiety, relationships, and career transitions. She incorporates a range of modalities from CBT to Task-Centered and Solution-Focused theories into her treatment. Aviva is also Spanish speaking! Read more about Aviva here.