Stephs Cheers and Jeers received an editorial fee for posting this article
The cold weather is finally here! It is STUNNING here in The North East and I have so many plans to make the most of this winter. Here are 6 ideas of things to do this winter.
Take a winter vacation
Typically, most people vacation in the summer, but in my opinion, winter is the very best time to travel because fewer people will be there with you! For example, if you travel somewhere in Europe, the high time is by far the summer (and early winter – around Christmastime). While it truly is a great time to travel, it’s really hard to actually see everything that you want to see because there are just so many people slowing you down, booking out tours, restaurants, and hotels, and it takes you longer to walk everywhere. That’s why you should consider a winter vacation instead! There are so many fun things to do and great places to go. Consider a ski trip, somewhere warm, or somewhere in Europe. You truly cannot go wrong with a winter vacation – you’ll probably enjoy it more, especially if you have the same mindset that I have.
Plus, after the past couple of years, you probably have been traveling less and have been more stressed out. A laid-back vacation will most definitely help you relax, enjoy your winter, and hopefully spend more time with your family, or friends, too. Just be sure to follow local covid guidelines and being fully vaccinated allows for fewer travel restrictions.
Weatherproof your house
With the cold weather here, it’s time to think about weatherproofing your house. If you have noticed cold air pouring through your windows or cracks in doors, weatherproof. Applying caulk or weatherstripping to drafty windows and doors can keep the cold out and the heat in, maximizing indoor comfort and saving you a lot in energy costs. Sealing up gaps can also prevent melted ice or snow from rotting exterior features. So, take a day before the temperatures dip to caulk joints between walls and window frames and door frames, and place weatherstripping around windows, too.
Add a firepit to your backyard
If you want to enjoy your yard this winter, but aren’t sure how to do it with the cool weather, add in a fire pit for warmth! Sabba’s Landscaping, Lawn, Pavers, and Fencing can help you with this, and they also offer landscaping in Monmouth County. Sabba’s believes in customer communication, satisfaction, quality checks, and professional service. One thing that is super unique about Sabba’s is that they offer a 3D image of your designed landscape while you work with them. This will help you see what to expect before the project begins. They also have various fertilizing, seeding, and maintenance packages for your property and budget needs. This makes it easy for a one-stop shop when it comes to taking care of your yard!
Spend more quality time without screens
Connection helps everyone reduce stress and form positive connections with those around you, but when it comes to being a busy individual, sometimes it can feel like we prioritize everything ahead of connection. Work, laundry, dishes, yard work – it all is high priority. How do you balance all of that AND spend quality time with your friends and family? It is possible, but you have to be intentional about it. When you do carve out that time, make sure you connect with the people you love and really spend quality time together. Put down your phone and give them one-on-one attention. I promise that if you do this, you will feel a lot more satisfaction when it comes to how you are balancing everything in your life.
Limit stress and practice mindfulness
Learning to focus on your breathing can help you reduce stress. If you are able to take a few minutes out of the day and breathe in silence this can greatly help you reduce your stress. Sometimes, yoga or even meditation can be extremely beneficial. So many people have heard about meditation, but they haven’t jumped into it yet. Meditation can help reduce cortisol (which can lead to inflamed pathways, which can be an underlying cause of so many health problems) and helps improve emotional reactivity (the way you respond to stress). Researchers have compared meditation to other forms of stress relief, like physical activity, music therapy, etc., and all of those have positive effects on cortisol levels. But, one of those activities also stands out to researchers because it helps the most…and that’s meditation. So, next time you are considering doing medication, but choose not to, think about it again! Not sure how to do it? Find a cozy spot in your room and treat yourself to a vacation that’s all in your head: Close your eyes and imagine a relaxing place, such as a beach or a mountain view. Visualize the sights and smells. The more vivid a picture you paint in your mind, the more your body will respond to the invitation to relax. You are swinging in a hammock there and you are so relaxed.
This winter, make it a goal to increase happiness, reduce stress, and add joy to your life. How are you doing that?