It comes round every year. After what’s hopefully been a long, hot, and fun-filled summer, winter is suddenly with us.
Getting up in the dark and getting home from work in the dark. Needing to scrape ice off the car in the morning. Having to change our plans because the weather’s turned bad. There’s no doubt about it – the winter can be a miserable time if you let it.
But, to take a more positive approach, why let it be so miserable? Instead, maybe we should be looking on it as an opportunity to do all those sorts of things that we just don’t have time for in the summer. To change our focus and to actually come out of the winter season with new skills, hobbies, and a renewed sense of purpose.
So here are five ideas that could turn winter into a true wonderland for you.
Master some new recipes
While you might be pining still for those amazing summer barbecues and tasty salads enjoyed al fresco, the winter is a great time to expand your culinary skills.
In fact, there are lots of recipes that are perfect for the season and most come under the overall category of comfort food.
So now could be time to start making plenty of tasty and wholesome soups using winter veg like carrots, parsnips and squash. Stews and casseroles are also the perfect kind of fare that will taste all the better when you’re looking out of the window at the freezing landscape.
And don’t forget about the delicious cakes and other desserts that are just perfect to round off a winter meal like sticky toffee pudding and treacle sponge. Maybe not so good for the waistline, but our next suggestion could be the answer to that.
Take your exercise indoors
It takes a dedicated runner or cyclist to get all kitted out for an outing when it’s cold and rainy. Even taking a trip across town to the gym can seem like a bit of an ordeal.
But this needn’t stop you staying in shape. Today there are lots of online workouts that you can follow in the comfort of your own home. These range from high cardio sessions to ones more focused on developing flexibility and strength. So, all you really need is a yoga mat and an internet connection.
It might also be worth investing in a few dumbbells and other weights if you think you’d benefit from some resistance training. Or, if your budget can stretch a little higher then it could be worth investing in an indoor bike or treadmill from Peloton.
Get into online gaming
Ever since they arrived on the scene in the 1990s the popularity of online casinos has gone from strength to strength. And today there are so many sites out there that competition is fierce to attract new players.
So, if you’d be interested in discovering just what the appeal of these sites is, you’re bound to find plenty of welcome bonus offers for new players. For example, many pokies sites operating in New Zealand are offering no deposit free spins on selected pokies games for players to trial games.
Maybe you could even make a night of it by inviting friends and family over for a casino party and enjoy playing games like roulette and blackjack online.
Catch up on those must-see movies or TV shows
During the summer many of us tend to be out and about so much that we just don’t have time to sit down in front of the TV. So, as we’re spending more time indoors, it presents the opportunity to see what we’ve been missing.
With so many streaming services to choose from you’re certain to find the shows and movies that you really want to see. After all, what could be better than being able to curl up in a warm lounge and binge watch a great series like Succession or The White Lotus?
With the new year it also means that awards season will be with us so it could also be the perfect chance to catch up on all those Oscar contenders if you’ve missed seeing them when they were in the cinema.
Put together your ultimate bucket list
One good thing about winter is that it gives you the chance to look forward to what you’ll be doing once the freeze has passed.
But why not look a little further ahead and start planning the experiences you’d really like to have in the years ahead?
After all, in the famous words of John Lennon, “Life is what happens when you’re making other plans”. So to avoid life passing you by, make those plans now and set yourself a schedule for making them happen.
Just doing the research about the places you want to go and the sights you want to see might transport you away from the everyday. Sure, it’s not as good as actually being there yourself but if your plans come to fruition, that’s also going to happen soon enough.
So hopefully these five ideas will help to see you through the winter. Plus, remember that there are also plenty of aspects of winter that can be enjoyed too like building snowmen and going on long walks on cold, crisp days. Then, before you know it, Spring will be here and winter will fade into the past again!