The freezing cold weather is a real mood killer for many people. Not only does it make staying warm difficult, it can interrupt our social plans and put on hold any outdoor activities such as playing sports or going for walks.
When it’s dark and gloomy outside sometimes it is easy to long for the summer months and dream of visits to the beach and trips to the park. However, it is important to enjoy the present and luckily there are actually many activities you can enjoy during colder times, both indoors and outdoors.
Here are just five activities to try out while the temperatures are low:
Play online games with friends
If you don’t feel like going outside, then there are many things already in your home that can keep you entertained. Sometimes being at home can feel a little isolating, especially if you live alone.
One solution to this is to play games with friends. Whether on your smartphone, console or PC, there are a huge range of games that allow you to connect with your friends or even with complete strangers.
Add an extra level of excitement though competing, login and play blackjack with friends to see who has the strongest nerve, blackjack is a skills based card game where players must get as close to the number 21 as possible before the other players. The objective is to beat the dealers hand without busting.
You can usually try out games such as blackjack, poker and roulette for free on websites before you decide whether or not to place any bets. You will also find that many online casinos have great sign up offers and welcome bonuses for those trying out these games for the first time.
Playing online games is the perfect activity for the cold weather. You can stay warm and cosy inside but still enjoy the company of friends and other people during gameplay.
Create snow art
If you feel like venturing out into the cold then there is plenty of fun to be had, especially if it has been snowing. Before going out make sure you are dressed appropriately, you will need a warm coat, some layers, gloves, a hat, scarf and ideally some snow boots or wellies.
Once you are wrapped up in warm clothes you can head out and enjoy the snow. Playing in the snow isn’t just for children, people of all ages can enjoy building snowmen!
Why not take it one step further and sculpt a real masterpiece out of the snow? When it comes to sculpting a snow-made masterpiece the only limitation is your imagination, here are just a few examples of things you can build other than the classic snowman:
- Your favourite character from movies or TV (e.g. Baby Yoda, a Minion, Olaf from Frozen)
- An igloo (this one might take some time and careful construction)
- A snow fort (this will make a great place to hide during snowball fights)
- A snow ramp for your sledge
While snowy weather may be highly disruptive for your travel plans, a snow day can be the perfect opportunity to enjoy some time with the people you live with and have a bit of fun.
Enjoy all of your favourite comfort foods
Prefer to stay indoors and keep warm? That’s ok too! Spending time at home is the perfect opportunity for some self-care and relaxation.
Cooking up some of your favourite comfort foods will make you feel all warm and cosy. If you have a bit of time on your hands, now is also a good time to batch cook some recipes to store in your freezer for a busier time.
The most comforting foods are often those that contain lots of carbs or are recipes that you enjoyed at home as a child. If you are in need of a bit of inspiration, here are a few hearty meals you might like to prepare:
- Biscuits and gravy
- A chilli
- Mac and cheese
- Meatloaf
- A pie (meat or a vegetable alternative)
Now is the ideal time to use up those tins you have gathering dust at the back of your kitchen cupboards.
Learn something new
If you would like to hide out from the cold weather at home but still want to be productive, taking this time to learn a new skill or research a topic of interest is an option.
Perhaps you have a particular skill in mind, something you haven’t gotten around to yet, such as learning Spanish or learning to play an instrument you have lying around at home. There are also many online skill sharing websites where you can learn everything from writing code to learning to knit.
Perhaps you would like to take this time to reflect on cultural issues or philosophical debates. There are many must see TED Talks online that discuss interesting and insightful topics.
Get around to those DIY jobs you’ve been avoiding
Lastly, getting around to those odd jobs around the house is an ideal way to avoid the cold weather outdoors. Whether it’s putting up a shelf or refreshing the paint in the living room, while DIY isn’t the most fun activity, completing these tasks is always highly satisfying and worth the effort in the end.
