As winter settles in for the next few weeks, it is time to get creative. It is easy to become a couch potato because it is cold and miserable outside. However, just because the weather isn’t the best, it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun. Here are some ways to beat those winter blues.
- Invite Friends Over for Games: You know how you always want to get together with people during the holidays, but it doesn’t happen? Here is the perfect opportunity! Who doesn’t love board games? I’m still a lover of Yahtzee and Monopoly, but many games have gone high tech. Have you ever played “Heads Up? You can download the app on your iPad. It is like charades except you can talk, but be careful not to say the “word.” We recently played the new game “Speak Out!” and that was a ton of laughs. Here is a video to show you how funny this game becomes. (Sorry Karen) Also, you can order extra mouth pieces on Amazon for a few dollars. The mouth parts are all dishwasher safe, so when the game is over, they can be sanitized and ready for next time.
- “Chopped” Night: I love the Food Network! One of my favorite shows is “Chopped” where contestants are given a basket of ingredients and have to come up with either an appetizer, entrée or a dessert and see how far they can get before the judges chop them. This would be fun, pairing up people who have never cooked together before. However, I think I would just stick with dessert. It would be fun to watch people use their imagination and create a dessert together. Hopefully, it will all be edible in the end. If cost is an issue, have each team contribute $15.00. When was the last time you were able to go out and have a blast for only $15.00 for two people?
- Volunteer: Many times we say we are too busy to volunteer. Now is a super time to lend a hand to an organization in need.Now is a super time to lend a hand to an organization in need. Share on X During the holidays, many organizations are swamped with help, but it quickly dies down after the New Year. I’m sure your food pantry, homeless shelter, church, Boys or Girls Club, senior center or animal shelter could use some extra hands. If none of these sounds appealing, then think about what you are passionate about and find a way to help. All it takes is a phone call and a little willpower.
- Take A Class: Have you wanted to learn something new? Groupon has plenty of offers to fit all budgets. They have painting, cooking, dancing and my favorite: a massage class, just to name a few. Who doesn’t love a good massage? There are fabulous (wink) benefits to knowing a few techniques of massage. Check out your local craft supply store or home improvement store and look at the various classes they offer. Have you ever wanted to take a cake decorating class? How about a good knife skills class? I have to admit knife skills wouldn’t be my first desire, but it might be yours. When we take the time to invest in learning something new, the benefits can be immediately rewarding, and you might even make some new friends or turn it into some extra cash!
- Change Your Scenery: One of the most beneficial ways for me to chase away my winter blues is to rearrange the decor in my home. Moving various pieces around into different rooms can change what we feel looks old and make it fresh again. It is fun to see how something from one room can completely transform another room.
- Go somewhere, Anywhere: The cold weather doesn’t have to limit you to your home just because your funds may be limited. Bundle up and go for a walk. If the cold is too much for you, walk the mall! There are lots of things to see at the mall. Window shopping is free, people watching is fun and walking is the perfect way to get your exercise. If you have a gym membership, use it! If you have wanted to try some new food samples and have a membership, go to Sam’s or Costco on Saturday. They have samples galore with some kind of demonstration from electronics or cookware and always new foods. You can also take the opportunity to catch up with an old friend at a coffee shop, or if your parents are still living, go visit them! They will probably even feed you free food, and it will be priceless for them.
- Check Your Local Calendar of Events: I’m always amazed at all the things I didn’t know were going on that are free or at a very minimal cost. You can do things from bird-watching to salsa dancing! Is there a new shop or boutique you have wanted to visit? Now is the time to check it out! I have also found the local library has some fun events on the weekend too!
- Do those DIY Projects: We all have one of these projects to do, whether it is touching up some paint, fixing a leaky faucet or cleaning out the toy box. Have you wanted to repaint a room? Spring isn’t that far away! Get a jump on it! You know that piece of furniture you have wanted to repurpose? What are you waiting for? Look for ideas, so you will be ready to go as soon as you get a beautiful day!
- Organize and Declutter: You don’t have to wait to start your spring cleaning. In fact, it will be less overwhelming because you will be ahead of the game. Plus, who wants to be stuck in the house when the weather is nice outside? Have you ever said to your friend, “I love that outfit?” Ask some of your friends to clean out their closets and join you for a clothes swap! We all get bored with our clothes, so invite your friends who are your size and choose your favorites from each other’s clothes. Anything no one chooses can be donated to a local charity. There is something very freeing about gaining space back and having everything organized, so you spend less time looking for something. I don’t know about you, but I find it frustrating when I know I have something that I want to wear and can’t find it.
- Make a List of Spring/Summer Goals: It is always fun to plan what you want to do for spring and summer. I have found when I’m not intentional about making my list of things to accomplish, or places to go, I always have regrets. In order to be prepared for spring lawn care and landscaping, take some time to look up new plants and flowers which are suitable for your climate, space, lighting and soil type. This way if you want to add something new or you have to remove a plant, tree or flower, you will know what you want to replace it with. Vacation planning is another great activity for this time of year. Also, if you book your vacation early , you can often get a better rate.
The best part about this list is you can do these things by yourself, with someone, or with your whole family. What are some of the things you do to chase away your winter blues? I’d love to hear your ideas! Guess what? If you did one of these every week for the next ten weeks, you will make it to Spring! How cool is that? Have fun and let’s hope the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow!
I love yoga! I wanted to try yoga but there were no studios in my area so I broguht the studio to my living room! I have never felt better! http://tinyurl.com/yd9sjx5l
Hi, Neomi!
Thanks for sharing! It is true! Yoga can be done anywhere! I love to go out in nature too!
Loving all of these ideas. With a toddler it is hard to be a couch potato,but sometimes on the weekends when he is napping I find myself just wanting to hang around on the couch and work on my laptop to write. I love game nights with friends and I love the idea of change of senescence by moving things around. Will do that when we Spring clean! Again a wonderful and helpful post. 🙂
I love your ideas and also works on me 🙂
And I remember wjat my Mom always says.. be active if you don’t want to be heavier…. yeah, its also an effective motivation to be not a couch potato. 🙂
Hi, Blair!
I’m glad you loved the ideas and your mom is a wise woman! I love her quote! 🙂
I love your ideas. I always try to keep moving. I have my down time, of course, but then I make sure I hit my 10,000 steps a day.
These are wonderful tips. Hosting game night is one of my favorites. It’s super easy to be a couch potato.
These are all great tips! During the winter months I try to keep busy (but not too busy) by volunteering, still meeting up with friends and spending quality time with my family.
Great tips for not being a lazy bones.Decluttering may need serious motivation though.
Good Luck Amrita! I believe in you! Let me know how it goes! I say one garbage bag at a time!
Omg so many great ideas!!! I’m always looking up events that I can attend locally!!!
Hi CourtneyLynne! I’m glad you enjoyed the ideas! I love seeing what is going on locally! It helps support the local economy too! Blessings to you!
Such a great list. There are several things that I need to do on this list like decluttering (my closet). And I’d love to try the “Chopped” Night, I’m a Food Network fan as well!
HI Natasha! Thank You! It always amazes me what they do on “Chopped”. It is things I would never think of for sure! Thanks for your sharing!
I love this list! My parents and I were just talking about how OVER winter we are…we’re pretty active folks and like to be outdoors, but not in the cold months. I’ve been thinking about doing a game night and have never heard of the game you mentioned…totally checking it out. Thanks for the suggestions! 🙂
Hi Krista! Let me know which ones you like! We had a blast playing “Speak Out”. I’m over winter too! Hopefully, spring will be here early!
These are all great ideas, it’s so funny 🙂 Thanks for sharing
Hi Ance! Thanks and have fun this winter!
I definitely need to take some of your advice.. Lol lately I’ve been feeling a little lazy! I recently rearranged my decor in my home and felt significantly better! xx
Hi Ashlee~
I’m with you all I need to do is rearrange and I feel better. It also is a great time to look for some inexpensive winter decor for next year. What colors do you like to decorate with?
These are great because I definitely fall victim to being a couch potato!
Hi Jazz! I’m definitely preaching to myself here! I hope they help beat those winter blues!
Definitely harder during the winter months, I’m realizing. Having lived in CA my whole life, I got to enjoy wonderful weather year-round. Now that I’m in TN, I’m much more of a couch potato than I used to be!
Hi Divya!
Wow! How do you like TN? It is quite the transition from warmth to seeing some snow! Enjoy it and your great surroundings! I love TN!
Winter can seem so long. It’s funny, but sometimes you need someone to remind you to do the things you know. LOL! Thanks for the sparkle : )
And, that game looks absolutely hilarious! I’ve got to get it for the next time my kids are in town.
YES!!! I love your creative ideas 🙂 Volunteering is a great idea. Especially with older kids too.
Hi Christelle!
Yes! Volunteering is something even the younger ones can do! What a great way to set an example and help others!
These are great tips, but I have to admit there is nothing I want more than to be a couch potato when the weather is cold and gross. I love your tip about volunteering!
Hi, Roxy! I get it! The cold weather makes me want to curl up too, but I do love to stay active so when spring comes I am ready to roll!
Oh my goodness, I loved that video! Great tips.
Hi Heather! It was so much fun! Thanks for your encouragement!
I’m a couch potato! 😛 I enjoyed reading your tips and my favorites are: declutter and do those DIY projects! Cheers to more productive activities! 🙂
Hi, Joy!
I love to DIY and I often am teased I don’t keep things more than 30 days, but that isn’t true about all things, just the stuff that we don’t need! I kid my husband and tell him I haven’t got rid of you have I? LOL Thanks for sharing!
These are awesome tips that everyone must follow. Volunteering is fun and a nice way to use extra time 🙂
I enjoyed reading your tips to get me off the couch. I’m pretty good with getting off the couch unless I’m reading
These are good ideas. I can become a couch potato sometimes when it is cold and I do not want to go outside.
I already do a few of these, but I love the idea of Chopped night. That would be so fun for me since I love to cook.
Hi Saidah! I love to cook too! My husband is pretty much a gourmet cook so he really makes me step up to the plate 🙂 Let me know if you do it!
I definitely believe that organization is one of the key components to being more productive!
Hi Sarah!
I agree! I find if I don’t have a plan I waste so much time! Even in picking out my clothes in the morning! Thanks for sharing!
Love these! I used to be a couch potato but not anymore since having kids. Lol
Belle | One Awesome Momma
Hi Belle!
Yes, kids don’t like it when we are on the couch, but I love their energy on most days 🙂
Chopped night sounds like so much fun! My husband and I both love that show. I am going to bring this up to him and see when he wants to do it lol
Hi Jessi!
Thanks for sharing and let me know if you do it! I’d love to see what you make 🙂
I’ve been working on decluttering so I’ve been moving around often. I also like to shop, so that helps me off the couch 😉
Those are great tips… whenever I wanna just lay in bed and do nothing, I’ll have to do something listed on this post. Thanks !!!
Hi Rae! Thanks and I hope they help motivate you to have a reason to get out of bed. It is tough when it is cold outside to climb out of that nice warm bed. 🙂
I love the chopped Idea! That sounds like so much fun!
Hi, Grace! We are getting some couples together to do this for Valentine’s Day! I think it will be fun to see what they come up with!
Great suggestions! Love doing something more than just sit with my computer all day 😉 Often I love exercising as well to get myself moving.
Hi, Ida! Yes, when you are a blogger it is hard not to get away from our computer, but not very healthy! Exercise is key to our complete well-being and clears our head so we can think clearly! Thanks for your encouragement!
I think #1 beats them all. That was pretty funny. Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂 I got a good laugh out of that one. -Cass from sugarsaltspice.com
Hi, Cassandra! We had a good laugh too! It was pretty funny! I wish I would have invented that game. We think a dentist invented it 🙂
We love Chopped!!
Also, I find that if do yoga, cook a good meal, and eat with my husband, I feel so much better in the evenings than if I just veg out on the couch.
Thanks for these ideas!
Hi, Alex! I love to do yoga too! I did my first hot yoga a few months ago. It was incredible! These are great ideas too! Thanks for sharing!
So many great ideas, I especially love the idea of a game night!!! We used to do them all the time but life just seems to have gotten busy, I can’t wait to organize and have all my girls over for a fun night in!
Hi, Melissa!
I did a girls night recently and we had a blast. It was a great way to reconnect and catch up with each other. Have fun and I always love the laughter!
Sheila, I have been doing a series on chasing away the winter blues on my fashion page on the blog. These are great ideas and definitely beneficial for those of us who suffer with Season Affective Disorder. And you are right these ideas would work with a group of people or just by ourselves. Thanks for the suggestions! Have a great weekend. – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
Hi, Amy!
I will have to check out your fashion page! I understand that Season Affective Disorder all too well! I hope you have the opportunity to check some of them out. Thanks for stopping by and blessings to you and your family!
I love the chopped night idea! All the tips were great, but that one involves food, haha! Thanks for sharing!
Hi, Leighann! You have to know wherever there is food involved it will make everybody happy! I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
Always time to take 15 minutes to declutter a drawer or walk around the house and pick items up and put them away.
Hi, Candy!
You are right! I’m hoping to declutter my pantry today! It is funny how that seems to be the one place that always needs to be decluttered.
I especially love the DIY as I find it difficult to follow a class
Couldn’t have said it any better
Hi, Nelly! Whatever works for you! The important thing is to do something you enjoy and feel good about! Have a great weekend!
These are great tips! Sometimes at the end of the day I don’t want to do much. But doing a DIY or doing a game could be fun and not take a lot of brain power!
Hi, Cassie! When you are expecting the energy level by the end of the day is ZILCH! Like you said, a game would be fun and relaxing! How much longer until baby #2? I will add you to my prayer journal for a healthy delivery and baby!
Or instead of a “Chopped” party, a “Pioneer Woman” cooking party? 🙂
Hi, Andrea!
I love “Pioneer Woman” and that is a great idea! Everybody could bring their favorite cowboy dish!
These are all excellent ideas! I especially appreciate #3. If everyone would volunteer somewhere, the world would be a much better place! Jesus came to serve, therefore, we should too!
Hi, Toni!
I agree! Volunteering is rewarding! It is a blessing to those you serve, but it is always more of a blessing to the individual who IS serving! There are so many places to serve that no one should ever get bored! Thanks for your encouragement! Love you, friend!