The Merry Momma

Embracing Motherhood with Peace, Joy, and Intention

How I’m (Finally) Learning to Love Winter

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For YEARS, I was an avowed winter-despiser. This year, however, I’ve been determined to change that. Here’s how (and why) I’m learning to love winter for the first time ever.

How I'm Learning to Love Winter

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I have never been a big fan of winter. In fact, until recently, I would have even said I hated it. I dreaded it every year and was a big ol’ whiny baby throughout most of the season. I hated the cold, I hated the darkness, and I hated driving in the snow and ice. (In my defense, a traumatic roll-over accident tends to leave a lasting impact!)

But a couple of years ago, my feelings started to change. And what began as a gradual WARMING UP (har har 😉) has now morphed into a seismic shift. Here’s how I went from hating winter to learning how to love it.



WHY I DECIDED TO EMBRACE WINTER

As with any major lifestyle change, such a drastic about-face could only be fueled by a significant “why.” And mine came a couple of years ago when I realized that, living in Iowa as I do, continuing to hate winter would mean being miserable for a quarter of the year. (More, really, as the dread of winter put a damper on every fall, as well.) Which means I would be joyless for a quarter of my life.

Nope. I was not going to let that happen.

As the famous saying wisely points out,

If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow. — Unknown

I realized that in order to enjoy my life, I was going to have to find a way to find joy in the snow… and cold… and darkness.

What started as a good intention, then, grew into a stronger determination this year after reading Until the Streetlights Come On (a fantastic book by Ginny Yurich), and has now matured into a full-blown mission thanks to another great book, There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather.

There's No Such Thing As Bad Weather

How I’m Learning to Love Winter

For years, I had a fixed mentality when it came to my feelings about winter. Some people just naturally love it, and some people hate it, I figured. I was definitely the latter.

But a couple of years ago, I began to suspect that maybe my feelings didn’t have to be so fixed, after all. Maybe I could actually learn to like it. And I decided to try (and I mean really try).

I went into my experiment hopeful that I might learn how to tolerate it… but I never, NEVER thought I would love it. Ever. But what do you know??? I think… I think I might actually be starting to love it! If not love, then something pretty darn close, at least.

Here’s how I’m learning to love winter this year:

Going Outside

Under the influence of 1000 Hours Outside (and Ginny’s book Until the Streetlights Come On) and There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather, I’ve resolved to spend more time outside this year. I haven’t put a specific number on it…yet… but I did make a mini goal of getting outside for at least 20 minutes every single day.

I’m proud to say, I’ve only missed three days (I think) so far this year! Given that I used to basically hibernate inside the house all winter and the fact that we had a few brutal wintry weeks there for a bit, this is HUGE for me!

And I am reaping the benefits, let me tell you! All that Vitamin D, fresh air, and time in nature is doing absolute wonders for my mood, my energy, and my overall outlook on winter!

Tip: One big thing that has helped me with this is using a habit tracker app (I’m currently using a simple one called Habit Tracker). I’m weirdly motivated by sliding those bars, and having it on an app seems to work better for me than paper versions I’ve tried.

Dressing for the weather

In order to spend more time outside, though, I needed to solve a big problem: the cold. One of the biggest reasons I’ve always disliked winter is that I HATE being cold, and winter in Iowa is… well… cold! My aversion to cold was keeping me inside most of the winter, which was exacerbating my “winter blues.” So, in order to learn to love winter, I needed to learn to dress warmly.

There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather helped greatly with that! From that book, I learned the secret to dressing warmly is dressing in layers – and not just any layers, but strategic layers.

  • First layer: Long underwear made from merino wool, synthetic fibers, or a blend of both (NOT cotton, as that soaks up moisture and will leave you feeling wet and cold)
  • Second layer: Fleece jacket and pants or sweatshirt and sweatpants
  • Outer layer: Something waterproof, windproof, and breathable

This one little tip (plus wearing two pairs of socks!) has been a game-changer for me this winter. I’ve actually been able to stay warm! As a result, I’ve spent more time outside than ever before, which has profoundly improved my mood and attitude this winter.

Having More Fun Outdoors

Getting outside every day isn’t much of a problem for me in late spring-early fall because I can easily find things to do that I enjoy. Winter has always made that a bit difficult for me. I knew, though, that in order to increase my time outdoors, it was going to have to be about more than crossing off a goal. I needed to find things I enjoyed doing outside.

One thing that helped me was a quote from There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather that said, “There really isn’t anything you can do inside that you can’t do outside.” That floored me. I’ve often excused my extensive indoor time with the argument that my favorite hobbies are “indoor” activities. This assertion, however, challenged that logic, and made me rethink how I could take some of my favorite indoor activities outside. One of the ways I’m doing that is bundling up and grabbing thick fleece blankets, and reading on the patio.

There really isn’t anything you can do inside that you can’t do outside. — There’s No Such Thing As Bad Weather

Another outdoor activity I’m coming to love is walking. Whether it’s walking around our property – enjoying the beautiful sights and sounds of nature, or taking a jaunt around town while my daughter’s at preschool, I am loving combining my daily habit of exercise with my new daily practice of getting outside.

One final thing that’s helping me this winter is learning how to have fun in the snow. I’ve never been a big fan of snow play (not since I was a kid, anyway), but this winter, I’ve been determined to embrace it. I’ve been building snowmen, constructing snow forts, and sliding down snow piles with my kids, and it has been a blast. I’m learning how to have fun in the snow again, and it’s helping me love winter.

Building a snowman

Embracing What’s Special About Winter

Finally, I’m learning to love winter by embracing what’s unique and special about it. Rather than view the days we were completely snowed in with frustration, I chose to relish the extra family time. Rather than bemoan the shortened daylight hours, I’ve chosen to appreciate that it causes us to slow down our evenings and cuddle up together. Rather than complain about the cold, I’ve chosen to savor all my favorite cozy things, like fluffy blankets, thick sweaters, comfy slippers, and warm cups of coffee.

Related Post: 15 Homemade Hot Drinks for Cold Winter Days

I’m also adopting the mindset that a harsh winter will make me appreciate spring all the more! The snow storms, sub-zero temperatures, and darkened evenings of winter will make the sunshine, new life, and warm days of spring even brighter.

How Learning to Love Winter is Enhancing My Life

When I started this new mission of learning to love winter, I was hoping it would keep me from melting into my usual miserable mess. But it has done far more than that! I’ve been shocked at what a difference it has made in me – and this was even an extra tough January!

Going outside more, having more fun, and embracing what’s special about winter has transformed my overall attitude and greatly improved my mood. Whereas I used to be a bit of a Grumpy Gus all winter long (which was super fun for everyone around me, I’m sure), this year, I’ve been a happier wife, happier mom, and happier person, in general! It has given me significantly more energy, more joy, and more positivity that (I hope!) has spilled over onto everyone around me, and has helped me better love and serve the people in my life.

Cold Weather Must-Haves That Are Helping Me Love Winter:

 

 

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