One of my goals this year is to try to really thrive this winter. In Northern NY it’s cold and sometimes dreary (although it’s beautiful!) for almost 6 months out of the year, and almost every year seasonal depression hits me hard😅

I am adamant that this year will be different, so here are 10 things I’m focusing on and doing to help me thrive and not just survive the winter season❄️⬇️

1. Finding something active to do—cross country skiing has become this for me (and my husband), my husband plays hockey once a week, and we like to take family walks (when the snow isn’t too deep). Otherwise, we have a semi-finished basement with a treadmill for me and swings and ride-on toys for our kids to get energy out when it’s just too cold to go outside.

2. Eating/drinking warm and yummy food—soups, hot cocoa, crockpot meals, the occasional coffee, baked goods, and treats (also, my electrolyte drinks help me feel good even during the winter blahs).

3. Wearing cozy clothes—soft knits, cozy crewnecks, warm scarves, sherpas, and comfy hats. I love a cozy outfit so much and love to lean into that during the cold months.

4. Warming up by the fire—we started heating our home with a woodstove last year and it’s made our home so much cozier (not to mention it has helped us save SO MUCH $$ on heating bills—although it is an initial investment).

5. Working on indoor projects—working on home projects, painting rooms, and doing updates while we have a little bit of extra time and have to be mostly inside anyway is a great way to keep busy during the cold months.

6. Ambient lighting—I keep white lights up all winter long in my living room and kitchen. It makes it so cozy and I very much prefer to have them on at night rather than all the big lights. 

7. Investing in quality items to keep me warm and comfortable in the cold weather—a durable and warm coat, boots that I love to wear, and some hats, scarves, and mittens/gloves help keep me toasty while enjoying the beautiful outdoors. 

8. An outdoor hot tub—this is another thing we’ve added to our home in the last couple of years—it’s so nice to soak in the warm water and feel the brisk air. It’s also a nice way to spend time together as a family (I know we are really blessed to be able to have this and this is probably the most “unrealistic” thing on this list). 

9. Catching up on shows and movies—sometimes this is a family movie night to watch the Disney classics or newest family movie, and sometimes it’s just my husband and I watching a movie, comedy special, or SNL after our kiddos go to bed. 

10. Leaning into the hygge (coziness) of the season—I I try to really remember that winter is a season to slow down, to dress cozy, to pause, and to rest a little to prepare for the warm and busy months ahead.

✨Bonus: planning a trip somewhere warm—I haven’t been anywhere exciting during the cold months in over 6 years, but this year I’m lucky enough to have TWO trips planned to somewhere warm (one in March and one in May) to! 

I do think having those trips to look forward to will definitely to help get me through the cold months.

What do you do to stay thriving in the cold months?