Christmas has come and gone and we are now left with the cold shoulder of this Winter Wonderland. The green solace of spring is a while off yet, so we might as well embrace winter in the meantime. Since we can’t do anything to change the weather outside, then maybe we can work on our perception of it instead. It’s time to look at the positives; the tap water is deliciously cold, overeating has given you a good level of insulation and, whisper it, the longest day of the year has already passed. Hey look! It’s light at 4:30pm again. With this spirit of optimism in mind, here are 4 IDEAL reasons to feel positive about winter.
THE IDEAL TIME FOR BINGE-WATCHING SESSIONS
If the weather outside makes you want to cuddle up under a warm blanket, then maybe you should follow your instincts and do just that. Hibernation stations at the ready! A binge-watching session may be just what you need this time of year, and with so many fantastic shows and movies to stream, you’re safe all the way up to March. You can worry about losing your job and all of your friends once the weather is a bit more bearable.
Once Netflix is fired up, the most difficult part is the paradox of choice which confronts us, so let us make a suggestion. We love experiencing the extremities of winter through the eyes of someone else. FX’s “Fargo”, then, is just the ticket. It features three seasons of quirky characters entangled in sticky crime mysteries, but, most importantly, it is a true inspiration for practical methods for dealing with a cold winter. The show is set in North Dakota, which means that you will get to see people dealing with harsher winters. We promise that most of them actually make it to the end of the season, and season.
A CHANCE TO EAT SEASONALLY
It’s time to open your arms to a winter diet and we’re not talking about the faddy, foolish nonsense of the latest clean eating trend. No, we’re talking about simply eating what is good, fresh and local when it’s at it’s best. Nothing more, nothing less.The great thing about adapting your diet to the seasons is that fruit, vegetables and even game and fish are forever changing in their suitability, freshness and availability, so you’ll be keeping your diet varied, and constantly learning new recipes to suit what’s just come into season. What’s more, fresh produce which is ‘in season’ is at its most nutrient-rific. Artichoke, venison, turbot, blood orange, celeriac…it’s like a rolls-royce-roll-call of the best ingredients around, all at their peak right now. A delicious no brainer, this one.
TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY MAKE YOUR OWN FUN
Probably the worst thing about January and February is that there isn’t much to get excited about, with the social calendar wiped clean by diets and low funds. With nothing to look forward to and friends otherwise engaged to Dry Veganuary, post-Christmas winter can be a bit of a drag. It’s up to you to find your own excitement, then, preferably from the comfort of your home. This could take the form of something brain-beneficial, such as an app purpose built to sharpen your mind or the learning of a new skill. Or, cast aside any notion of being good, and embrace levity. The engrossing online gaming world of Candy Crush, Chess With Friends and Scrabble will all provide the distraction you need to get you to spring.
Alternatively, consider trying your luck on US Powerball to raise the stakes during these slow months. Who doesn’t dream of winning the lottery, hey? With a bit of luck, you could win some of the bigger prizes the game has to offer. You could even make it a group activity and play Powerball as a syndicate with your best friends. That way, you can have a get together every time there is a draw; sociable and fun in equal measure. The worst case scenario; you get to spend an evening with your friends. The best; you win a few million. And then, you can really make your own fun!
THE PERFECT EXCUSE FOR UPDATING YOUR WINTER WARDROBE
From heated jackets to long warm coats and colored scarves, updating your wardrobe for winter isn’t frivolous, it’s an obligation. Having the chance to wear that new winter jacket for others to admire could be the impetus you need to get you out of the house. The groovy new bobble hat you bought might serve as the inspiration to go and socialise. Hell, the chance to show off your new scarf might, heaven forbid, make the first few commutes of the near year that bit more bearable.