Brrr, winter is on full force in New York and the surrounding area. It can be a bit harder dragging ourselves outside for anything, when Netflix and Chill is such a viable option that doesn’t involve leaving the couch. But come February, it’s likely you’ve binge watched all the good series, documentaries, and films, and are like, “Now what?!” Here’s a few tricks I have up my sleeve that will get your brain moving and your endorphins dancing, preventing the winter blues from getting the best of you.
Find An Author You Love, and Read Everything S/He Has Ever Written
If you’re anything like me, you probably have a “To Read” list about 6,000 miles long. While it’s easy enough to plow through those books slowly and surely, one thing I love to do when it’s cold out and I know I’ll be spending lots of time indoors is to pick an author and read everything they’ve ever written. You can do this with anything from the classics (think Hemingway) to more modern day works (Gillian Flynn) to your favorite series you read as a kid (the Nancy Drew books or Sweet Valley High, anyone?!) Not only will you leave the season well read, but you’ll be able to talk extensively about an author and their work, which is always well revered.
Find A Director You Love, and Watch Everything S/He Has Ever Directed
Same concept as above, only with films! I took a class in college called the Auteur Director, where we studied the works from Stanley Kubrick and Woody Allen extensively. You’ll start to notice themes in your favorite director’s works, and also be able to hold your own at a dinner party.
Become An Expert At Something
If you’re enjoying time indoors on the computer, you might as well spend your time learning something new and studying it down to its bones (because really, how many times can you check your Facebook feed?) This can go along with your professional field, ultimately helping you be more well-versed and knowledgable in the office, or just something that you’re genuinely interested in. Like food? Cook your way through Martha Stewart’s new cookbook. Curious about the Jazz Age? Put on an appropriate Spotify channel and start researching! Do you enjoy giving people advice? Look up and commit to memory useful life hacks you can share with people all spring and summer long!
Plan A Trip
Very few things are such happiness boosters as making plans. So technically, you can get just as much joy out of the planning part of a trip as taking it! Having a winter holiday to look forward to, and planning all the details such as where to eat, what cultural institutions to visit, which day hike you’ll adventure out onto, will sweep the blues away quicker than you can say, “Hellloooo sunshine!” Winter has always been my favorite time of the year to travel to Europe, because besides the fact that there’s less tourists everywhere, there’s always great holiday deals to be had this time of year.
Warm Yourself Up
It may be cold outside, but take advantage of all the toasty spots indoors! From fireplace bars tohot yoga classes to Russian Bathhouses to a day at the spa, there’s no shortage of ways to warm up right here in the city!
Stay Social, (Offline!)
It’s way too easy to hibernate from your social activities until the flowers start blooming again, but getting yourself out of those PJ’s and out among the living will ultimately do much more for the spirit, promise. It doesn’t matter if you’re meeting your friend for a glass of wine, attending a talk at a museum, or spending an afternoon window shopping through SoHo…just get out! Put things on the calendar and, bar another blizzard, don’t let yourself cancel.
How do you beat the winter blues? Share below!
Jessica Tiare Bowen lives in the juicy Big Apple with her adorable pink-nosed chihuahua, Gillman. He’s the inspiration for her first published children’s book, “Park Avenue Pound Puppy.” The book is the combined result of her two greatest passions: pooches and penning stories.
Her passions include art, urban hikes through Manhattan, drinking coffee with 3 creams and 6 sugars, making extremely detailed itineraries and traveling to far away places, singing along to Broadway shows, Netflix movie nights, discovering incredible treasures at Goodwill and thrift stores, and listening to stories from little people under 7 and big people over 70.
She started her career as New York City Teaching Fellow, teaching elementary school and theater arts at a special education school in the South Bronx for 6 years. She is now a Special Education School Improvement Specialist working in public schools throughout New York City. She is the Editor-In-Chief of the online New York City travel magazine, Used York City. The magazine focuses on finding the best of New York…as used by New Yorkers. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and an ASPCA Ambassador.
