Cold weather and shorter daylight hours in winter often leave people feeling lonely and unmotivated. Many people prefer to stay indoors in the warmth, wrapped up in blankets, swiping through social media or watching short videos to pass the time.
However, prolonged indoor pastimes and virtual socializing not only fail to fill the inner void but may also exacerbate low mood. Studies have shown that spending 20 minutes a day outdoors is effective in reducing stress and boosting your sense of well-being. In this article, we’ll introduce some winter outdoor activities and tips to help you stay positive during the winter.
Benefits of Spending Time Outside in Winter
Boost Immunity
With cold winter temperatures, the body needs a stronger immune system to keep out the cold. Being outdoors improves circulation and boosts immunity, helping to prevent colds and flu, which are common in winter.
Improve Mood
Appropriate sun exposure promotes the synthesis of vitamin D in the body, helping to alleviate anxiety and depression. Meanwhile, exercise stimulates the release of endorphins, which boosts a sense of well-being.
Promote Social Interaction
Winter outdoor activities promote socialization as well. Whether it’s building a snowman in the snow with family and friends or sitting around a fire pit sipping hot cocoa and chatting, all of these can strengthen mutual bonds and ease the loneliness of winter.
8 Outdoor Activities Suitable for Winter
Now that we’ve learned about the many benefits of being active in the outdoors, we’re going to introduce you to eight outdoor activities that are perfect for the winter months to keep you energized and healthy through the cold season.
1. Patio Gathering
If you don’t want to travel too far, you can prepare a party on your own patio. First, prepare warming devices such as fire pits or outdoor heaters to ensure that everyone won’t be uncomfortable from the cold during the event. Then, place weather-resistant outdoor furniture in the event area to provide a comfortable space to relax. If the weather is variable in your area, install patio umbrellas or pergolas in case the party is disrupted by sudden snowfall or high winds.
To make the event more interesting, you can set a theme for the party, such as “Frozen” or “Penguin Party,” with some simple and creative decorations to create a romantic social atmosphere. Of course, you can also go for a more casual approach, where you can sit around, enjoy hot drinks and food, catch up on each other’s lives, and share a good winter’s day.
2. Walking or Hiking
Walking or hiking allows us to fully experience the beauty and serenity of nature in winter while strengthening the body’s immunity and relieving stress. Parks, forests, or nature reserves are good choices of locations.
If you plan to go hiking, remember to prepare proper clothing, food, water, first aid kits, and other essentials in advance. Before you leave, check the weather forecast and avoid venturing out in bad weather to ensure safety.
3. Ice and Snow Sports
The snow and ice covered outdoor space displays a unique purity and tranquility, we breathe in the fresh air and feel relaxed inside. Winter provides us with a wealth of sports choices. You can enjoy the speed and excitement of skating on the solid ice or skiing in the mountains; or you can experience the fun of teamwork by building snowmen and having snowball fights with your family and friends. With the snowflakes flying, we can rediscover our vigor in nature.
4. Outdoor Meditation
The cold winter months tend to trigger seasonal mood changes, and performing mindful thinking exercises can help you maintain inner peace and improve focus.
First, choose a quiet corner in your backyard or park and laying out a yoga mat or outdoor cushion to ensure comfort and stability. If the weather is colder, add an outdoor heater to avoid the cold interfering with the meditation process.
Before meditating, take a few minutes of deep breaths and gradually guide your body into a state. Next, focus on your breathing or movements, allowing your body and mind to relax and recover in the fresh air.
5. Winter Photography
Taking photos is a great way to preserve the beauty of winter. The snow on the tops of the trees and the light refracted on the ice provide unique material and inspiration for photographs. When taking winter photos, start by choosing a beautiful location, such as a snow-covered forest, a winter cityscape, or a mountain range at sunset.
To add layers to your photos, utilize natural light, with the soft light of early morning or dusk being ideal. Don’t forget to bring spare batteries for your camera, a waterproof bag and other accessories to ensure that your equipment works properly in the cold. If you’re playing with someone else, capture the details and moments of the event and document your fun through the lens.
6. Outdoor Camping
First, determine a safe time and place to camp based on the weather. And check if the equipment is complete and warm, such as sleeping bags, tents, windproof and waterproof clothes.
During the day you can play some snow games with your family or friends such as snow volleyball, snow treasure hunt, etc. In the evening, you can have a campfire party where you can sit around the campfire and chat, sing or tell stories. The night sky is especially clear in winter, so don’t forget to look up at the sky, enjoy the twinkling stars and experience the wonder and beauty of nature.
7. Winter Garden
When winter rolls around, the cold weather always makes us feel as if nature has gone dormant and is no longer suitable for gardening. But the truth is that there are still some hardy plants that can thrive during the winter months. If you want to experience the joy of harvesting, you can grow hardy vegetables like onions, spinach and kale. If flowers are more your thing, then consider planting pansies, primroses and snapdragons to add more color to your home.
When choosing plants for a home with pets, it is important to find out beforehand whether the plants to be grown will harm your pets, to ensure that they can safely enjoy the winter months in the garden as well.
8. Jacuzzi Spa Session
A Jacuzzi spa session in winter can be effective in relieving muscle tension and improving blood circulation. Set up your Jacuzzi in a secluded corner of your patio and keep the water temperature at 102°F to 104°F, depending on your preference, for the winter use. Prepare a bathrobe and towel in advance so that you can maintain your body temperature after the spa session. To further soothe the body and mind, add some essential oils or bath salts.
Please note that although the spa is very comfortable, it is best to limit each use to between 15-30 minutes as too long a time may cause discomfort.
Tips for Enjoying the Outdoors
- Pay attention to the weather: Before you head out, check the weather forecast to ensure you understand the weather conditions for the day and avoid going out in bad weather.
- Appropriate dress: Use the three-layer dressing method: inner layer to wick away sweat, middle layer to keep you warm, and outer layer to protect you from wind and water; also choose waterproof and non-slip shoes to avoid slipping on snow or ice.
- Avoid prolonged time outdoors: Prolonged cold exposure might increase the risk of hypothermia and frostbite. Regularly enter a warm place to regain body temperature.
- Stay hydrated: Maintain proper water intake throughout the dry winter weather to keep your skin hydrated and your body’s metabolism normal.
- Do warm-up exercises: Before exercising, be sure to do a proper warm-up to help your body acclimatize to the cold and avoid muscle strains.
- Environmental safety: In environments such as snow, ice or mountains, be especially careful of potential hazards, such as whether the ice is solid and the snow is level.
Let’s not get stuck indoors this winter and get outside more! We want you to stay healthy and energized through a variety of activities.
