Misc rambling – The Ink'd Scrivener

The Best Cozy Winter Activities To Keep You Warm This Season

As the weather cools down and the days grow shorter, it can be easy to let your social life suffer. But because it is cold outside doesn’t mean you have to become a hermit! There are plenty of cozy winter activities that are perfect for spending time with friends and loved ones. And the best part is, these activities will help keep you warm all season long.

From romantic winter date ideas to fun family activities, here are the best cozy winter activities to keep you warm this season!

Embrace the cold weather with some cozy winter activities

One of the best ways to enjoy the winter season is to embrace the cold weather and cozy up with some fun activities. That could mean taking a romantic sleigh ride, having an impromptu snowball fight, or going ice skating with friends. Even something as simple as visiting your local bakery or sipping hot cider can bring a warm and toasty feeling. Plus, the fresh air will help awaken the senses and revive a tired body. You could even try building a snowman or challenge your family members to a “snow angels” contest. No matter what type of activity you decide to do, the best part about embracing the cold weather is that you never have to worry about getting too hot. Instead, bundle up, pick a cozy winter activity, and get outside to enjoy the beauty of winter!

Get cozy with a blanket and a good book.

Nothing says cozy like curling up with a good book and a blanket. Whether chilling at home or cozying up at your favorite cafe, reading can be a great way to spend a quiet winter day. If you want to take it up a notch, you could also light a few candles, brew some hot tea, and get lost in a good book. You could challenge yourself to a friendly reading competition with a few friends and see who can finish the most books in a week. Reading isn’t the only way to get cozy with a blanket. You could also pick up a new knitting project or work on embroidery. These activities can help relax the mind and ease stress while keeping you warm. And the best part is you could try different activities each winter to add new cozy vibes to your winter season!

Photo by Rinck Content Studio on Unsplash

Make some hot cocoa and enjoy the winter weather.

If your winter days are getting a little dull, there’s no better way to liven them up than with some hot cocoa. Nothing says winter, like sipping on a steaming mug of delicious hot cocoa. You can buy pre-made mixes, or if you’re feeling adventurous, try creating your own. Just get some cocoa powder, water, and a few ingredients like honey, coconut milk, and a pinch of cinnamon, and you’ll have a delicious concoction. Remember the marshmallows too! No matter how you decide to make your cocoa, it’s the perfect winter treat. Of course, to enjoy the cold weather even more, you can sip your hot cocoa while stargazing at night or walking in the snow. Either way, it’s a delicious and cozy way to enjoy the winter days.

Get out and explore! Winter is the perfect time to go for a hike or a walk in the snow.

Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you can’t get out and explore. Winter is the perfect time to take long hikes, explore nearby trails, and wander the snow-covered landscapes. Not only is it a great way to enjoy the scenery and get some much-needed fresh air, but it can also be a great way to stay active and get rid of those winter blues. Of course, ensure you wear suitable clothing and bundle up with a few layers, as it can get pretty chilly while hiking in the winter. Another great way to get out and explore is by going snowshoeing. This is a great low-impact activity that can help improve your overall fitness. Plus, it’s a great way to get around in the winter, especially if you’re in a place with lots of snow.

Stay warm indoors with some winter crafts or baking.

If you prefer to stay indoors, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the winter season from the warmth of your own home. Try some winter crafting activities, such as creating birdseed ornaments out of supplies from your local hardware and grocery store. You could also organize a winter scavenger hunt for you and your family or make some homemade play-dough for extra creative fun. Of course, if you’re feeling more adventurous, you could join a cooking class or learn how to bake some winter treats. Not only will you get to warm up with the oven, but you’ll also learn new skills that you can use all year round.

Gather around the fireplace with some friends or family.

One of the coziest and most traditional winter activities is gathering friends or family around the fireplace. Watching the logs burn and the flames flicker can bring a sense of comfort and enhance the special bond between loved ones. You can watch classic winter movies, drink hot chocolate, nibble on some snacks, and enjoy the fire’s warmth. You could also host a spontaneous game night if you’re in the mood for something more active. So gather your friends, pick a few games, and get ready to have a warm and cozy night of entertainment.

Don’t let the cold weather get you down; there are plenty of cozy activities to enjoy this winter!

Just because winter is here doesn’t mean you have to get cabin fever. There are plenty of cozy winter activities to keep you warm and entertained all season long. From outdoor adventures in the cold air to cozy gatherings around a fireplace, there is something for everyone to enjoy this winter. No matter what activity you choose, remember to stay warm and get out and enjoy the season!

FIND TIME TO RELAX AT WORK

August 15th is National Relaxation Day.

Relaxation is something I think we all need to do more. I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels overwhelmed daily from daily life. Between commuting to work and the daily news, I find myself tense throughout the day.

Wouldn’t it be great to have your employer set time aside during the day for relaxation? I mean more than our lunch breaks, which, let’s face it, are never enough time to recharge. If you can find a way to relax while at work, your productivity and creativity get boosted. Everyone could use a boost, especially if your job is demanding.

So here are some quick ways to find relaxation at your desk, and they don’t take long either.

10 Ways to Relax at Work

Read

Maybe not read at your desk in the middle of a project. I read my book during my lunch break, mostly taken at my desk, which I know is not a great thing to do, but I need to find my breaks where I can. When I’m lucky enough to take a full lunch break (for me, it’s 30 minutes), I head outside to eat my lunch and read my book. I return to the office feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the afternoon.

Get Moving

When I take my break outdoors, I’ve noticed that many people from our office building are walking. Quite a few people walk around our building (we have two hills). Still, others like me can find 5 minutes to walk to the corner and back to the building on breaks. Not only does it clear my head, especially when I’m trying to resolve an issue, but it also boosts my energy.Meditate

I am a big supporter of meditation. Not only do I start and end my days with meditation, but I also find time during my work day to do so. Whether I’m outside on my lunch break or sitting in my car. I put my earbuds in and tune into a playlist that relaxes me. One of my favorites is a Spotify-made list that has nature sounds. If you go into the search category on Spotify, you can find playlists that may appeal to you. Nature sounds, guided meditation, white noise are all popular choices. Set your timer on your phone for at least 5 minutes and focus on your breathing for a quick break.

Tea Time

Many folks love coffee. For me, it’s tea. Green tea is my go-to, even during the summer months. Green tea has many health benefits, including helping regulate your blood sugar, which I need help with. Just taking the time to brew your tea is a way to stop for a few minutes and relax your mind for a few minutes.

Have a Nosh

During your tea (or coffee) break, have a snack. Chocolate, nuts, fruit, etc., any healthy snack you choose, gives you time to not think about work for a few minutes. Be mindful when you’re eating. Some of us (I’m guilty of this) reach for a snack while working and do not pay attention. Which, of course, makes you overeat. Instead, take a break. Sip your drink. Eat your yummy snack and then head back to the task at hand. My favorite time of day to do this is around 2:30, before that “mid-afternoon” slump hits.

Get Away From Your Desk

I manage to leave my office to get some air a few times a day, even on bad weather days. My building has an awning out front. So on super cold or rainy days, I’ve gone out under the awning to just breathe some fresh air and give my mind a rest.

Play Your Tunes

If you are lucky to have your own office space, play your favorite tunes. At my former job, I always had music playing. It would help me focus on my tasks. My staff knew if the door was closed and the music was playing loud, they were not to come in and bother me.

Phone (or Text) a Friend

Have you ever have one of those days when everything seems to overwhelm you? Yeah, me too. I’ve been known to text my best friend. Most times, it’s to vent, but other times it is to ask them about their day, so I’m focused on something else than what is bothering me for a few minutes.

Doodling

When you are focused on a task, you need to give your mind a break, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Doodling can help. It’s easy to do, and you don’t have to be a great artist either. I’m far from a great artist, but I doodle hearts and cartoon dog faces that I learned to draw when I was 7. They are not very good, but for a few minutes, I can just relax and move on to the next task.

Clean Your Desk

For some, a cluttered workspace adds to the stress of your day-to-day activities. Even if you work from home, cleaning your desk is a way to de-stress for a time.

During my workday, my workspace looks like a bomb went off. There are files, notes, and messages all over my area. Add my snacks and water bottle; it could stress anyone to look at it. However, for me, it’s a “chaotic order .” Everything in my workspace has a spot, so I can immediately find what I need during the day. Then, when I leave for the day at 5, my space is cleared and ready for the next day’s chaos.

Find the Time to Chill Out

Make it part of your daily plan whatever you choose to do to relax at work. You’ll be taking care of your mind and body, and in doing so, you’ll be able to contribute more to your job. Ultimately, allowing time for mindful relaxation helps you manage your stress and makes for a happier team at work.

Gardening

The weather is getting warmer. One thing we can do during this shelter in place time is play in the dirt and grow crops of our own to feed our families.

I am a museum professional working at a local history museum. I was asked to write about growing beans at our provisional plantation property.

The link for it is here: https://bit.ly/367tLa1

I bet you never knew there could be such a variety of decisions to be made about growing beans. Enjoy!

Long-Distance Care for My Real Life Superhero

Recently, my Dad asked my siblings and me to start helping clean out his house in Virginia. I was able to head down that way last weekend with the BFFer. She’s like one of his kids and I was grateful for the company. She also keeps me accountable. I don’t think I would’ve been able to do all I did (which wasn’t much) if she wasn’t around. Cleaning is not one of my strong suits. I’m easily overwhelmed by large tasks.

My Dad has a lovely, Civil-War era home 45 minutes away from Colonial Williamsburg. He has Parkinson’s Disease and wants to sell the house because it is too hard for him to keep up with these days He is also not living full time in the house anymore since he’s now moved in with his girlfriend who is also his full-time caregiver.

Luckily, this house isn’t the house my brother and I, as well as our children, so it isn’t that hard to make decisions on what toss and what to keep. There isn’t much emotional attachment to items there, except my Dad’s family heirlooms.

It’s a huge house and my Dad likes to accumulate “stuff”. That meme about the Dad who has coffee cans full of screws and nails, that’s him. I don’t know if he is a hoarder but there are hoarder tendencies. The house isn’t stuffed full, but the garage, well, I’m leaving the garage for my brother and Uncle to cleanout. Lots of tools in there and other things.

I wish he didn’t have to sell the house. While not the house most of my family memories occurred, it’s a lovely home and I had hoped that one day I could move in and care for the house. Alas, I’m just a writer with a day job that pays my bills and not much else. The reality is that I could never afford that big house as much as I have fantasized about opening up a bed and breakfast or creating a homestead there.

Distance sucks.

It’s hard being a long-distance caregiver. I’ve offered to move down to Virginia to help out several times, but my Dad always says no. So I trek back to New York until my next visit. I used to visit only once a year, now its 3 or 4 times. I call him multiple times a week as well, to check-in and just to chat. It’s not as good as being there every day, but it’s something.

I do my best to focus on the little things when it comes to my Dad’s health. Some days when I call, it’s not a good day. I keep the conversation short and call again the next day. Sometimes, his depression kicks in hard. I completely understand these bad days because I have similar days as well. I do my best to keep the conversation light. When I need to have important conversations with him, I wait until we’re face to face.

One of the things I struggle with is the feeling of helplessness. I’m so grateful to his girlfriend who does all the daily living things for him and with him. She gets him to doctor appointments, makes sure he eats well, keeps him active and even takes him on vacations.

My Dad takes a lot of meds, not just for the Parkinson’s but he also suffers from PTSD. He tells me the combination of medications “fogs his brain”. His memory lapses worry me, but the reality is I cannot do anything about it. This past visit, he had a moment of not knowing where he was. I spoke with his girlfriend and my brother and we’ve agreed, he cannot drive himself any longer. Even around their little town.

I feel bad about taking the keys away. Driving is a sign of being independent. Anyone who knows my Dad knows he hates relying on other people. I know that I struggle with his declining health, I can’t even imagine how he feels. Every so often he lets slip a comment like “why is my body betraying me”. I do my best not to cry in front of him because I don’t want to add any stress to an already stressful situation.

Not all Dads wear capes.

For so long my Dad could and would fix anything. He’d build us bookshelves, dollhouses, fix toys, and even give us a safe place to be when the world was coming down on you. My son used to bring home broken toys from school to give to my Dad. He would tell his friends “If my Pop can’t fix it, it’s broken.”

Now more than anything I want to “fix it” for him and I can’t. I’m frustrated. I cannot even begin to imagine the frustration he feels daily. He went from being active every moment of the day to a man that worries about walking to the bathroom.

It’s not an easy situation we’re in. The distance makes it hard for me to gauge how quickly the disease is affecting him. When I talk with his girlfriend, she tries to keep the conversation light. She doesn’t like focusing on the negative. I appreciate that about her. As time and his disease progress, more difficult decisions will have to be made. I’m aware of that but for now, I’m going to focus on the good stuff. The time we spend together. Whether it’s taking him to a museum for the afternoon or just running him to Wal-Mart, I value the time more than I ever have before. I don’t want to look back when his time comes (or mine) and think “I didn’t spend enough time with Dad”.

He is my superhero. Even if he can’t climb ladders or take me for a drive in the mountains anymore, he will always be my superhero.

Now or Never

I am starting my journey to become a full-time writer. There is a lot of anxiety about this decision. I’m not ready to quit my day job. I need the money. I need to contribute to my family’s household with my limited income so that The Hubs can focus on the bigger picture of caring for his mother who is unable to take care of herself.

I recently read a Medium post by August Birch, The Book Mechanic, on how he uses his day job as his motivation to create his writing career. He has admitted he hates his job. I relate to that feeling. The majority of my career has been about supporting others and their goals. The time has come for me to support my own goals.

I’m tired of the 9-5 life. I’m over to answering to others. I want more work/life balance.

The past few months I have been prepping for my career change. I’ve been reading blogs and Medium posts about becoming a writer. I’ve read craft books. This website is part of all that research I’ve been doing.

Then this week, I was hit with the cold from hell. It’s been over a week and I’m just coming to the end of it. During the worst part of it, I laid in bed and watched TV. I couldn’t focus on reading. Worse, I couldn’t sit up long enough to write anything down. No word counts for nearly a week and a half.

It was during this time I had a freak-out.

What if I get sick? My plan is to be my own boss. Do I work while sick? I don’t know about you, but my creativity tanks when I’m sick. When I am not feeling well I usually lay in bed, sip tea and watch cartoons.

I am lucky that The Hubs is the main breadwinner. My smaller income helps our family have a life outside of work and taking care of elderly parents.

Of course, once I moved past this freak-out, I did start to plan out how to handle situations like this.

The first thing I need to do is to create a financial plan. I need to have a plan for savings as well as providing for my family.

Being a writer, I tend to focus on the “what ifs”. What if I can’t make a living as a writer. What if I never get that following that other big writers on Medium and other platforms have? What if I fail?

I live in my own head way too much. I need to break the cycle. I need to move past the fear and just do it.

The “what ifs” will still be in my thoughts. I can’t let those issues stop me, or I’ll be sitting at this laptop next year still hating my day job and still longing to be a writer.