Planning Winter Adventures Transforms Seasonal Endurance into Enjoyment
TL;DR
- Planning winter adventures enables enjoyment of the season for its own sake, rather than merely enduring it until spring, by providing specific activities to anticipate.
- Engaging in winter-specific physical activities like skiing or sledding, which leverage cold weather, can transform perceived bleak months into exciting periods.
- Appreciating winter's unique beauty, such as bare trees against colorful sunsets or frost-covered landscapes, offers a distinct aesthetic experience not available in other seasons.
- Proactive weekly planning for winter activities, including securing tickets and managing energy, overcomes inertia and ensures participation in enjoyable outings despite the cold.
- Winter adventures, by requiring a conscious effort to leave a warm environment, foster positive memories and a mindset shift that cultivates seasonal enjoyment.
Deep Dive
The core insight is that the post-holiday winter months, often perceived as bleak, can be transformed into enjoyable periods by actively planning winter-specific adventures. This shift in perspective, from merely enduring the season to appreciating its unique offerings, is crucial for mental well-being and maximizing enjoyment rather than simply waiting for spring.
Winter adventures offer a powerful antidote to the seasonal doldrums by providing tangible reasons to engage with the cold and dark. These activities, whether active or observational, leverage known mood boosters like physical activity and exposure to beauty. For instance, activities like cross-country skiing, popular in regions like Northern Norway, combine physical exertion with the unique landscape of winter. Even simpler pursuits, such as sledding, tubing, or ice skating, offer unique seasonal fun that cannot be replicated in warmer months. These adventures provide immediate gratification and create positive memories, directly countering the inertia often associated with cold weather. The act of planning itself is a critical second-order implication; it combats the natural inclination to stay indoors by pre-committing to an enjoyable experience. This planning, ideally done weekly, helps manage energy levels and secure resources like tickets or reservations, reducing the friction of spontaneous winter outings and ensuring that the planned adventure is more likely to occur and be successful.
Ultimately, appreciating winter for its own sake, rather than counting down to spring, hinges on a mindset shift supported by deliberate planning and engagement with seasonal activities. By proactively scheduling winter adventures, individuals can transform a potentially difficult period into one of excitement and fond memories, demonstrating that winter's enjoyment is a choice accessible through thoughtful preparation.
Action Items
- Plan 3-5 winter-specific adventures: Focus on activities unique to the season (e.g., skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, ice skating) to foster enjoyment rather than just enduring cold months.
- Schedule weekly planning sessions: Dedicate time late each week to review and refine upcoming weekend activities, ensuring readiness for winter adventures and managing personal energy.
- Identify 2-3 local winter beauty spots: Seek out locations with pronounced winter scenery (e.g., bare trees, frost, ice, evergreens) to actively appreciate the season's aesthetic appeal.
- Draft a "winter mindset" checklist: Outline 3-5 strategies for overcoming inertia and embracing cold-weather activities, reinforcing the idea that winter enjoyment is a deliberate choice.
Key Quotes
"But by planning in some winter specific adventures, not only will you have things to look forward to, you will enjoy the season for its own sake, rather than just counting days until spring."
Laura explains that proactively scheduling winter activities provides anticipation and allows for genuine enjoyment of the season. This approach shifts the focus from enduring winter to appreciating its unique qualities.
"One of the ways it seems that people in Northern Norway make the most of winter is by enjoying the things you can only do in winter. Cross-country skiing is certainly a huge thing there, and it makes sense. Being outside is a known mood booster, so is physical activity."
Laura highlights that embracing winter involves engaging in activities exclusive to the season, such as cross-country skiing. She connects this to the established benefits of outdoor exposure and physical exertion for improving mood.
"So as we face down the next two and a half months until spring, I mean, at least for those of us in colder, northern climates, it might be worth figuring out how to plan some winter adventures that get us active or expose us to winter's beauty."
Laura suggests that individuals in colder climates should actively plan activities that promote physical movement or appreciation of winter's aesthetic appeal. This proactive planning is presented as a strategy to make the remaining winter months more engaging.
"I know that I have never woken up on a winter Saturday morning and said, you know what? I want to argue with my kids to get off their iPads, bundle them into my car, drive downtown, and get them into rental skates. I need to know I planned to do this ahead of time."
Laura emphasizes the importance of pre-planning for winter outings, particularly with family. She illustrates that spontaneous decisions to engage in such activities are unlikely, and prior arrangement is necessary for successful execution.
"Winter adventures in particular often require overcoming a bit of inertia. Your house is warm. The world is not. But soon you will be on the other side and have great memories to look back on."
Laura points out that initiating winter adventures requires effort to overcome the comfort of indoor warmth. She assures that the effort is worthwhile, leading to positive experiences and lasting memories.
"Winter is all about mindset. And with the right mindset, it is possible to have a lot of fun."
Laura concludes that one's perspective is the primary factor in experiencing winter positively. She asserts that adopting the correct mindset enables individuals to find enjoyment during the colder months.
Resources
External Resources
Articles & Papers
- "The Norwegian Secret to Enjoying a Long Winter" (Fast Company) - Mentioned as a previously published piece that resonated with many readers seeking to appreciate winter.
People
- Laura - Host of the Before Breakfast podcast.
- Laura Vandercam - Host of the Before Breakfast podcast, reachable at Laura@Lauravandercam.com.
Organizations & Institutions
- iHeart Radio - Producer of the Before Breakfast podcast.
- iHeart Media - Producer of the Before Breakfast podcast.
Websites & Online Resources
- iHeart Radio app - Mentioned as a place to find more podcasts.
Other Resources
- Before Breakfast - A podcast production.