The days are getting shorter and I don't know about you but I can feel my motivation slowly slipping, like the sun as it disappears at 5 pm. Winter is officially upon us and although it comes with its fun like pretty snowflakes, frozen lakes and hot cocoa, there are some parts that I have a harder time getting on board with. Like starting my car earlier to melt off the frost, or walking home from school at 6 pm in the darkness and having to dress for everything at the same time?
All of this makes it hard and quite frankly less motivating to spend time outdoors as it takes a little more planning and energy. It doesn't always have to be hard though, throughout the years I have created a bit of a pick-me-up list when it comes to spending time outside in the colder months, so I wanted to share some with you!
Go look at the sky:
Yes, I know, the sun is saying goodnight earlier these days. But this also means that you're more likely to be running into the sunset on your commute home from school or work. The phenomenon rarely disappoints this time of year as shades of red, orange, pink & yellow combine to create the most beautiful mosaic. Take a minute to soak it in!
Pictures by: Sara Fraser Härstedt
Take it outside:
In the colder months (in the hotter ones as well), I like to take any task outside. If I have a lot of reading to do for a class, I grab my hammock, a blanket and some hot chocolate and head to the park to get them done. I need to make some phone calls baam I am getting them done while taking in some rays on a walk. A lot of tasks can be made to be done outside, in the fall I find this super important to try and soak up whatever sun I can.
Do it anyway:
Sometimes this time of year going on a hike or canoeing or anything outdoors feels a little bit more daunting. As bigger issues come into play that weren't there in the summer, like staying warm or not getting stuck in the dark. Over the years I have learned to just do it anyway and spend a little extra time making sure to plan for it. Worried about staying warm? Then dress warm and bring a hot drink. Worried about getting stuck in the dark? Make sure to know the length and expected duration of the activity and plan for it.
Go take some pictures:
This sounds kind of lame but the colours and shapes of fall and winter are so fun to photograph and are sure to give you some good content. It is extremely hard to take a bad photograph of stuff like this. One of the things I always make sure to do at least once every season is go on a walk and take as many pictures as I can. It can be for 10 minutes, or it can be for an hour. This is always a super great activity as it gets you outside in a time of year that is a little less welcoming.
Pictures by: Kaitlynn Rodney
Try out some seasonal activities
Many fall activities actually take place outside! In the fall there is apple picking, hiking, labyrinths, pumpkin patches, leaf collecting, and so much more. In the winter snowshoeing and skiing and ice skating and sledding. There are fun outdoor activities with every season and trying them is always a great way to enjoy the season.
Embrace all that comes with the season!
I know things are starting to feel a little harder this time of year and trust me I wanna curl up in my bed and watch spooky movies all day long. But as a self-proclaimed outdoorsy girly, I need to prioritize that time outside. One thing that I have greatly struggled with but never disappoints. Is to lean into the time of year with all your might. Does it get dark early? So why not have a campfire cookout with some friends, (like we did last week) or go look at the stars when you finish eating supper? Maybe even go for a ghost walk or something. If it’s cold then you get to wear all your favourite fall sweaters while you hike, or you can do a hot chocolate tasking outside or something.
Summer always feels like the only time of the year when outdoor activities happen. I know I struggle with this a lot. I try to jam-pack it all in during the warm months and then buckle up during the winter months. Being outside and getting fresh air can actually be a lot of fun and easy any time of year. So get out there and enjoy those beautiful (but short-lived) rays!
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