A good walk outside helps lift winter sprints. But other activities can keep you going even in the cold and dark
The light is coming back, and that's a good thing. But if you're not instantly heartened by the returning light and are dreading the next few months of cold and dark, this is what I've learned about coping with winter.
Get outside. It doesn't matter what the temperature is or how strong the wind is blowing. Make it a point to get outside. Ideally, you'll spend 20 minutes walking or doing more vigorous exercise. If you're less than mobile, can you stand on your porch and look at the stars on a clear night? Can you go with a more agile friend who can push your wheelchair or help you in and out of the car? It helps to do this when the sun is highest in the sky, if possible. Still, fresh air helps no matter the time of day. Make sure your shoes have traction and you are bundled up with smart layers.
Jump in. Probably not a lake, unless you are one of those polar plungers and ideally you're doing it to raise money for charity. A swim or an aqua aerobics class in a regular pool is just fine. It is like being in the tropics. You're in a bathing suit. It's summer for a little while, at least in your brain. Maybe your gym also has a steam room or a hot tub. That's an extra treat, and again, it's like 10 minutes of summer.
Sweat it out. Any yoga class, even one you do at home, should ideally have a warmer room than 65 degrees. Crank up a space heater or check out a hot yoga class near you. The trick is to warm the air and it will warm your muscles as you limber up and work on your balance. This has been a lifesaver for me. A good sweat resets my whole system.
A musical trip. In the dead of winter, break out the summer jams. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole or Bob Marley and the Wailers or the Beach Boys or-if you want to keep up with the kids, Sabrina Carpenter-can help blow the winter blues away, at least temporarily. It's a lot cheaper than booking a flight to Hawaii.
Go green. There's a reason we put an evergreen-or the facsimile of one-in the middle of our houses at this time of year. We are bringing nature inside to keep our spirits up. You can continue this after the holidays by buying a plant. If you don't have time or a green thumb, stroll through a nursery. Anchorage has the Mann Leiser Memorial Greenhouse at 1321 Lidia Selkregg Lane. It's open most days from 8 a.m. to 3 or 3:30 p.m. Fairbanks has the greenhouse at Chena Hot Springs Resort. You can tour it most days.
