Retro Ski Fleece | Toque (Beanie)
Winter in Canada can be a long drawn event- especially if you’re not a fan of the cold and snow… And while it’s while it can feel great to get all hygge inside our homes and hunker down to hibernate- the groundhog day effects of this can be wearing. Having a long cold snap or heaps of fresh snow can also be a deterrent from heading outdoors, but I promise the benefits of dragging yourself and your family out there can be so great for your overall sense of being and mental state if you potentially suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder symptoms.
A hearing winter sports shouldn’t have a cash register ringing in your head either. There are many cost effective or zero spend activities that you can do that just gets you out in the fresh air for part of the day.
Want to try snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, fat-tire mountain biking, skating or snowboarding? With purchasing winter gear at a premium this year, you can rent gear for a cheaper rate than most tourist areas at a local outdoors shop such as Mountain Equipment Co-op, or most Universities have outdoor centers such as the University of Calgary have a large selection of gear to rent.
Other activities to try- head to your local park or backyard and host a afternoon winter bonfire, or make it a picnic for the family. Or if you’re looking for something fun for the kids, help them dig a snow fort or try your hand at an igloo complete with a hot chocolate party outside. They even have easy snowball makers now- guaranteed no cold hands!
I’m also lucky my dog forces me out everyday- no if’s, and’s or but’s. So it helps me maintain a level of activity. Feeding birds and making winter snacks for outdoor friends can be very rewarding and enjoyable to see them visiting each day.
Don’t have a dog? Thought of becoming a dog walker at your local shelter? One of my favorite IG accounts @trailsandbears, has a great book on how to become a volunteer at your local shelters or even a foster host for adoptable pets.
And since we are currently limited on indoor attractions we can attend these days, it’s also a great time to get out of the house and check out some of the local attractions like outdoor skating ponds and lakes or installments at Chinook Blast this month. As much as it’s wonderful to travel to a warm location, we’re lucky we get such a variety of seasons to be able to do so many activities in one place!
