Good morning Loves. It’s that time of the year again. The time when I just need to take a break from life. This time of the year I start to get a little restless and a whole lot of crazy from being inside for the last three months. Up here in the cold Northeast our (or at least my) outside activity is limited from December to March as the winter weather beats you up and going outside other than for a necessity is completely out of the question.
Every single day the sun shines I go outside and I feel like it’s a personal victory that makes me want to get out of bed. Our winter months are usually dull and dark and it just makes you want to stay in bed and stay under the covers. For those of you who live in warmer climates let me tell you it’s really hard to get out of bed at 7:30 am when it’s still dark and you know it’s -25 degrees outside.
My friend time is also limited during the winter months which basically means from December 1st until March 30th I go to the office, go to the gym and come home. That’s my life and it’s making me a bit stir-crazy. Don’t get me wrong I like being in my apartment with my BF but I am really in need of some fresh air and sunlight.
So what can I do? How can I take a break from my boring indoor routine life and start having a little bit of fun until spring starts and I can actually get outside?
Please I am open to any and all suggestions. Here’s what I have come up with so far.
Take a break and have fun on a budget:
Schedule a spa day. This has been my personal safe haven this year. Since January I have had two massages and I have another one planned for April. If any of you have ever gotten a massage you know it can be very expensive. My new favorite morning activity is to scan discount sites such as Groupon and DealFind to buy discount gift certificates for day spas in my area. My most recent find was $100 worth of spa services for only $45. Now that’s a great way to take a break on a budget.
Get a mani pedi. This is something that I don’t treat myself to very often, especially in the winter. In the summer you can slip on your flip flops and be on your way, but in the winter you have to wait for the pedicure to completely dry before you can leave the nail salon. Usually I don’t have that much time but now I am basking in the glory of sitting in a comfy chair for 60 minutes, clearing my head and reading trashy gossip magazines.
Outdoor sports. While I have to go outside to get to the day spa or the nail salon I am not actually spending too much time outside in the cold. Spending an hour or two outside ice skating, sledding or hiking in the snow is much more of a commitment. It will solve my dilemma of wanting to get some fresh air but I am just not sure frost bite is my idea of taking a break.
Photo by DennisWong
I feel your pain about being locked up from the weather. One thing I like to do to relieve some of the pent up tension is to read a book about somewhere with wonderful year round weather. A book can help you escape from the cold and darkness for at least a little while. Thanks for your creative ideas!