By Dave Olson, Realtor®, RE/MAX EXCEL
Arctic blasts and drifting snowstorms are a way of life for hardy Wisconsinites. Shorter days with less daylight and the holiday season drawing to its close are almost here. This time of the year is a great time to bring activities indoors, and a time for Seniors to focus on what we CAN do, not what we can’t because of the weather. There’s lots of little things we can do that help fill these chilly Winter months with warmth – coming from the inside out!
Grow something green! Get a few pots and potting soil and begin the rebirth of Spring early, right in your home or apartment. Amaryllis is easy to grow indoors, as are desert rose and Christmas cactus. Add herbs and low light flowers, and as Spring gets closer, you can create starter plants to move outdoors. Do this with friends or neighbors. It’s fun to watch God’s creations grow and sharing it with someone adds a social connection.
Winter is a great time for crafting. Choose simpler and smaller things that don’t require extensive skill or hours and hours to complete. Painting, coloring books or other art-based crafts are fun and challenge most of us with things we haven’t done a lot of previously. A crafting club is a fun way to share with friends and neighbors. Start now with holiday crafting!
Winter is a great time for making the Kitchen your center of activity. No worries about getting the house too hot this time of year! Baking and cooking can be rewarding and fun, and fills your place with wonderful smells. Now is a great time for homemade soups and stews, and of course everyone in Wisconsin makes Chili with macaroni noodles. Don’t forget how wonderful a hot cup of tea is this time of year.
Get started reading a new book. Even better, find a friend to read a book with. Schedule a weekly get together with coffee or tea and some snacks and compare what you’ve read. Book clubs flourish best in wintry weather, so enjoy the fun of reading during the winter season of renewal.
Find ways to keep active! Exercise, stretching, walking indoors and chair exercises all help get your heart and muscles going. Your body needs you to keep moving, so be intentional this time of year. Put 30 minutes to an hour on your daily calendar to nurture your body and you will feel better, sleep better have a good appetite and have less aches and pains. Keep moving!
Take advantage of nice days to get outdoors. Get fresh air on a shopping trip or take a short walk. Sit in the sun by a sunny window to soak in the sunshine. Nothing feels as good on a wintery day than feeling the warmth of the sun through a southern facing window.
Folks who make the most of Winter find it flying by before they know it. Choose to enjoy Winter and you will!
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