We are still a few weeks away from the official start of winter, but in the Pickerington area, the season has already made its debut. The cold weather months mean more time spent indoors, with the doors and windows closed and covered against the frigid weather outside. So, what are some of the best ways to stay warm and keep your mood upbeat and happy during the time you’re stuck inside? Let’s look at a few of the most creative and helpful suggestions:
Take the Opportunity to Get Healthier
Rather than becoming a couch potato, feeling sluggish and possibly putting on some unwanted pounds, pop in a DVD or put on a health channel series and start spending some time each day exercising: yoga, dancing, Tai Chi, aerobics, etc., are all excellent ways to get in shape and keep the winter blahs away.
Create a Cozy Spot that is All Yours
Choose a warm, comfy spot in your home and make it all about you. Add some comfy, decorative throw pillows and a couple of soft blankets, and you will have the perfect area to relax and curl up with a good book and a cup of hot tea when the wind howls outside. Keep Your iPod and earbuds nearby for some relaxing music and treat yourself to a cat nap whenever you get the chance. A 15 to 20-minute power nap can energize you and actually make you feel more rested than a full night’s sleep.
Invite Friends Over for a Slumber Party
You’re never too old for a sleepover with pals! Invite a group of friends over and spend the evening watching movies and munching on popcorn. Have everyone bring a sleeping bag for a camp out in your living room. Encourage everyone to dress in their silliest pajamas, stay up super late, and tell ghost stories. Good times spent with good friends always equal happiness.
Treat Yourself to a Luxurious Bubble Bath
At the end of a long day, lay out your favorite pajamas, light some scented candles and place them in your bathroom, dim the lights, and draw yourself a warm bath filled with your favorite bath salts and bubbles. Put on some soft music and let your mind and body relax. Bubble baths are great mood-boosters. And guys, we’re talking to you too! Don’t knock it until you try it! We won’t tell.
Fill Your Home with Mood-Enhancing Scents
Aromatherapy has grown in popularity over the last few years, and with good reason. Certain smells have been scientifically proven to enhance mood and keep the blues away. Place scented candles throughout your home, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to diffusers, and decorate your home with fresh, fragrant flowers. You’ll notice the difference in everyone’s mood in no time.
Do Some Redecorating
What better way to spend time indoors than to create some exciting new looks for your home? Browse through your favorite magazines and catalogs for ideas on how to upgrade a few rooms in your house. Do something different and change up your style completely, decorating in a fun and exciting new way. Get the whole family in on the project, having each person add their own special touches to each room.
Spend Time Snuggling with Your Pets
No doubt you already spend a good deal of time playing with your pets, but during the cold months, there’s just something extra special about cuddling with them and giving them lots of TLC, which they are more than happy to reciprocate. And when it comes to staying warm, there is nothing that compares to having your fur baby snuggle up under the blankets with you. Your pets will have you thoroughly enjoying being stuck inside the house before you know it.
Take Up a New Hobby
Have you ever wanted to learn to knit, paint, or learn a new language? The winter months are the perfect time to take instruction on how to do something new and creative. There are so many DIY videos on YouTube, as well as online classes; you are sure to find at least one hobby you will enjoy.
No matter what fun and exciting things you decide to do to pass the time indoors, you want to make sure that it will be backed up by your home’s furnace keeping you and your family warm and cozy while the wind freezes everything outside. Have your heating and cooling system professionally cleaned and inspected before wintery weather sets in to ensure that you won’t find yourself dealing with furnace issues when extreme weather hits.
At Pickerington Heating and Cooling, our trained HVAC technicians are ready to provide you with the best possible service to keep your heating and cooling system in perfect working order. Give us a call at 614-837-4026 or visit us on the web at https://www.pickheat.com/appointments/ to schedule an appointment for your HVAC system’s annual inspection and cleaning. We look forward to helping you stay warm and happy throughout the cold-weather season.
