Surviving Winter in Upstate New York

I have been having more trouble than usual this year dealing with the weather. Maybe it is because we are actually having winter? Maybe because I am turning 40 this year? Maybe because we moved to a new house and have yet to spend more than a minute on one of our decks? A combination of things. That and we went to Florida for some family stuff and the weather was...not like here. I won't say how nice it really was because it is too depressing. Suffice it to say, Robins do still exist somewhere, just not here right now.

I have been trying to put together a list of things that will help me (and maybe others) to get through the rest of this winter. March is coming and March is long and cold and snowy and I am not looking forward to it. SO, what can we do?

1. Go on a hike, preferably with a friend. I know, not too original, especially coming from me. But last Friday when I was definitely feeling SAD, a friend and I went on a really long hike/walk during the lunch hour and it literally made my day. It was cold and gray out, but just walking and talking with a kindred spirit erased the yucky day feeling.

2. Get some bird feeders and fill them. If you haven't done it yet- do it. The reds of Cardinals, the blues of Blue Jays, happy little Chickadees flitting about...are all something beautiful and hopeful to focus on.

3. Sit next to a window on a sunny day. I know, we don't have a lot of those, but when we do- take advantage. Vitamin D, and feel-good hormones being made, how can you go wrong?

4. Go to the gym. Take it out on the weights, run on the track, blast your headphones with Fuel. Then get in the sauna and close your eyes and pretend it's summer. It works, especially if no one is in there talking.

5. Get out of town. If even only for an evening. Just a change of scenery, even if you are exchanging one dreary setting for another, helps to break up the monotony of winter at this time of year.

6. Get a hot tub. Expensive plug for Tom Hesselson, a dedicated Tanglewood supporter, but a great idea. They get you outside, warm and toasty. If you can afford it, invite me over!

7. Count it down. Only 21 days till the first day of Spring. That's what the calendar says. I say, only 63 days till May, the month we have some hope of seeing a Spring day.

Hope everyone else is in less of a weather-related funk than I am. Any other ideas to beat the winter blues?