 I am on a quest to winter well. I live in a very Northern, rural area where winter can be fierce. It is also long. I will not settle for 5-6 months of misery each year. Also, winter is a big part of the heritage of Northern places. As I am always looking for ways to build and benefit from heritage, I know I cannot ignore winter. So, I am on a quest to fall in love with the darkest, coldest days of the year. Here are five things I tried this past winter that I will absolutely be repeating. (Photo: winter sunrise over Mirror Lake in January on my annual New Year's solo retreat) 1. Did a Walk - Soak - Sauna Progression Every March, my college roommates and I meet up for a weekend. We rent a place purely to cook good food, drink good wine, read good books, and catch up. Because of the timing (mid/end of March) and the fact we often pick an Adirondack location, the trip serves as my farewell to winter. Eating hearty, home cooked meals, enjoying too much red wine and sugary breakfast pastries, lying around reading, taking leisurely walks in the quiet streets of the otherwise deserted mountain towns…those activities will make you love winter even at its very end. This year, we made it an even better by renting a place with an outdoor sauna facing the woods and a hot tub. One calm but snowy day we walked over 4 miles. Then we immediately went into the hot tub, enjoying steaming water and frosty air. Then we moved to the sauna to dry off. I have a lot to say about the potential of those three activities to promote human well-being (and changing our mindsets about Winter)...but that is a post for another day. I will simply say... that progression was absolutely amazing.  2. Created a Personalized Seasonal Drink For a very long time I drank nothing but black coffee year-round. Then I discovered cold brew and soon started to look forward to the summer switch in beverage. I wanted a winter upgrade as well. For weeks in January and February I made a signature combo - the equivalent of a mini Chai Latte (about a quarter of a cup) then filled the rest with black coffee and topped with cinnamon. It was strong and delicious and felt very wintery. I am not going to drink that again until next winter so that its a seasonal ritual that gives me cozy, positive winter vibes. Whatever the combo, seasonal drinks (and food) help us enjoy the time of year. Elevating everyday habits to elevate a seasonal mood is an easy win.  3. Went to a Late Winter Festival While December gets all the credit for festive events, there are quite a few winter carnivals in January and February. Since moving to the northern Adirondack region, I have wanted to go to the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. This year I made it happen. Unfortunately, it was on a day where the shoreline was at "feels like -21F" ,,,.with wind. My family was not amused. The baby I was wearing, and I had a heated vest though, so we were happy. The ice castle was magnificent, and my kids loved the ice slide (even if they were borderline frostbitten).  4. Walked Outside Almost Every Day (or Night) in February I read how winter walking can give you energy, lift your mood, and make winter more enjoyable. I decided to challenge myself to walk every day in February. I didn't make every day but I did it MOST days and you want to know what? It's fantastic. It absolutely cheered me up, energized me, made me feel more positive...all the claims are true. I also learned there is no reason not to walk at night, either, if you live where you feel safe doing so. It's actually incredibly peaceful to walk in the winter darkness with a headlamp, a heated vest, and some snow cleats. My kids even joined in. 5. Reread How to Winter (and Took Notes) My quest to love this season started with I read Dr. Kari Leibowitz' book How to Winter last year. I picked it up again this year and read it slowly, with a notebook and pen nearby. I took so many notes. The cultural traditions to winter well fascinated me (I am an anthropologist). The psychology of mindsets amazed me (and I have been applying what I learned to other difficult situations). The suggestions were doable and even exciting to try out (or plan for the future). It is definitely the type of book you should read more than once.  I think I made good progress on improving my relationship with winter. I have plans to keep the improvement going next year. Some things I would like to try next (or future) years include:
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AuthorDr. Kathryn Grow Allen ('Katie'): Anthropologist, Archaeologist, Writer, Researcher, Teacher, Consultant, Yoga Lover, Nature Enthusiast, Book Worm, and Mother of Four. Archives
April 2026
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