This year, many local winter activities have been curtailed. We’ve been asked to avoid everything from winter travel to holiday gatherings. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything fun to do during the winter weeks. If you can’t be outdoors, here’s a great list of ways to beat the winter blues, avoid cabin fever, and help you enjoy the colder, darker winter days.

1. Bake cookies together: Call all of your friends (or Skype or Zoom) and plan a day to back cookies. Even from a virtual distance, you can share favorite family recipes or even judge a decorating contest.
2. Learn to knit or crochet. When you’re stuck indoors on a snowy afternoon, learning a new skill can bring you joy. If you have an older friend or family member willing to teach you, it will be even more enjoyable because you know you’re learning a skill that one day you can pass on. If you’re on your own, learn knitting or crocheting on YouTube.
3. Try out new hot cocoa recipes. Add cinnamon? Sure! What about chili peppers? Yep! Here, you’ll find all sorts of recipes from daring to decadent.
4. Get cozy with a good book … hard copy or virtual. Since we’re partial to diamonds, search for a list of books with “diamond” in the title. You’ll find romance, mystery, intrigue, science fiction, geology, the gem and jewel industry, scientific exploration, and even biographies of folks named “Diamond” to round out your reading list.
5. Plan a virtual movie night. Just because you can’t be together doesn’t mean you can’t be doing the same thing at the same time. And be sure to schedule an intermission and set up a Zoom or Skype call to chat about the movie. But no spilling the beans if you’ve already seen the ending!
6. Or, try a Zoom game night. This works great for board games, so make sure everyone has a board and set it up the same way. Then, move each person’s piece. Of course, you might end up doubling up on cards, but that will make the game even more fun.
7. If you can get outside, call your local parks department (or check out their website) to see what outdoor events and activities are available.

Most of all, enjoy your time at home.

If you’re not in a home you can enjoy, we’d be happy to help you find the perfect home. Check out the homes with virtual tours below and give us a call.