snow

Let it Snow! Mindful Winter Activities

If you choose not to find the joy in the snow, you will have less joy in your life but still the same amount of snow. 

It’s wintertime in Ohio – we might have snow, we might have rain or ice or we might have a bright, clear day. This quote by an unknown author is like the Midwest winter version of Jon Kabat-Zinn’s quote about a beautiful day at the ocean: you can’t stop the waves but you can learn to surf.

The only advantage of a remote class or conference is that we can be in a cozy spot and not have to travel to other parts of the state. Let’s make the most of this and make sure to take time for some mindfulness practices.

Here’s a quick summary of the links below for wintertime mindfulness: Although we don’t want you to spend all day in front of a screen, if you’re looking for a break from the seriousness of work, take one and half minutes to enjoy a snow globe or a minute to draw and watch your iceberg float. If you’re staying inside, grab some colored pencils and print a copy of winter coloring pages. If coloring is not your cup of tea, make your plans for mindful eating or a warm cup of tea, cocoa, or coffee. Bundle up and head outdoors for a mindful winter walk.  We wish you comfort and joy all through the year and we also acknowledge that the wintertime can sometimes be difficult. If you need any resources related to SAD (seasonal affective disorder) or other seasonal challenges, please find the best support for your situation.

Use your screen for a quick break

  • If you have one and a half minutes, enjoy a meditation snow globe
  • Draw an iceberg and see how it will float at Iceberger
  • For background music and beautiful scenes, this one-hour, Winter Wonderland scenic relaxation film is perfect to play in the background. It highlights scenes across the globe’s most stunning winter locations. From skiing the Swiss Alps to soaring over the glaciers of Alaska, winter is an enchanting time of year.
  • Emotional Blizzards – Calming the Storm, Destress Monday

Coloring pages

Ninety-two Best Coloring Pages are located at homemade gifts made easy. Here are a few winter pages to get you started.

Outdoors and Nature

Bundle up and head outdoors! Use all your senses as you walk. Use this Live Healthy Live Well blog on Wonder and Wander in Nature this Winter for ideas. For more information on the value of nature in our lives, including articles and infographics visit Nature Matters.

Cup of tea – don’t forget mindful eating and drinking

Comfort and Joy – what brings you comfort or joy? Jot down a list and then Do More of it! This list of Mindfulness Ideas and Activities was collected by the Mindful Wellness team and can be used as an idea-starter for your practice.  If you’d like to follow a recorded mindfulness practice, we recommend the links at the Wexner Medical Center.

SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder

Learn more from Live Healthy Live Well blogs below or visit the website for a list of webinars

Connect for Support

If you find yourself – or a loved one – struggling, please use local support or the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.

You can call the Ohio CareLine at 1-800-720-9616.  Ohio’s CareLine is free, anonymous, open 24/7, and staffed with licensed behavioral health professionals.

 

Additional Resources