5 Friends Share Their Favorite February Pick Me Ups

Don’t let the ice, snow, rain or cloudy skies of February discourage you! Are you tempted to stay home in your comfy clothes curled up on the couch with your favorite book or movie and a chocolate bar? That’s a great plan for a day or two. However, resist the urge to do this every weekend. Make plans to do something fun and different. I asked five friends how they manage to avoid the winter blues of February. Here’s what they said.

A Chili Expo!

Kennedy makes a mean bowl of chili. Even though there’s a chili competition in town, his family likes to plan their own.

In the past it was a competition but things got a bit too competitive so this year they switched to an expo. Chili teams to bring a pot of their favorite blend to share. It’s great food and lots of fun since every recipe is different.

Don’t forget the garnish items. Kennedy’s annual family Chili Sunday includes most of these: cheddar cheese, sour cream, crackers, corn bread muffins, bacon bits (everything’s better with bacon – right?), chopped green onions, chopped jalapeno peppers and hot sauce for those who can’t get enough heat. Melt away the February chill with a spicy bowl of chili!

Go someplace you’ve never been.

Kevin and MaLisa get out of town. They spend a weekend exploring small towns or a section of the big city they haven’t seen.

MaLisa is a foodie. She likes to try new dishes, photograph them and share them with her Facebook friends.

If food isn’t your thing, you could look for the unusual–the things you overlook other times of the year. Shoot some crazy selfies. Why not share your adventure on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter and inspire others.

Take a random walk in the woods.

Katie likes to hike year-round, however there are perks to hiking in February–no bugs, snakes or brambles to deal with.

You can play it safe and stick to the trail, or blaze your own way off the beaten path.  Hikers call this bushwhacking.  (If you go bushwhacking, be sure to go with someone who knows the area and take a map so you can get back safely).

It is refreshing to spend time outdoors no matter how you choose to do it!

 Invite a friend to coffee at a new place.

Jessica and her spouse don’t get much time together during the week so they plan a morning date as a way to get out of the house and spend time together. These outings help them to maintain their friendship as well as their marriage. They have their favorite place, however, sometimes they mix it up by going to somewhere new. February is a great month to rekindle the fire in your friendships.

Treat yourself like a guest.

Jim and Shannon realized they only visited the local landmarks or museums when they had guests. Recently, they decided to start a new trend. They started treating each other like guests.

One weekend it was a show and dinner.  Another time, they drove around an old part of town with new eyes, taking time to appreciate the architecture and history, the February snow drifts, the icicles dripping from the eaves. All so beautiful glistening in the sunlight.  Their future plans include riding the trolley car, taking a sculpture walk and renting a boat on a nearby lake.

These are just a few of the ideas for things to do during the winter months. February and March can be challenging! It’s tempting to hibernate.

What do you do to keep from getting cabin fever?  What is your favorite cold weather activity?

LaDonna Greiner is an author, photographer, and life-long student of gratitude. Her book series, 21 Reasons to Say Thank You, offers real-life examples and suggestions to help us discover the power of gratitude and act on it. She is a Certified Facilitator for Appreciation at Work and a frequent speaker who coaches audiences and individuals on how to live a more fulfilling life through gratitude and appreciation. You can reach her at LaDonna.G@21Reasons.Life.