list in progress logo

7 Tips to Winterize Your Life for ‘The Great Hunker Down’

Oct 30, 2020

7 Tips to Winterize Your Life for ‘The Great Hunker Down’

Oct 30, 2020

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a tiny commission, at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my disclosure here.

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a tiny commission, at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my disclosure here.

Today I’ve got a slew of ideas to winterize your life for what I’m calling The Great Hunker Down of 2020/2021. I know, that name needs a little work, but bear with me. Because it looks like we are going to be seriously stuck. at. home. through this winter, we will need to be craftier than ever, literally, to survive with our mental health intact. This feels like the ultimate DIY project, so I’ve gathered tips to winterize your home, your cars, your kids/family, and your mental health. I’ve brainstormed more than 7 ideas, but writing “29 tips to winterize your life…” sounds a bit overwhelming! Let me know if you have other ideas to add to this list.

This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here. Thanks for your support!

winterize your life

How to Winterize Your Life

I’m choosing to frame this idea of winterizing your life in a positive light. Many of us are struggling right now; there are days when I feel like eating a tray of brownies for lunch is the new normal. Anyone else? Hopefully this post will spark some ideas to help you feel more in control of life and prepared for the season ahead. Just organizing these thoughts is helping me!

1 – Winterize Your Home

I started writing this post with the intent of making a list on winterizing your home. However, those checklists abound online and I don’t want to reinvent the wheel. I’m a little late anyway; we just got our second round of snow. If you haven’t thought about this yet, here are a couple of thorough lists:

Extensive list to Winterize Your Home

Winterize Your Home Without Poisoning Your Family – a bit extreme, but if you would consider putting bubble wrap on windows, you’ll want to read this for more ideas.

winterize your life front yard snow
>> October snow 2020 <<
>> Tips and Tricks to Spray Paint Metal <<


2 – Winterize Your Vehicles

Whether or not you’ll continue driving to work/school each day, it’s still important to winterize your car. Last year, I bought windshield covers (similar) to cut down on snow removal and ice scraping on cold mornings. They definitely helped, so there’s a gift idea for you. Other tips:

Winterize Your Car

Winterize Cars Infographic

3 – Plan DIY Home Projects for This Winter

Staying at home is the perfect opportunity to fix up your space. We’ve noticed a surge in traffic at Home Depot and Lowes since the pandemic hit, and if you read my blog for DIY inspo, you’re probably seeing it too! This fall and winter, we plan to replace the flooring in our front entry, finish our remaining kitchen projects, update our “laundry hallway,” and possibly start replacing a bathroom. Phew! What will you tackle? Now is the time plan ahead and order materials.

> Our DIY Kitchen Remodel Cost + Lessons Learned

NEXT: Winterize Your Family

Rather than succumb to the terror of thinking we’ll be stuck together, all the time, indoors… I’ve been brainstorming ways to keep kids active, for all of our sakes. I’ve also been inspired by my friend, who trooped off to nature school last year with her 4-year-old son, in all kinds of weather. That little boy really toughened up, because the rain, snow, and cold never stopped him from exploring the outdoors. He also became more adventurous and observant about the world around him. Although I haven’t signed my kids up for nature school, I just bought myself snow pants so I don’t have an excuse to stay indoors. On that note, here are ideas to winterize your life by prepping your family.

nature walk to cherry creek to winterize your life

4 – Prep Your Winter Gear

Invest in the right gear for your climate. Inventory your family’s outdoor clothing and order what you need now. Or visit a thrift store and pick up affordable items second-hand (great place for kids’ snow gear!). I’m always thankful for a backup pair of gloves, and these are my all-time favorite, made-in-USA, wool socks. I actually wear the lightweight styles all year round.

winterize your life for snowstorms

5 – Plan Ahead for Indoor Activities

Aside from screen time, these are some of our favorite games and other activities. As you can see, we play a lot of board games, and I’m counting on these to get us through the coldest days this winter.

Favorite Board Games + Puzzles

favorite kids games
>> Clockwise from top left: Uno, Sequence Kids, Memory, puzzle <<

Other Great Indoor Activities for Kids

  • Learn coding with a toy like Botley or an app like Kodable or Scratch Jr.
  • Build with K’Nex and Legos
  • Learn to draw with Art for Kids Hub on YouTube
  • Create imaginative projects with cardboard tubes, boxes, construction paper, tape, scissors, etc.
  • Make creations with modeling clay – we love both Model Magic (air dry) and Sculpey (bake)
  • Adults – pick up free monthly building activities for kids at Home Depot (ours is on the first Saturday of the month)
  • Gift idea – invest in a monthly activity subscription box (we love Kiwi Crates)

6 – Plan Physical Activities – Both Indoors and Out

In addition to the usual bike rides, walks, races, sports, and dance parties, it helps to keep some additional ideas on standby. Exercise equipment is predicted to sell out this year, so perhaps research any treadmill or elliptical purchases soon. REI published this comprehensive list of activities for kids, plus here are few more thoughts:

  • Try Cosmic Kids Yoga – fun yoga for kids on YouTube
  • Make a treasure hunt with a fun prize at the end
  • Let kids build a cardboard box town after Amazon starts delivering your Christmas gifts. Ha!
  • Nature walks – we are trying out this nature journal to record observations in our neighborhood

7 – Winterize Your Mental Heath

This is arguably the most important section. Just google “how to boost mental health during COVID 19” and you’ll find a ton of ideas. Here are mine:

  • Start a new hobby, or pick up an old hobby that you’ve let slide. With YouTube tutorials and online resources, you could learn almost anything: woodworking, knitting, book-binding, hand-lettering, cooking, playing an instrument, juggling, speaking a new language, oil painting, coding, photography, gardening…

    I recently bought a Cricut on Amazon Prime Day and I’m excited to learn a new crafting skill this winter. Plus, I have a few unfinished knitting projects that are years overdue!
winterize your life with self care projects like knitting
  • Make a plan to boost positive vibes by creating a celebration calendar. For Christmas, I ordered this Every Day’s a Holiday calendar for fun because my kids will get a kick out of it. You could also plan to send birthday cards to every person in your orbit or start making surprise care packages for local friends.
  • Stay social, even if it’s remote. FaceTime, Marco Polo, group texts, emails/letters to friends and relatives – keep the social communication lines open.
  • If you struggle with anxiety, here are good suggestions. Also, I can’t recommend meditation highly enough for improving mental health; HeadSpace and Calm are two of the most popular apps to teach you how. If you think you’ll struggle as The Great Hunker Down settles in, start practicing meditation now, so that your brain is trained to relax when you need it most. I also find it calming just to look at nature photography for a few minutes when I need to zone out. Like this…
turquoise lake in leadville colorado
>> Turquoise Lake near Leadville, CO <<

Good Luck and Stay Healthy!

When I look back on this winter of the pandemic (and boy, do I hope it’s the only one), I want to know that we tried our best to stay sane, healthy, and kind to one another. My thoughts are with each of you as you winterize your life and make plans for a healthy season at home. Hang in there!

**Please don’t forget to vote!**

More DIY Inspo From List in Progress

list in progress projects

1 – 8 Upcycled DIY Craft Projects to Try
2 – Favorite Behr White Paint Colors
3 – Our New White Smart Thermostat
4 – How to Apply Gold Leaf to Glass Decor

Subscribe and never miss a post!

I will only email you 2-3 times per week, MAX. No junk!

[mc4wp_form id=”402″]

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Click-to-Follow.jpg
Erin

Hi! I’m Erin, a Colorado-based home improvement blogger and lover of all things DIY. I aim to inspire creative folks to tackle home improvement with confidence and style. READ MORE

Follow Me Here:
free guide to diy
Follow Me Here:
Follow Me Here:
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Get the Inside Scoop!

P.S. If you liked this post, you might also like my List in Progress Newsletter.

Receive my new blog posts, bloopers, and behind-the-scenes content delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my free resource library! Sign up right here!

list in progress site
list in progress site