2013 Winter Weather Leaves Midwest Locked In Deep Freeze

A pedestrian crosses a downtown Cleveland street in wind-blown snow Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

MADISON, Wis. -- The Upper Midwest remains locked in the deep freeze, with bitter temperatures stretching into a fourth day across several states.

The cold snap arrived Saturday night as waves of Arctic air swept south from Canada, pushing temperatures to dangerous lows and leaving a section of the country well-versed in winter's pains reeling.

Authorities suspect exposure has played a role in at least four deaths so far.

"I am wearing a Snuggie under a top and another jacket over that," said Faye Whitbeck, president of the chamber of commerce in International Falls, Minn., a town near the Canadian border where the temperature was minus 30 on Tuesday morning. The so-called "Nation's Icebox" reached a balmy 3 below for a high. "I pulled out a coat that went right to my ankles this morning and I wore two scarves."

Among the coldest temperatures recorded Tuesday was 35 below at Crane Lake, Minn., a National Weather Service forecaster said early Wednesday.

The coldest location in the lower 48 states Monday was Embarrass, Minn., at 36 below. On Sunday it was Babbitt, Minn., at 29 below, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters said late Tuesday that overnight temperatures wouldn't get that low, but warned it was still frigid: Embarrass, Minn., was up to 15 below by late Tuesday night.

The bitter conditions were expected to persist into the weekend in the Midwest through the eastern half of the U.S., said Shawn DeVinny, a National Weather Service meteorologist in suburban Minneapolis.

Ariana Laffey, a 30-year-old homeless woman, kept warm with a blanket, three pairs of pants and six shirts as she sat on a milk crate begging near Chicago's Willis Tower on Tuesday morning. She said she and her husband spent the night under a bridge, bundled up under a half-dozen blankets.

"We're just trying to make enough to get a warm room to sleep in tonight," Laffey said.

But in Sioux Falls, S.D., where winter temperatures are normally well below freezing, some homeless shelters had open beds. Shelter managers suspect people who needed a place to stay were already using the services before the temperatures reached more extreme lows. The first cold snap of the season was in early December. Overnight temperatures dropped to 9 below with the wind chill. In Vermillion, S.D., a water pipe break forced the evacuation of a dormitory at the University of South Dakota, with nearly 500 students offered hotel rooms.

In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, residents woke to a wind chill that made it feel like 35 below. The temperature in Madison, Wis., was a whopping 1 degree above just before midday Tuesday. For northern Illinois, it was the first time in almost two years that temperatures had dipped below zero.

The temperature in Detroit was a toasty 7 degrees with a 10 below wind chill around midday. City officials said they planned to extend hours at its two warming centers. A warming center run by St. Peter and Paul Jesuit Church downtown that usually sees 50 to 60 people on a typical winter day had taken in about 90 people Tuesday morning.

Police in Milwaukee, where the temperature was just 2 degrees at noon, checked under freeway overpasses to find the homeless and urge them to find a shelter. The United Way of Greater Milwaukee has donated $50,000 to two homeless shelters so they can open overflow centers.

"We're incredibly relieved," said Donna Rongholt-Migan, executive director of the Cathedral Center, a Milwaukee shelter that received $25,000. "I was walking my dog last night and I couldn't feel my legs just after walking around the block."

Schools across the region either started late or didn't open at all. Districts in Duluth, Minn., and Ashland, Bayfield, Hurley, Washburn and Superior in far northern Wisconsin closed amid warnings that the wicked wind chills could freeze exposed flesh within a minute.

"It's brutal," Courtney Thrall, a 21-year-old University of Wisconsin-Madison student, said as she waited for her bus, her fur-trimmed parka hood pulled over her head.

On Sunday, a 70-year-old man was found frozen in his unheated home in Des Plaines, Ill. And in Green Bay, Wis., a 38-year-old man was found dead outside his home Monday morning. Authorities in both cases said the victims died of hypothermia and cold exposure, with alcohol a possible contributing factor.

A 77-year-old Illinois woman also was found dead near her car in southwestern Wisconsin on Saturday night, and a 61-year-old Minnesota man was pronounced dead at a hospital after he was found in a storage building Saturday morning.

The plunging temperatures made life plenty miserable for plumbers.

Workers in Madison had to repair at least four water main breaks since Sunday afternoon. Jim Gilchrist, a third-generation plumber in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, said he received about five or six calls Tuesday from people with frozen water pipes in their homes. Few pipes had actually burst – yet.

"We'll probably get those calls later, as pipes begin thawing" and develop a split, Gilchrist said. "Today they just know they don't have water; tomorrow they will have water spraying."

At least two fires in southern Wisconsin were blamed on property owners using heaters or other means to thaw frozen pipes. In one case, a dairy barn was destroyed, and in the other, a mobile home was lost. No one was hurt.

___

Associated Press writers Doug Glass in Minneapolis, Don Babwin and Tammy Webber in Chicago, Jeff Karoub in Detroit, Dirk Lammers in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Dinesh Ramde and Gretchen Ehlke in Milwaukee contributed to this report.

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Winter Scenes That Make The Cold Weather Seem Not So Bad (PHOTOS)

The cold is really settling in and it’s been really hard to appreciate the winter, especially when we wake up in the morning and it still looks like midnight out. But when we take a moment to take it all in, we really do love the snowy, crisp weather. There are so many fun activities we can do during the season and we secretly love the fact that we can spend a Friday night cuddled up on the couch without feeling like we should be out and about. So we’ve rounded up photos of
beautiful winter scenes to remind us just how wonderful the ice and snow

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Winter Storm Whips Into Northeast Bringing Snow, Rain

CONCORD, N.H. — A powerful winter storm brought snow to inland parts of the Northeast and driving rain and wind to areas along the coast Thursday, a day after it swept through the nation's middle, dumping a record snowfall in Arkansas and ruining holiday travel plans for thousands.

The storm, which was blamed for nine deaths, pushed through the Upper Ohio Valley and made its way into the Northeast Wednesday night. By Thursday morning, there was anywhere from a few inches of snow to a foot in some locations.

National Weather Service spokesman David Roth said the Northeast's heaviest snowfall would be in northern Pennsylvania, upstate New York and inland sections of several New England states before the storm ended Friday morning and headed to Canada.

The East Coast's largest cities – New York, Philadelphia and Boston – were seeing mostly high winds and rain Thursday morning. Other areas were getting a messy mix of rain and snow or just rain – enough to slow down commuters and those still heading home from visits with family.

Thousands of travelers were trying to make it home Thursday after the fierce storm stranded them at airports or relatives' homes around the region. Some inbound flights were delayed in Philadelphia and New York's LaGuardia, but the wet and windy weather wasn't leading to delays at other major East Coast airports.

A flight that landed safely in Pittsburgh during the storm Wednesday night got stuck in snow for about two hours on the tarmac.

The American Airlines flight arrived between 8 and 9 p.m., but then ran over a snow patch and got stuck.

Airport spokeswoman Joan Jenny told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette workers tried for nearly two hours to tow the plane to the gate before deciding to bus passengers to the terminal.

Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed on Wednesday and scores of motorists got stuck on icy roads or slid into drifts. Said John Kwiatkowski, an Indianapolis-based meteorologist with the weather service: "The way I've been describing it is as a low-end blizzard, but that's sort of like saying a small Tyrannosaurus rex."

The storm system spawned Gulf Coast region tornadoes on Christmas Day, startling people like Bob and Sherry Sims of Mobile, Alabama, who'd just finished dinner.

"We heard that very distinct sound, like a freight train," said Bob Sims. They headed for a center bathroom.

Power was still out at the Sims' home on Wednesday, but the house wasn't damaged and they used a generator to run heaters to stay warm. Some neighbors were less fortunate, their roofs peeled away and porches smashed by falling trees.

The storm also left freezing temperatures in its aftermath, and forecasters said parts of the Southeast from Virginia to Florida saw severe thunderstorms.

Schools on break and workers taking holiday vacations meant that many people could avoid messy commutes, but those who had to travel were urged to avoid it. Snow was blamed for scores of vehicle accidents as far east as Maryland, and about two dozen counties in Indiana and Ohio issued snow emergency travel alerts, urging people to go out on the roads only if necessary.

About 40 vehicles got bogged down trying to make it up a slick hill in central Indiana, and four state snowplows slid off roads as snow fell at the rate of 3 inches an hour in some places.

Officials in Ohio blamed the bad weather for a crash that killed an 18-year-old girl, who lost control of her car Wednesday afternoon and smashed into an oncoming snow plow on a highway northeast of Cincinnati.

A man and a woman in Evansville, Ind., were killed when the scooter they were riding went out of control on a snowy street Wednesday and they were hit by a pickup truck.

Two passengers in a car on a sleet-slickened Arkansas highway were killed Wednesday in a head-on collision, and two people, including a 76-year-old Milwaukee woman, were killed Tuesday on Oklahoma highways. Deaths from wind-toppled trees were reported in Texas and Louisiana.

The day after Christmas wasn't expected to be particularly busy for AAA, but its Cincinnati-area branch had its busiest Wednesday of the year. By mid-afternoon, nearly 400 members had been helped with tows, jump starts and other aid, with calls still coming in, spokesman Mike Mills said.

In Arkansas, some of the nearly 200,000 people who lost power could be without it for as long as a week because of snapped poles and wires after ice and 10 inches of snow coated power lines, said the state's largest utility, Entergy Arkansas.

Gov. Mike Beebe, who declared a statewide emergency, sent out National Guard teams, and Humvees transported medical workers and patients. Snow hadn't fallen in Little Rock on Christmas since 1926, but the capital ended Tuesday with 10.3 inches of it.

Other states also had scattered outages.

As the storm moved east, New England state highway departments were treating roads and getting ready to mobilize with snowfall forecasts of a foot or more.

Few truckers were stopping into a TravelCenters of America truck stop in Willington, Conn., near the Massachusetts border early Thursday. Usually 20 to 30 an hour stop in overnight, but high winds and slushy roads had cut that to two to three people an hour.

"A lot of people are staying off the road," said Louis Zalewa, 31, who works there selling gasoline and staffing the store. "I think people are being smart."

As usual, winter-sports enthusiasts welcomed the snow. At Smiling Hill Farm in Maine, Warren Knight was hoping for enough snow to allow the opening of trails.

"We watch the weather more carefully for cross-country skiing than we do for farming. And we're pretty diligent about farming. We're glued to the weather radio," said Knight, who described the weather at the 500-acre farm in Westbrook as being akin to the prizes in "Cracker Jacks – we don't know what we're going to get."

Behind the storm, Mississippi's governor declared states of emergency in eight counties with more than 25 people reported injured and 70 homes left damaged.

Cindy Williams stood near a home in McNeill, Miss., where its front had collapsed into a pile of wood and brick, a balcony and the porch ripped apart. Large oak trees were uprooted and winds sheared off treetops in a nearby grove. But she focused instead on the fact that all her family members had escaped harm.

"We are so thankful," she said. "God took care of us."

___

Associated Press writers Rick Callahan and Charles Wilson in Indianapolis, Kelly P. Kissel in Little Rock, Ark.; Jim Van Anglen in Mobile, Ala.; Holbrook Mohr in Jackson, Miss.; Julie Carr Smyth and Mitch Stacy in Columbus, Ohio; Amanda Lee Myers in Cincinnati; David Dishneau in Hagerstown, Md.; and David Sharp in Portland, Maine, contributed to this report.

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How to Enjoy Winter

How to Enjoy Winter: 10 steps - wikiHow/**/var WH = WH || {};WH.lang = WH.lang || {};button_swap = button_unswap = function(){};WH.exitTimerStartTime = (new Date()).getTime();WH.mergeLang = function(A){for(i in A){v=A[i];if(typeof v==='string'){WH.lang[i]=v;}}}; Sign Up or Log In or Log In via

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HomeArticlesCommunityMy Profile WH.mergeLang({'navlist_collapse': '- collapse','navlist_expand': '+ expand'}); EditHome » Categories » Health » Emotional Health » Happiness & OptimismHow to Enjoy Winter9 authors | 30 revisions | Last updated: December 22, 2012

WinterRomance, Martyn P, Maluniu, Dare_devilz94, Spite and Splendor, Flickety, Zareen, Frostmaker84, PplrcoolPin ItArticle EditDiscuss

Taking the outlook that the winter months are dreary, cold and hard can cause you to face winter with grim determination. Far better to see winter as a chance to recuperate from the year's toil and as an opportunity to plan clearly for the warmer months ahead. Winter may bring shorter days and colder temperatures but it also offers many chances to snuggle up, get through your reading list and partake in heartwarming cuisine.

Edit Steps1Make your house healthy. You'll be spending a lot more time indoors during winter, so it's important that your house is healthy and as warm as you can make it.If your house is drafty and cold, look into what can be done to improve it for little cost. Many municipalities have started to offer subsidies or schemes to help you insulate your home to make it warmer. You can also do a lot by looking for the places that are sources of cold air and caulking/covering/fixing gaps as best you can.Let fresh air in when possible. You still need clean indoor air and the only way to get this is to bring it from outside. If you don't have a system in place that does this for you, open the windows for half an hour each day. You might also turn on a fan to circulate air.Clean off anything that encourages mold growth. While it may seem a chore, mopping up condensation or pooling water around window areas each day is time well spent in preventing mold growth. Scrub bathrooms weekly to remove any mold and prevent more from growing.Rug up if you cannot turn up the heat. Wear more sweaters, thermals and cover up with rugs when you're not active. It saves money and it keeps you warm, and fortunately, modern materials make it even easier to stay warm without turning into the Michelin man!Make sure your duvet (bed cover) has a high tog rating (a measurement system for duvets) to ensure adequate warmth.2Make your home cozy and welcoming. A home that feels inviting will cheer you up constantly. Keeping your home comfortable and neat is important and there are a few things you can do to brighten up the place, such as:Change your sheets once a week. Fresh sheets improve your sleep experience and keep the bedroom smelling sweet.Light some spicy scented candles, and turn on your central heating for a gentle waft of delicious scent.Switch lights on, make sure your house is lit up prettily. A dark house in winter can be depressing, and make you feel lethargic and miserable. Remember not to waste electricity though, so only turn on lights in the rooms you're using. (And having solar lights and LEDs can help keep down energy costs.)Buy a few bunches of nice flowers, fake or real, and place them in vases around your home to cheer things up. Yellow flowers in particular have been shown to increase happiness. Houses can look especially bare in winter, when Christmas lights and decorations have been taken down, so flowers can improve the overall feel.

3Fill your house with laughter. Have friends over for dinner parties, TV nights or for a cup of hot chocolate together. Watch your favorite comedian on YouTube, the box or on DVD. Turn the news channels off, as winter is prime time for depressing and tragic news stories. Watch lighthearted, funny shows, such as Friends, or watch a comedy movie. If you're reading a magazine or newspaper, and you see the headline of a tragic story, skip it and try to find an inspirational article with a happy ending instead.4Buy, borrow or haggle for something to cheer you up. You don't have to spend a fortune––perhaps a new pair of jeans, a scrapbook, a song you've been wanting to download for a while. Or visit a thrift shop or check out the offerings on Freecycle. Who knows what discarded goodies might bring a ray of sunshine into your day?Music is a great way to cheer yourself up. Consider buying a few new tunes, then making an entirely new playlist that includes both the old and the new tunes. Look for songs that bring a sense of enjoyment into your day and avoid those that leave you feeling melancholy.5Make something to cheer yourself up. Think about how you might turn someone else's junk into your treasure––borrow a library book on recycled craft and let your imagination run wild. Get out the dusty sewing machine and start stitching up a storm; or, get into knitting, crochet, hammering, modeling or photography. Crafts and hobbies provide ample opportunities to spend your wintry days profitably.Make some winter clothes. Whether you're good at sewing, knitting, crochet (or not so good but you're willing to learn), making clothes for winter has a great incentive––at the end you have something to keep your ears, head and body warm!Favor bright colors. Making a quilt? Choose brightly colored fabric. Rearranging the living room decor? Replace the objects with brighter ones (or repaint/cover the existing items with more vibrant colors).

6Eat well. Comfort food is lovely in winter––just make sure you don't eat too much of anything stodgy or calorie-laden. Eat everything in moderation. Things like fries, hot chocolate, and popcorn are fine to have now and then, provided you're sticking to a balanced diet. Eat warm satisfying food.Try healthy options of warming food. Heat up some tomato soup and a bread roll, or have a baked potato.Make yourself a Japanese style soup that is both healthy and warming. Add miso, shiitake mushrooms (soak half a dozen in water for half an hour before adding to the soup), some kombu, tamari to taste and udon noodles. Yum! (And miso soup is also delicious and very easy to make.)Make hearty winter stews based on grains like barley and beans like kidney beans. You'll get lots of fiber and some delicious flavors. If you're a vegetarian, leave out meat additions.Get baking. Winter is a perfect time to improve your baking skills and use baking as therapy for dispelling the blues. Cakes, muffins, cookies, bread and rolls are just some of the delicious foods to try. And if you're feeling ready to go to the advanced level, consider teaching yourself to make French pastries––time consuming, fiddly but well worth the effort in the end!7Exercise and keep moving. Staying active and keeping fit will make you healthier and leave you feeling more content with life. While it's cold outside, movement is your best bet for staying warm, so stop making excuses and start moving instead. Go for winter walks with a friend, enjoy the scenery. It's especially pretty if it's snowy or icy outside (just tread with care). When you're starved of sunlight during the winter months, you risk becoming downhearted, or suffering from "cabin fever"; feeling blue all the time and lacking adequate light to activate melatonin production can contribute to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Even if the sunshine is only out for a few hours, make sure you go outside and bathe in it.Look for other outdoor activities that can keep you active. Some cities and towns have places where you can go cross-country skiing in local parks, ice skating and playing ice hockey. Some places even keep cycling paths cleared for winter riding.Dogs still need walking, so if you have one, walk every day (being sure to take care of Fido's paws). Offer to walk your neighbor's dog now and then if you don't have a dog. And if you like animals and live near an animal shelter or a farm, offer to help pitch in and keep the place clean, feed the animals and exercise them––you'll be doing a good turn and staying active at the same time.Check out nature. Go birdwatching, feed the birds in your garden, follow winter nature trails and take photos of animals during winter.Where it's possible to do so, get out in the garden. For those living in temperate climates, gardening can continue through winter, while for those in harsher winter environments, you can start readying the garden for growing things by late winter. Some vegetables need to be sown in the winter months, so plan ahead.Wear appropriate clothing for being outdoors in the cold. If you're not sure what's suitable for the activity you'd like to do, ask for advice from a sports retailer, your physiotherapist or a health adviser.8Relax and reflect. Winter is a time for reflection, rest and the release of pent-up stress. Relaxation will allow you to stand back from what you've been doing during the year and take stock. Consider whether you want to keep going in the same direction for the following year or if you'd like to make changes. Write down your thoughts and desires in a journal and perhaps map out any desired changes for the times ahead.Take a hot bubble bath with extra bubbles on the weekend.Lie on the sofa with a magazine or book. Idle away a few hours reading and learning.Plan things. Buy a diary, and fill it up with things to do. New Years Eve, New Years Day, Shrove Tuesday, and Valentines Day are all good days to make plans. Give yourself things to look forward to.Allow yourself thinking time. Don't have any expectations––just think. Record thoughts only if you want to––what's important is giving yourself the space to think.

9Study. Use winter as the time for learning new things. Whatever your age, winter provides the ideal opportunity to get stuck into learning and with many online courses freely available, there is no excuse for being unable to find something of interest. From the Khan Academy and MOOCs, to instructional videos on YouTube and courses made by educational institutions, there is a wealth of online information and learning tools available to every person on Earth. Sign up for something that you can learn at your own pace and aim to be more knowledgeable by the end of winter.Share your knowledge with others. Tell other people what you're learning and show them how to access the information too.Improve your memory skills. If you're worried that your memory might not be as good as you'd like it to be, use the winter months to train your memory to be more effective. See How to improve your memory for more ideas.Study isn't just about learning about the external world. Studying yourself is good too––what do you know about yourself, are you fulfilling your dreams or have you lost your way? Now is a good time to reassess your career, your interactions and your life's path.10Get enough sleep. Winter days are short, with long nights. This, along with the cold weather can make us tired and lethargic. Get at least eight hours a night of good quality sleep.Sleep in a little on weekends. The added sleep is good for you and it's a winter treat you can revel in.Use spare mornings to lie in bed a little longer and read novels or non-fiction that you'd otherwise be too busy to catch up on. Luxuriate for the good of your body and brain!

Edit TipsStay healthy. Winter chills are a normal part of getting through winter. But you can help yourself by eating healthily, exercising sensibly, practicing good hygiene and speaking to your doctor about specific health needs (such as getting a flu shot). By being proactive about your health, you are in a better position to minimize the impact of colds and viruses that are bound to come your way.Celebrate the winter solstice. The shortest/longest night of the year deserves acknowledgment with at least a drink with friends!As much as possible, enjoy winter produce. Fruit such as apples, pears and oranges are good during the winter season, as are vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and leeks.Some people find aromatherapy of help during winter months. By bringing fresh, summery scents into your home, you can convince yourself that warmer times are ahead. Focus on citrus scents, lavender, rose and geranium, as just some of the fragrances that tend to lift the spirits.

Edit WarningsNever leave lit candles unattended.Stay indoors if weather conditions are severe.Don't air a house during a storm or severe weather conditions. If someone in the house is ill, do not expose them to cold temperature fluctuations. Use your common sense when assessing whether airing is appropriate or not.Have winter tires fitted where this is needed; stay safe this winter. Drive appropriately for winter conditions.Beware icy sidewalks and areas when walking; also be vigilant about overhanging ice that falls during melting periods.

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How to Feel Happy During a Cold Winter

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HomeArticlesCommunityMy Profile WH.mergeLang({'navlist_collapse': '- collapse','navlist_expand': '+ expand'}); EditHome » Categories » Health » Emotional Health » Emotional Conditions » DepressionHow to Feel Happy During a Cold Winter16 authors | 34 revisions | Last updated: November 23, 2012

Dvortygirl, Maluniu, Lillian May, Tryme2, Muag, Flickety, Eric, IronSpockMaster, Chris Hadley, Stewart Midwinter, Catie, Davjohn, Oliver, Webster, Teresa, Baconator123Pin ItArticle EditDiscuss

Have you ever noticed how bad weather seems to drag the spirit down with it? There's nothing you can do about the weather, but there are various things you can do to keep your spirits up until spring.

Edit Steps1Find things to enjoy about winter. A snowy, icy, cold, or rainy world can be beautiful and often has sounds and smells all its own. If you're an artist, photographer, or craftsperson, winter provides a great deal of inspiration and different colors to work with. Even if you don't feel that creative, simply watching a winter scene from the comfort of your home can be a pleasant way to relax and enjoy the peace.

There is beauty in winter scenery.2Take part in winter activities. Enjoy skiing, sledding, or ice skating. Visit someplace nearby while the summer crowds are gone.

If you're a beginner to snow sports, try learning in areas where you won't be worried about more experienced people crowding you out. Local parks and quiet cross country or downhill ski circuits are ideal starting points to encourage you to get out and give new winter sports a go.Making snow-men, snow-huts, and snow-lanterns are fun activities for both kids and adults.3Stay warm. Whether that means sitting by the fire, snuggling up with a loved one or pet, piling on the blankets, or having a warm drink, keep yourself warm. The best way to stay warm all the time is to wear layers of suitable clothes, especially woolen long-johns, undershirts, and sweaters. And don't neglect your feet – woolen socks and slippers are a must-have for keeping you toasty warm all winter.

Wear layers. Furry hoods are optional.Remember: a significant proportion of body heat is lost through your head - so now is the time to whip out your most fashionable winter hats, berets, earmuffs, headbands, shawls, and other accessories.4Find something to do besides stew about the weather. This would be a great time to read that book that's been on your list—or even write it. Play cards, clean the house, cook up a big pot of soup, take up a hobby, or knit another warm sweater. It's also a good time to sort photos, computer files, fabric stashes, and anything else that has accumulated over the other months of the year.

Go to the movies more frequently.Visit museums, art galleries, astronomy observatories, food-making facilities (for example, chocolate, cheese, etc.), and while away the cold hours in their heated rooms learning something new.Use indoor sports facilities such as rock-climbing walls, squash courts, badminton halls, etc.Read How to keep kids entertained in winter for ideas on keeping children happy in winter.5Brighten up. Winter comes with the shortest days and lowest light of the year. Go out if you can. If you can't, or if you're so far from the equator as to have little or no daylight, use full-spectrum lights, light or white walls, and perhaps some vibrant accent colors.

Learn how to make winter window decorations.6Stay active. As much as possible, get yourself outside. Bundle up and take at least a short walk. If the weather does not permit, move around inside. Walk up and down your stairs if you have them. Do a workout tape or use that treadmill or stair machine that is gathering dust. Exercise gets your body temperature up and your blood flowing. It also regulates such things as sleep and diet. Move around at least a bit each day.

If you have a dog, keep walking him during winter. It will do both of you the world of good and it's a regular routine that helps to get you outside exercising. Read How to keep dogs warm in the winter for tips on keeping your dog warm when walking.See How to jog in cold weather, How to walk in the winter and How to keep running during snow season for lots of helpful winter exercise tips.7Browse seed catalogs and plan your garden. There's nothing quite as promising as the idea that spring is around the corner. You could even start some plants indoors under artificial light.

See How to grow winter salads and How to winter sow seeds outdoors for more ideas.Take a walk in your garden or the local park and spotting how the wildlife survives and how the plants are coping. You might like to try identifying trees in winter as well.8Eat properly. You may tend to eat more in winter, whether because of holidays or because your body craves more energy. Either way, try to keep a balanced diet including whatever fruits and vegetables (dried or canned if necessary) you can. Try not to overdo it on the sugars and starch.

Canned or dried fruits and vegetables can stand in part time if there is not much fresh produce locally.Choose your carbohydrates wisely. It's natural to crave them during colder months and it's important to consume complex carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables and enriched whole grains) over processed food.[1]Maintain your vitamin intake. Vitamin B is important, especially folate, to help stop you feeling the blues; this in foods such as lentils, peas, and spinach.[1]Ensure that your intake of foods rich in tryptophan is increased because this is the amino acid required to manufacture serotonin, the neurotransmitter that helps you to feel good. Suitable foods include bananas, poultry, dairy produce, and peas.[1]Keep up your intake of omega-3 fatty acids to help fight off the blues, eating such foods as cold-water fish and flaxseed and walnuts.[1]Avoid any foods that cause you to feel sluggish, such as highly processed foods, saturated fats, and sugary foods. These can worsen any blues because they cause you to feel lethargic and often result in a crash after the initial energy burst. In addition, be careful with aspartame as it can interfere with serotonin functioning and leave you feeling moodier; if you notice any reactions to it, avoid consuming it.[1]9Keep in touch. Call friends or make new ones. If you regularly attend club meetings, church, or other activities, try not to interrupt your routine just for bad weather. If transportation is a challenge for you, link up with friends or helpful people who can give you a ride to and from your usual activities.

10Remember that, without winter, no one would appreciate and love the summer so much. People manage to draw a lot of inspiration from winter, including spending more family together and using this as a chance to increase skills that will be useful when the weather warms up. Some people even choose to use winter to celebrate important life events, such as getting married in the snow. Whatever your take on winter, in contrast to our ancestors for many previous centuries, our modern lifestyle helps us to keep warm, travel safely, and continue life with a good amount of comfort during winter seasons, all sound reasons for finding something good about living through the coldest months.

Edit Video

Edit TipsRemember that winter has its benefits. It may bring needed precipitation to an area. Some plants require a certain amount of cold to grow flowers or fruit the following year.Plan a mid-winter trip to get you away from the cold for a week or two. This can lift your spirits dramatically and will make getting through the rest of winter a breeze.Be happy that at least it isn't hot: you might be freezing your but off right now, but people on the other side of the world are sweating buckets.

Edit WarningsIf you're suffering badly, you might have seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which affects around half a million people in the United States yearly.[1] Seek advice from your doctor to help you overcome the winter blues.Avoid overdoing the alcohol and caffeine through winter. These can cause you to feel tired, which in turn can lead you to feel moodier about the elements and lead to exhaustion.

Edit Related wikiHowsHow to Fight Winter BluesHow to Stay Healthy During the WinterHow to Avoid Getting the Flu in WinterHow to Stay Warm During Winter Outdoor ActivitiesHow to Tie a Winter Scarf So It Doesn't Fall ApartHow to Feel Happy when Winter Won't Go Away

Edit Sources and Citations? 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Winnie Yu, What to eat for what ails you: how to treat illnesses by changing the food and vitamins in your diet, p. 289, (2007), ISBN 978-1-59233-236-6Article Info Featured Article

Categories: Featured Articles | Depression

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