Turning Snow Into Self-Care
Self-care is a term we use a lot in psychology. Very simplified, it means all the things we do to keep ourselves healthy in mind and body. Self-care is how we deal with and adapt to all of life’s stressors, and snow offers a lot of new options.
Many people - adults, teens, and kids alike - feel depressed, cooped up, and even trapped by the winter months. The snow shuts down businesses, driving gets treacherous, the cold limits the time we can spend outdoors, sidewalks and driveways need shoveling….
These are all valid points of stress. Hopefully, this article can help combat the psychological toll by identifying specific self-care techniques we can use with the snow.
Technique 1: Play
First and most simple, play in the snow. Just because we get older doesn’t mean we stop needing to have fun. You’re never too old to toss a snowball, crush a big clump of snow in your hands, kick a small snow pile (bonus if it has the satisfying “shatter” spray), go sledding, ski, ride a snowmobile, make a snowman, stomp (snow makes a satisfying crunch under your feet), and a thousand other things. The image for this article is a quick happy face I “carved” into a nearby snowbank.
Bonus points if you include friends, family, neighbors, or all of the above.
Technique 2: Multi-task
You might have to shovel or plow snow, but it can still be at least somewhat enjoyable. Put some earpods in to listen to music or podcasts, bring in someone else to chat with (maybe even help), get in a bit of physical exercise, or even brainstorm possible solutions to work problems. Your body may be needed to shovel or spread salt, but there’s a good chance your brain isn’t heavily engaged. Let your mind wander.
Technique 3: Art
Feeling trapped indoors? Everything is covered in snow and you can’t or don’t want to go out? It’s just too cold to step out?
Capture it. Take photos, make paintings, draw, write poems - there are many ways to express your experiences creatively. And they’ve gotten a lot easier, with many free tools baked into your phone or findable online.
Still a little too complex? Throw some random words into an AI art generator online. And you can keep varying things to your heart’s content. Generate as many or as few images as you’d like, and it’s all part of self-care.
This entire page took maybe 10 minutes of playing around to create, all with free tools: Snow bunnies, squirrels, and “vintage” photos
Technique 4: Just Relax
Feeling trapped indoors but not artistic? Fine, stay in sipping a cup of hot cocoa listening to soft music. Maybe take a long, warm bath with aromatic candles. Get the family together to make sweet treats (you can never go wrong with s’mores) or watch a marathon. Read alongside a cup of hot, scented tea or coffee.
The world will continue spinning even if you give yourself a brain break.
Technique 5: Challenge Your Thinking
Not every form of self-care is physical. Stress doesn’t actually come from the outside world, but the thoughts and emotions triggered within our own brains. The kids missing one day of school because we can’t safely drive through the ice and snow isn’t likely a big source of stress (kids probably love it) as much as the “I’m a horrible parent” thought. It’s that thought, and the belief in it, that brings on the stress, so let’s challenge it.
Are the kids safe?
Are they happy and healthy?
Are they generally getting what they need?
Yeah? Well, then you’re probably doing just fine. We can miss one day of school and it won’t hurt anything - might even help.
This is just one off the cuff example, but there are plenty of other problem thoughts we can get stuck in. The official term is “cognitive distortions,” maybe a topic for another article, but not something to dive into here. The important thing is to recognize when the thoughts are becoming unhelpful and take their power away.
