What to do when it is too cold, too hot, or too miserable to go outside
*Note: This is a “Substack Restack.” This post originally appeared in my Substack newsletter on January 23rd, 2025. It seemed to be well-received, so I thought I would share it again here in case you missed it the first time!
Yesterday when I woke up, it was -2°F where I live. Thankfully it’s in. the 20s today, so I might bundle up and head out for a small walk a little later, but these past few days have been tough. And unfortunately, I know these frigid, gray days are nowhere near over yet.
Over the past several years, I have realized just how vital to my body and soul it is to get outside and walk each day. And when I can’t, especially for several days in a row, I can most definitely tell the difference.
None of the following “fill my cup” quite the same way as a walk in nature, but if you’re craving some sign of life beyond your walls, I hope they provide a little boost until the weather improves again at last.
Bring nature to you and your space.
I haven’t been able to keep many indoor plants thriving long, except for some succulents that seem to thrive on neglect as long as they have a little bit of sun, but I know a lot of people enjoy caring for indoor plants.
Besides adding a bit of that leafy color, many provide other benefits as well. Snake plants and aloe vera help purify the air and release oxygen at night. In addition to having adorable round leaves, the money plant is said to bring good luck and fortune.
Though it is frequently shared to offer sympathy to a friend, I do not recommend the peace lily due to the extreme danger it presents for those with furry family members, cats and dogs.
Spider plants sometimes get tiny little white blooms, and if you want a plant to spread to friends, loved ones, and every neighbor down your street, they are easy to share and share again!
But if you don’t have great luck when it comes to nurturing plants indoors, there are other ways to bring the outside closer during bad weather.
Even before I began photographing them, I loved feeding the birds in my suburban backyard. If you can, prepare before the frigid/blazing/rain-filled season begins. It can take awhile before your first “customer,” as I like to call them, arrives.
Have patience, friend, for “if you build it, they *will* come!”
If you can provide some food, fresh water – especially when temperatures are below freezing – , and natural shelter from predators with things like nearby shrubs or trees, they will pay you back by visiting regularly.
Please note that if you start feeding birds in winter, you must continue until daily highs have recovered and they can find their own food again. They truly become reliant.
Side note: I’d expect a few squirrels to join them as well. Birds are fun to watch, but squirrels, they’re just nuts!
If you love the sights of nature and want something that is no-maintenance, perhaps add some photos or art that include natural subjects in your decor instead. These could be photos from your own birding adventures, a painting from a talented artist here on Substack, or possibly even a cute accessory from my store, which is linked in my profile! 🙂
Brew a warm beverage and window watch.
If you decided to start feeding the birds, you will reap the rewards on days like this one. If the weather is particularly cold, you may run out of food quickly. I hurry out each day to offer new food during this kind of weather, especially because I like to have lots of different “stations” where the birds and squirrels can all eat with fewer squabbles. For a quick demo on my easy-going approach, feel free to watch this video.
One quick word of warning: News travels quickly among the birds. Due to a car issue, I recently ran out of seed right before temperatures dropped. I made do by pounding some nuts with a potato masher and mixing in pieces of dried cranberry and raisins that I tore into tiny pieces. Needless to say, it was a HIT! But unless you have a *lot* of money to burn, you won’t want to do this for long!
Plan your next local outdoor adventure.
Still sitting by the window? Good! Hopefully you have a notebook or device nearby. Try to soak in any unexpected rays of sun while you dream of more mild days.
You don’t have to go far for your outing, but you might consider finding somewhere new. You may not want to spend a lot of time there, but social media can actually be a pretty good source of ideas. “Crowd source” and ask your local friends if they have a favorite spot. You might also consider reading some boards or visiting groups or profiles that feature related content. If you have a particular aspect of the outdoors you want to enjoy, try connecting with others who share that same interest, whether it’s birding, hiking, or snapping photos of blooms that are in season.
If you are lucky to have a great parks system, you can also go straight to the source and check out trail maps, park amenities, and possibly even a schedule to browse for an upcoming program you might attend.
Play a nature-themed board game.
During the pandemic, my family started building a fairly impressive library of games. One of our favorites is Wingspan. A fantastic game for birders or anyone who wants to learn more about real-life birds, Wingspan features colorful cards that are beautiful to look at and informative as well.
In addition to the realistic artwork, the cards feature details like the species’ habitat, style of nest and typical clutch size, the species’ physical size, and at least one other fact about the bird. Add the beautiful cards to the cute wooden eggs and dice and a “birdhouse” dice tower, and the theming will warm any bird nerd’s heart!
There are so many other games I could mention here, but I don’t want to geek out and lose my audience! If you are interested in learning about more nature-themed or cozy games, I would love to hear from you in the comments below.
More to come
As I said at the start, we are nowhere near the end of our cold season anytime soon. I have thought a lot, and I will share a part two soon. This first section took a little longer than I planned, and I don’t want flowers to be blooming before I finish!
So please, stay tuned. Stay warm. And know that there are many more walks and adventures to come!
