Do not ask me how a chunky mammal in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania has become the icon for declaring more or less winter every year on February 2nd… The states are weird and we just roll with it. Somehow, we have about four more days of winter. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day.
I hate to say it, but the furball was right; it is snowing today and that means I get to stay inside and try to find ways to keep myself from freezing (and keep myself busy).
For all of you Northerners who are getting hit by the THIRD Nor’easter in over a week: God bless ‘ya. Here in Rocky Top, we’re getting a mild 39º Fahrenheit, and with the temperature nowhere near freezing, the snow is falling in soft puffs from the sky and turning into wet mush on the ground. Lovely weather for some car-hydroplaning-down-the-side-of-a-hill ol’ fashioned fun.
What is there to do when you can’t go outside but you’re not exactly committed to the idea of working from home? Usually, this is what it means for me:
1. Make some tea or coffee and settle in with a good book.
I took this photo back on a Delta flight a few years ago. There isn’t much to do 36,000 feet in the air, so I got a hot cuppa (black tea with milk and sugar) and started reading Extremely Loud, Incredibly Close.
I ended up reading half of the book in the two short flights I took to and from my destination, but reading will eat up so much of your time in the very best way. I am a bookworm, read-a-holic, whatever you want to call it. I love transporting myself into the author’s mind, visualizing the characters and the plotline. It’s like a movie, but inside your head and it’s much easier to stay away from spoilers (you only have yourself to blame if you read the last page!) It’s the easiest way to pass the time and feel like you’ve bettered your overall vocabulary—and intellect, depending on what kind of genre you like reading.
2. Binge-Watch Your Favorite Shows or YouTube Channels.
This is my list of shows/videos from YouTube and Netflix that I have easily binged on:
- House, M.D.
- The Fosters
- The Good Doctor
- Rick and Morty (You know, if you’re an intellectual and have a background in physics…)
- Any Lets Play series by Jacksepticeye on YouTube
- ANY. JEFFREE. STAR. VIDEO.
- The Office
- FRIENDS
- The End of The F***ing World
- Dexter
I’m not the biggest movie person, but I really like shows that I can get into quickly. Plus, I’m a huge gamer so I love YouTube for its binge-ability of my favorite YouTuber’s videos.
3. Listen to some music and color.
I am a huge fan of de-stressing with adult coloring books, especially ones with mandalas or landscapes. With a few good markers or colored pencils, you can spend hours (literally) just coloring in the lines.
Some of my favorite coloring books are Mindfulness & Calm: Adventures in Ink and Inspiration, the Harry Potter Coloring Book, and the Meditative Designs Coloring Book. I use a mix of the Crayola 50 count colored pencils, 18 count Twistables colored pencils and 20 count Super Tips washable markers.
I love listening to either ASMR (which you can learn more about here) or the “Your Favorite Coffeehouse” or “Acoustic Covers” Spotify playlists. **Quick hint: Did you know that college student’s get Spotify WITH HULU for a discounted $4.99 a month? It saved me in the long run.**
4. Yoga/Mindfulness Practices
I’m an advocate for taking mindfulness moments throughout your day, especially when you have a lot going on. Yoga is not just about being “in the moment,” it’s a way of life. Through yoga, you are engaging your mind, body and spirit in ways that you normally wouldn’t in your day-to-day routine.
If you’re just getting into the yogi realm, it can seem a little daunting (especially for beginners). However, there is a great subscription service by YogiSurpise.com that delivers a box of yoga-inspired items right to door every month. You can choose between a Each box comes with a special Yogi Surprise yoga sequence card to change up your flow. March’s sequence “Freedom” was created by Allie Bright with acceptance, freedom and compassion in mind. You can get 25% off of your first box with my affiliated link and the code YOGI25 at checkout. You can cancel your subscription at any time (just make sure to check Yogi Surprise FAQ on their cancelation policy!)
As I’m finishing up this post, it’s 4:40 p.m. Somehow, it is very sunny and has warmed up to a brisk 50º Fahrenheit. I don’t know about this Groundhog Phil character, but I’m staying inside, closing my blinds and playing Fortnite for the rest of the evening.
Yours truly,
Allie
Allie Paige Taylor 