You may already know, but I live in Utah. In the summer, it’s a sweltering hellscape, and in winter, it’s cold, and sometimes we even get a decent amount of snow. For the new year, 1,000 Hours Outside shared guides for amounts of time you need to spend outdoors each day per season to hit 1,000 hours. They featured a ‘hot summers’ climate, with less time outdoors in summer; and a ‘cold winters’ climate, with less time outdoors in winter. A like-minded individual beat me to my question: “What if I live in Utah, and have both?”
For people living in Utah, we have high elevation, and being in the desert (low humidity) means that being in the sun in summer feels like being a bug under a microscope. If there are fires a n y w h e r e in the US, and wind happens to blow our way, our air becomes dangerous. A few summers ago, we spent most of 2 entire summer months inside. It usually gets so hot, that eventually, you can only comfortably be outside before 10 am, and after 7pm or later. Splash pads and the like, and indoor recreation are p a c k e d. Maybe that’s somehow fun for others, but I hate that.
Now, being too hot, or too cold is good for you, and helps you live longer. If you do it safely. In summer, especially here, you must cover up, or lather on sunscreen religiously. Overall, the summers are not good. I can appreciate that others may really enjoy a holiday weekend, or a few sunny days, but what we have here to usually so much more extreme.
Despite the disagreeable summer weather in Utah, I cannot count the number of times I’ve heard Utahans complain during normal (not extreme) January weather about how much they long for summer, or are mad that it’s not warmer. In January.
IF JANUARY IN UTAH IS WARM, SUMMER WILL BE KILLER.
This complaining (and yes, I k n o w I’m complaining about complainers) has become a significant bugbear to me, because of the number of people I see—in person, and on social media—every single year who constantly whine about the cold and the snow, or just ‘not warmness’. Even if December. If you’re unhappy with snow at Christmastime, maybe you should move somewhere with no seasonal changes?
I recently watched a video from a Utah resident sharing that we need to appreciate the snow here, because that’s what will keep the Salt Lake from poisoning us all. Not to mention is makes our summers way more pleasant and lush. Thank you to that woman. That is what catalyzed this over-passionate tirade that had already been on my mind, but I hadn’t considered sharing. It inspired me to share these thoughts that had already been tumbling round my head for weeks.
Here, a large chunk of the year is chilly, or cold; usually there’s at least some snow. If you’re someone who has a hard time with it, I want to share some ideas with you to help winter be a time you can find enjoyment in.
I’ve mentioned before that, prior to a handful of years ago, I considered myself 100% ‘indoorsy’. This was mostly because the things I liked doing best were inside. But I also never felt much need to go outside. Then, I joined a local hiking group with my toddler––for her benefit––and it changed me, too. I found myself wanting to go outside, and feeling weird if I’d only been out once or twice a week (sort of like if you’ve not eaten enough vegetables, and feel something off in your system).
At that time, I stumbled across this quote, and it resonated with me.
Now, there are some reasons I can see for feeling sour about the snow. For one, cars noticeably suck more, as you have to brush them off, or drive extra slow, etc. And there’s not much you can do about that, except maybe try and consolidate trips.
There’s also the ‘suiting up’ factor. If it’s just you, honestly, put on a long puffer coat, and you’ll be fine. However, if you have kids, this process gets infinitely more complex. Years ago, I got very used to getting myself and my daughter ready for the snow, but it was h a r d to be motivated to get out once I had my son, because it was another tiny body to wrestle into layers. And all of that takes time, plus the time you spend outdoors. It felt like a lot.
My solution to both those problems is the same, though. S l o w d o w n. Allow the winter to slow you down. Maybe you’re running fewer errands. Maybe it take 35 minutes to get everyone bundled up and out the door, and another 15 once you’re back in. So, what?
(I found I often am just on my phone ‘taking a break’ during a lot of the time I’m trying to save by not doing inconvenient things, but maybe that’s just me.)
For you, perhaps summer is fun, and easy, and pleasant. But winter can be fun, and slower, and cozy.
When you get a lot of snow, you can just think of it as exciting—like being on a Park City vacation. Allow me to share some of my favourite things about wintertime + the snow:
The quiet. I l o v e being outside, even for a moment, once it’s snowed. It dampens all the sounds, so the rumbling of traffic, or shouts, or other nosies are turned down serval notches. It’s peaceful, and almost feels magical. Plus, my ears are very sensitive, so the reduced sound is very comfortable.
The outdoor experiences. When on winter walks, I enjoy taking note of the colors that still remain. Maybe some are branches that are now noticeably red; any grasses with yellow or orange hues; and evergreens. There’s also opportunities for different activities, like sledding, or just playing in the snow.
The slowness. I am someone who likes to go go go. Or, at least, I end up that way a lot. In winter, I allow the burrowing in. We’re making Crio Bru; playing a game, cozying up on the couch together. But I’m also reminding myself that it’s okay that it takes a while to get everyone dressed properly for the weather. Or that the time they spent outside today was less that it took to get them ready to go out in the first place. I don’t need to check everything off my list. But I can also take stock of things I want to do, and give myself the time to do them.
The view. Honestly, when the snow is coming down, and I’m in my warm house, it just gives me a little thrill. I love to be cozy, and how beautiful is snow?
The hygge. If you’re not familiar with the concept of hygge, I beg you to do so this instant. Until half a decade ago, I didn’t realize that the feeling I liked best, and strove for, had a label. If you don’t know hygge, in general, is basically ‘coziness + togetherness’. One of the concepts of hygge is that things are more hygge if you’re first cold + active. So, going to a warm, quaint cafe in winter is hygge. But a brisk walk around town in the chill followed by going into said cafe is much more hygge.
When I live in a place that so desperately needs all the precipitation we can get, I feel sad when others can’t seem to enjoy this large chunk of the years’ weather.
For more on learning to appreciate, and even enjoy this season, I have a few book recommendations (that are absolute favourites, as well):
The Little Book of Hygge – Meik Wiking
There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather – Linda Åkeson McGurk
Wintering – Katherine May
Maybe every single person complaining about winter in Utah has seasonal depression. I’ve had multiple seasonal depressions in summer, and dislike late summer. But I can’t help but feel that it’s a weird cultural thing (like being ‘sooooo over’ the current year around the New Years’. Except that’s been going on for at least half a decade now, so are people genuinely hating multiple years of their lives—pretty much in their entirety—multiple years in a row?). This residual ‘sun time, fun time’ mentality seems leftover from childhood, when summer was the only long break you got.
I know most of the posts on this blog are in the friendly-advice realm. I do a lot of research––and trial and error––in areas of my life that I consider vital, and, like I do with friends in real life, I try to impart what I’ve learned to you, if you’re looking for that advice. But I’ve just been so fed up about this topic recently! If you’ve made it to the end of this novel, thank you for your time, and I really, genuinely hope my thoughts on winter can help you learn to take pleasure in this season.
