With all of the advancements made in meteorology, Americans still partly rely on the shadow of a large rodent to predict how long the rest of our winters will be. On February 2, 2022, as reported by CBS News, the most famous groundhog in the world, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow and signed us up for another six weeks of winter. Many of us who have been yearning for warm weather, myself included, saw this as a rather awful turn of events, but out of respect for those who may have winter tacked down as their favorite season, I’ll try not to be too dramatic about the prolonged winter. But my fellow spring lovers can’t help but look at the next several weeks with despair.
However, not all is lost. There is some light at the end of the tunnel, though it may be dim. To keep optimism high and to help you spring into springtime the minute the clock strikes midnight on March 20, 2022 – aka the first day of spring – here is a list of six things you can do to wait out the remaining six weeks of winter. These are just a few ways to keep the spring feeling alive, even in the dead of winter.
1. Revamp Your Wardrobe for a Fresh Start
Spring has always been known as the season of fresh starts, of new beginnings. Why not apply that logic to your wardrobe? You can spend the next few weeks planning out the perfect revival for your style, and do a grand reveal just in time for nature’s perfect backdrop: spring. If you don’t believe your style needs any revamping? That’s perfectly fine. If that’s the case for you, then use spring as a chance to branch out and try something new with your personal style. If you usually wear bright, bold, colorful looks and want to switch it up, maybe opt for pastels or earth tones. Or, if you usually aren’t known for your closest being the most colorful, maybe try sprinkling a pop or two of color into certain outfits here and there. This is the sign you’ve been looking for to try something new with your clothes, even if it’s just to see if you like it or not.
2. Make a Bucket List of Springtime Activities
There’s nothing quite like having a plan of action to really get excited about something. That’s why having a list of your favorite spring activities, or new spring activities you wish to try, prepared will make ringing in the 2022 spring season all the more special. Going to a farmer’s market, going on a picnic, going on a hike and going for a bike ride are just some of the few fun things you can add to your spring ‘22 to-do list.
If you live in or near the DC area, a very popular event is the National Cherry Blossom Festival, an annual event to celebrate the Japanese cherry trees at the Tidal Basin in DC. The event is nearly a month long and features events that would be great for any occasion.
3. Become a Plant Parent
One of the first things people think about when they think of spring is plants. This spring is the perfect opportunity to become a first-time plant parent or expand your plant family if you already have one. Indoor plants are a great option for having spring right in your home, even though winter may be raging outside. Snake plants, burro’s tails, peace lilies and other succulents are great options for beginners or just great options in general. They’re low maintenance and lovely to look at, so you get the look and feel of an indoor garden without taking too much time out of your day to maintain it. Plants would be a great way to occupy your time in the remaining few weeks of winter, and online plant vendors make getting plants all the more convenient.
4. Deep Clean Your Room or Work Space
Another thing commonly associated with spring is the classic tradition of spring cleaning. In the event that you don’t find the cold weather appealing and end up getting cooped up in your home, what better opportunity is there for you to go through your things, reorganize, and revamp your living space? Having a neater and more organized living area or office space might not cure the winter blues, but it certainly could help.
The great news is there are six weeks left of winter, so you can start small and really take your time to make your space into the dream space you’ve always been wanting it to be.
5. Make a Countdown Clock
Now, this approach may seem the most obvious, but it couldn’t hurt. Making a countdown clock for the spring equinox (March 20, 2022) can help you know exactly how much more time you have left to deal with winter before it is finally spring once again. The wait for winter to end can feel like forever, but hopefully a countdown clock will show that spring is really just right around the corner.
6. Try to Learn to Love (Or At Least Appreciate) the Winter
This last option might defeat the purpose of this entire article, but I think it’s worth mentioning that even though winter might not be your favorite season, it’s still worth appreciating. Every season serves a purpose and has a pros and cons list that comes along with it. For example, spring may be my favorite season, but do I enjoy that I have seasonal allergies during springtime? No, not at all. With that in mind, I’m sure it’s possible to try and find some things you enjoy about winter or even things you might just tolerate. Winter can still stay your least favorite season, but you’ll have a better go of it if you decide to look at the glass as half melted rather than half frozen. After all, you have three other seasons to look forward to, and what does a groundhog’s shadow have to do with anything anyway?