I’m wiling to admit that I was not the most fun person to live with last winter. And frankly, my life wasn’t very fun either. I complained to no end about how much I hated Seattle winter. And, surprise, surprise, I just kept hating it more.

This year I’ve vowed to change my tune. No one (normal) actually likes Seattle winter, but it’s here for six months a year so one just needs to deal if one wants to take advantage of the benefits of life in the PNW. Of which there are many, but right now we’re talking about how I’m going to combat the winter blues.

1. Clothes 

Last year I just sort of adapted my San Francisco clothes as best I could. That doesn’t work. You end up cold and wet, which is scientifically known to double the amount of complaining you do when your husband gets home from work. This year I’ve ditched the big shopping sprees at cheap stores in leu of buying some quality winter gear. You know what? I don’t even notice that I’m wearing the same pieces over and over because I’m comfortable. Funny how that works.

The top four pieces I’ve learned to not live without: Wool boots, rain boots, scarves, and a rain coat.

2. Moving

I am one of those people who gets a total high from working out. I’m also one of those people that likes to go to bed at 6:30 when it’s dark and cold out. I need to find some middle ground and move more in the winter. Not only will the endorphins hit, maybe I can avoid my pants getting even tighter. Ugh. Topic for another post! I’m calling my plan the 2×3. Not really, but I just made it up and it works. I’m going to run twice a week, practice yoga twice a week, and CrossFit twice a week. Running = endorphins. I actually like running, which I hear (but don’t understand) is weird. Yoga is done in a hot room. Heat makes me happy. Easy. And CrossFit is my bribe to myself. If I do it for two months twice a week on my own, I can join a box again.

3. Self Care

I’ve been *blessed* with a throat that pics up any viral or bacterial infection within a 2 mile radius. Being sick makes me grumpy and will bring down my resolve to fight the winter blues. I’m going to sleep, eat healthy, and take my vitamin D. Last night I went to bed at midnight, I don’t know where my vitamin D bottle is, and I just had ice cream as a side dish to my Rogan Josh. It seems I have some improving to do in this category. Good think I enjoy a challenge.

4. Winter Getaway

We nixed the getaway last year since we had the wedding and honeymoon. Two words: Bad idea. This year we’re going to Phoenix for a long weekend in March. Cheap (free miles, free hotel), easy (two hour flight, no time zone changes), and warm.

5. STFU

Here’s the deal. I have a loving husband, a family I adore, awesome friends, a warm home (two, even!), a sweet puppy, and pretty much any other thing I want. So maybe I just need to shut the f*** up about winter. Yeah, it’s cold. It’s wet. It’s dark. It’s gray. (I never said this post was a sales pitch for Seattle.) But who cares. I choose to live here. I get to live here. There are literally millions of people in this world who dream about about living here and having maybe 1% of what I’m lucky enough to call mine. So this winter I’m going to vow to just STFU about winter. I have a lot to be thankful for and when the going gets tough, I’m going to do my best to dwell on this instead.

Wish me luck, friends! We’re almost at the first milestone of winter, the solstice. While the next two weeks are exceedingly painful for lack of daylight, it only gets better after the 21st!