When you’re a kid, snow days are a gift. But unless you work in an educational setting, you don’t get to experience them as an adult. What’s more, the pandemic has shown us how to work and learn remotely — so snow days might not even exist until our current health crisis is sorted.
Still, that doesn’t mean that winter weather won’t cause problems. Working remotely during slick and snowy weather can potentially alleviate the 21% of car crashes wherein weather plays a factor, as you won’t have to make a daily commute on slippery streets. But what if you’re single and you find yourself snowed in on the weekend? Since you probably made Netflix your BFF a long time ago, we’re sharing a few ideas that can help you stay occupied while you stay in and watch the snow fall.
Prep Some Meals
If you’re generally too exhausted to cook during the week and regularly rely on takeout or frozen dinners, you can use a snowstorm as an excuse to prep your meals ahead of time. Batch cooking can allow you to eat something nutritious each day that you don’t even need to think about, rather than scrounging around in the fridge or pantry at the last minute. Visit your grocery store before the storm hits to stock up on veggies, proteins, and grains to include. You might be able to just throw the ingredients in a crockpot, wait a few hours, and be treated to dinner for the next week! Not only can this help you cook smarter, but it’ll make your house smell amazing.
Sell Your Stuff
Decluttering is a great snow day activity, but it’s even better if there’s a chance you can make some money in the process. Take this opportunity to go through your closet to sell clothes or accessories you no longer use. Platforms like Poshmark, Depop, and Mercari make it easy to list items and ship them without any complications. There are other sites you can use for housewares and electronics, as well. Taking photos and writing product listings tend to take up the most time, so seize the opportunity to use this time for those purposes and start making a bit of extra dough.
Redecorate a Room
Feeling bored with your surroundings? Use your snow day at home to redecorate! Whether you find your office uninspiring, you can’t keep your craft room organized, or you think your bedroom could have better feng shui, now’s a great time to give your home a small makeover. Even something like covering one wall with a mirror can make the room appear twice as deep. Painting an accent wall, moving around your furniture, or hanging up some art can make a huge difference. You might end up feeling much more optimistic about staying home as a result.
Go On a Virtual Date
Consumers downloaded 178 billion apps in 2017, but app usage really skyrocketed in 2020. And even though many people don’t feel comfortable going on dates in person right now, online dating has been incredibly popular. If you’ve been chatting with someone special recently and you’re both snowed in, that’s the perfect opportunity to get to know each other from a safe distance. You can plan to share a drink over Zoom or cook “together” via FaceTime. If you don’t hit it off, at least you can easily make an excuse to get off the call and change into your PJs. And if you make a love connection, you can continue hanging out through virtual means.
Have an Indoor Dance Party
If you’ve let your gym membership lapse and you haven’t found an exercise routine you can do at home, consider making a playlist that makes you want to move. When you’re single and you live alone, no one will be around to judge you. Dance around, work up a sweat, and sing along to some of your favorite feel-good songs. At the very least, you’ll release some endorphins that will lift your mood even when you’re cooped up inside.
Write Letters to Loved Ones
The concept of catching up on one’s correspondence doesn’t necessarily translate to today (unless you’re someone who has hundreds of unread emails in your inbox). But getting back to basics can help you pass the time and show someone you’re thinking of them. Consider sending a postcard to a friend or writing some snail mail to give to a close family member. It feels much more personal and thoughtful than a text or even an email — plus, it gives you the chance to use all that stationery you’ve been hoarding.
Get Lost in a Book
At the end of a normal day, you might feel too exhausted to pick up the book that’s been sitting on your nightstand for months. But on a weekend snow day, you might have both the energy and the time to read for pleasure. Make it a point to turn off the TV, put your phone on silent, and get lost in the pages of another world entirely. If nothing else, the respite from the pandemic will be a welcome one (and you’ll give your eyes a break from staring at a screen).
Listen to Your Needs
A lot of us get caught up in the need to feel “productive” when we’re stuck at home. But it really is okay for you to take this day to attend to your own needs. For some people, that may mean getting caught up on household chores or on extra work. But for others, that might mean sleeping in, having a spa day, scheduling a therapy session, or having a movie marathon. If your body is telling you it needs extra rest, listen to that. Your weekend snow day can be anything you want it to be — and there’s no need to feel any shame for putting yourself first, whether you’re snowed in or not.
Snow days tend to lose their allure as you enter adulthood, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn to love them again. With these tips in mind, you can keep yourself occupied during a blizzard and actually enjoy staying home.
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