I bet I’m not the only one who sometimes breathes a sigh of relief when one night’s plans are cancelled. Winter, especially, can be a difficult time to leave the house.
Once the curtains are closed, the heat is on, and perhaps you’re snuggling up with your pets or family, it can be a real strain to think about showering and preparing to venture out into the cold and rain again. No wonder so many of us want to hibernate for the winter.
Also, after Christmas, many of us will need to budget due to cash shortages. A recent survey has revealed that a third of families have borrowed to finance Christmas and it can take up to three years to pay it back. It can seem like an eternity until your January paycheck is due.
Then there are those people who are planning their next vacation and are starting to save. All valid reasons why January can be a long and cold month for many people. But going out often just requires us to make the effort and show up. Being social doesn’t always require a lot of expense and can be a great way to support ourselves through those long winter months.
Why not make the effort and show up!
– Visit friends. Even if you’re just calling for coffee, it’s good to make the effort to keep in touch. There are many ways to enjoy each other’s company, perhaps sharing photos, anecdotes, something from your music collection. A little imagination can go a long way.
– Invite friends to yours. It’s always good to have a reason to tidy up the house! Suggest dinner. Cheese and crackers, a simple pasta dish or casserole is often a welcome meal. Guests often offer to bring something. Let them contribute and you can reciprocate when you go to yours.
– Be proactive. Start a book club, where each person takes turns suggesting a book for the group to read and discuss. Have a game night. Card evenings, board games and contests are often so much fun that they continue well into the year. Or an evening of pampering where ‘the girls’ push themselves and arrive with their beauty products, perhaps bringing a boat, to enjoy catching up.
– Consider a training course. It’s good to stretch and get out of our comfort zone. Take the opportunity to improve yourself and commit to doing something you’ve been thinking about for a while. Exams don’t have to be a factor, just make the effort and attend regularly so you can learn a new skill. It could well be a stimulating use of your time.
– go outside. Going for a walk or run, whether with friends or alone, can be a positive investment in your fitness and increase your exposure to daylight. Exercising with friends or family can be an important way to connect through conversations, competitions, and shared activities. Show up for a regular nature walk, soccer game or beach run and enjoy ways to have precious ‘me time’ or ‘us time’ away from home, TV and the distractions of the chores, homework and technology. .
And most of the time when we make the effort and get the result it’s fun, where we’re glad we put in the effort to go. In fact, those reticent, unplanned evenings are usually the best times. There were no real expectations or maybe we just made minimal effort to get ready and dressed. These are the moments that often turn out to be the most satisfying and rewarding of all.
It is also the case that sometimes we make an effort and show up but it will not be such a brilliant evening. Not everything is lost. We can still enjoy each other’s company and nurture our friendships. Instead of feeling disappointed or that we have wasted our time, we can learn to relax and go with the flow.
Consider these times as an investment in a more relaxed approach, chatting and laughing together and allowing the evening to go at its own pace. When you decide to make the effort and go up, it can bring its own satisfaction and reward.
