Beating Winter Blues with unlikely hobbies

recs

Feb 28

How my (kind of obsessive) interest in new hobbies has given me purpose, friendship, and skills through the dark months of winter.

I’ve hated winter for 32 years (I’m 32 years old). Whoever decided January was a good month for my birthday did not know me very well. Living in the Midwest with 12 hours of darkness and sub-zero temperatures is the opposite of living the dream. But with the help of my therapist, some medication/supplements, a happy light, and eventually just getting my head out of my ass, I’ve finally cracked the code on beating my SAD.

Seasonal depression is no joke. In mid-September every year (like clockwork), my body decides it is time to start preparing. In the past, that looked like preparing to just cry and sleep a lot. Now, I’m preparing a long list of hobbies and activities that keep me motivated. It took me three years to figure out my rhythm and exactly what I needed. I still had plenty of bad days. However, I think this year (2024-2025), I solidified a foolproof lineup of hobbies that sharpened my mind, drenched me in sweat, and encouraged community belonging.

If you also hate winter, welcome! I hope to share some ways that you, too, can not just survive but thrive during the cold months.

If you love winter, #blessyourheart.

Culinary School

By far, my favorite winter hobby is attending Metro Community College Culinary School. This 12-week quarter is part of their larger 2-year Culinary Program. I only attend during the Winter Quarter, working towards a Career Certificate, but most of my classmates are working towards their Associate in Applied Science for Culinary or Baking and attend year-round.

I started in 2022, taking Culinary Basics to learn the foundational skills and methods of cooking. Our small class spent six hours each week learning how to prepare, broil, sautee, fry, bake, and create delicious menus. I learned about “indicators of doneness” rather than following a set recipe. I charred the perfect steak, whipped up my from-scratch aioli (by hand!), and indulged each week in extravagant textures and flavors we created from simple ingredients. It was my first taste (pun intended) on how commercial kitchens operate and I loved it.

In 2023 I took Protein Fabrication (Butchering) and Soups and Sauces. These classes were focused on one method or area of cooking and offered a deep-dive into the subject matter. On the first day of Protien Fabrication, our Chef Instructor brought in an entire half-hog! I learned all the Mother Sauces and ate soup all winter. The classes were difficult but rewarding.

This year - 2024/2025 - I took Baking 1. I am not a baker, and I don’t particularly like baking due to its need for precision and exactness, much different than savory cooking. However, with guidance from Chef Curtis and a rockstar group of classmates, I walked away loving the process. Each week we dove into a different sweet treat, learning about pie crusts and Italian merengue, or laminated doughs and chocolate chip cookies.

Culinary School at MCC is the real deal - this isn’t some 2-hour seminar at a kitchen store. We wear uniforms, read current literature, take quizzes, and perform final practical exams on a timeline. We scrub the floors and take inventory of equipment. The program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation, and each of the Chef Instructors brings years of experience from the field. It’s intense! But if you have ever wanted to learn how to prepare and cook food like a pro, this is the place to be. Get cookin’ good lookin’!

Bowling League

Every Wednesday night for eight weeks, my husband and I, along with another couple, toss a mini-bowling ball down a mini-lane to hit mini-pins at Bob and Willie’s Wonderbowl in Blackstone. This mini bowling league is a highlight of my week. Not only is mini bowling far more approachable than regular bowling (no shoe change, lighter balls, faster rate of play) it is an absolute blast to get together with friends mid- week.

We were inspired by the documentary, Join or Die, which outlines the rapid and significant decline of club, social, or leisure membership since the 1950s. Inspired by Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone, our eyes have been opened to the vital importance of belonging to something outside the house, with others, working towards a common goal that isn’t work-related. The Happy Hour deals aren’t bad either! Leagues last 8 weeks and run all year long.

Adult Ballet

On Monday evenings, I attend Adult Ballet at Bloom Dance Studio in West Omaha. A friend invited me after I shared I was looking for something regular, weekly, women-only, and particularly on a Monday (get me out of the house for Monday night football, please!). I grew up dancing with a fondness for ballet, so this was an excellent fit.

Each week, we’re taught barre work and practice different skills across the floor. Our wonderful teacher brings a lightness and positivity, knowing that we’re just here for recreation, while still instilling the primary principals of ballet.

We pirouette, pas de bourrée, and jeté for 45 minutes as we laugh at ourselves and applaud our classmates’ efforts. It’s easygoing and stimulating. It’s been fun tapping into little ballerina Lindsay again!

RISE & SHINE & SWEAT at the gym

This is a big one! Starting in October, just as the days were noticeably darker, I decided to try a new way of moving my body. I’m a morning person and early rising has never bothered me. I’ve read multiple books and listened to dozens of podcasts that preach the benefits of early morning workouts. So why not give it a go?

I have a solid routine of heading to the gym around 5:15/5:30 Monday-Thursday. I love getting my workout done, getting in a good sweat, and not thinking about it for the rest of the day.

On Mondays and Wednesdays I attend Power Life classes. Sweating profusely in a 98-degree room reminds me of summer, and I love it. Whether it’s yoga or strength, jamming out to great music and moving non-stop for 45 minutes with other people is a rockin’ way to start the day.

Tuesdays and Thursdays I head to my local YMCA for group fitness. I’ve loved group fitness since I was 15 years old and taught my own classes for five years. Exercising alongside others is motivating and fun - and it also keeps me accountable to get in a full 60 minutes where I’m not able to easily sneak out! This diverse group of ages and abilities keeps me coming back. We’re all working on the same goal of being well.

Implementing this habit during winter has been the most beneficial for my mental health. I’ve noticed a total 180 in how I approach my days when I get in a morning workout. There’s a positive boost that comes from accomplishing something before most of the world is even awake.

Tips and Tricks for becoming a morning workout girlie:

Using a sunrise alarm clock (we have the Hatch Restore) works wonders for morning motivation. This small clock incrementally brightens the entire room over 15 minutes. With my audio set to bird noises, it truly feels like waking up on a spring morning.
As soon as I open my eyes, I count to 3. At the end of 3, I make a commitment that both feet will be on the floor. The momentum of “1! 2! and 3!” helps create a sense of urgency. Weird one, but it works.
You may not have much brain power at 5AM, so my mother’s tried-and-true method of laying out everything you need for the next day has been pivotal for getting up and going with ease.

substitute teaching

I love my job as a freelance creator. 99% of the time, my little introvert self is perfectly content with a quiet house, a cozy office, and spending time with my co-workers, Sunnie (dog) and Luna (cat). However, wintertime can get lonely working solely remote. I decided to pick up a side hustle job that allows me to jump right into chaos and excitement and learning and youth - I’m substitute teaching for my local public school district!

There’s been a teacher shortage in our area since the pandemic. Youth in our community deserve consistent and quality education from a caring adult. Although my experience teaching isn’t in a traditional classroom setting, I’ve been guiding/coaching/mentoring youth of all ages for over a decade. From swim lessons, camps and clinics, leadership groups and competitions - I’m comfortable standing up in front of a room and giving a lesson. I had to take a course to obtain my local substitute license and apply and interview with the district. But once I came on board, I was excited to get teaching!

My first assignment was middle school PE and Health… a complete shock to the system! Working with pre-teens for eight hours a day is not for the faint of heart. I walked out of the building at 4PM completely exhausted but inspired to continue. Since then, I’ve covered for teachers in 2nd, 4th, and 6th grade - and tomorrow I’ll be a French Teacher for the High School! I aim to sub once a week, just enough to not infringe on my primary job.

Substitute Teaching (while technically a job, not a hobby) challenges me mentally, often making me feel like I’m on an improv show. I’m building the skills to think quickly on my feet and to be adaptable to unexpected changes. My normal day-to-day work is routine and predictable, which I enjoy. But subbing? I never know what I’m going to get - and I like that too.

There is no one right way to winter. But there is a way to make things a little more enjoyable if these months are hard for you. I profoundly believe in the power of play, so much so that I have my Masters in Recreation. We need interests and creative pursuits to increase our longevity and stay connected with others. It takes some time and planning, but for the first time EVER, I blinked and it’s already March. Now to enjoy the benefits of spring and summer and I’ll start a new Hobby List in the fall!

How to become a hobby junkie:

Decide what category of hobby/interest you’d like to get into
(art, movement, academic, volunteer).
Decide on a budget. How much are you willing to pay for your new interest? Sometimes hobbies come with a hefty pricetag, while others are completely free! Consider any registration or equipment costs.
Decide on duration. I’ve found that I need something to last at least 6-8 weeks to actually get into it and feel the benefit. A 2-week seminar isn’t quite enough. Look at your calendar and see what days and times are most manageable for your lifestyle. Then, choose it and commit!

Tell everyone you’re doing it. For one, it makes for a great conversation starter when you say something like, “I’ve just taken up adult jigsaw competitions”. Secondly, it can help hold you accountable for consistency if you’ve got people asking questions.

What did you like doing as a kid? Are there sports or activities that you used to be really good at but haven’t done in years? Don’t let the fear of looking silly or inexperienced stop you - most of the other adults in these groups or classes are in the same boat!
Keep trying. I have flopped and failed and flaked on many hobbies because they just aren’t seeming to fit. Don’t force it, but do keep trying to find something and you’ll know when it’s right!