Maintaining Connection During the Winter Months

Winter can feel like the longest season to me. On the one hand, winter gives the gift of time, with a slightly slower activity schedule and time to cozy up indoors. On the other hand, it can feel isolating.

Winter can bring a bit of the blues – sometimes it’s too cold to be (or stay) outside, illnesses are rampant, and daylight is shorter. These months can be challenging to get together with friends and family, especially with the fear of someone getting sick.

When it snows, our reactions can go either way – we can be giddy like a kid who finds out schools are closed, or we can dread when the weather impacts our plans and throws off our routine. Personally, I love snow when it’s enough to be “played with”. For me, it’s a gift – a chance to reset.  Snow has a way of drawing us out of our winter hibernation. Neighbors emerge, shovels in hand, checking on one another, catching up, sledding with kids. It’s as if the neighborhood comes alive again, just like summer.

As a parent and someone who can’t sit still for too long, I find myself yearning to get myself and my family out of the house and to connect with others during the winter. Our kids’ grandparents can also be bustling people who keep busy and like to see their family as much as possible. While being cautious of illnesses, we try to Here are a few ideas that work for us:

FaceTime or Zoom

While video calls may stir up some angst from COVID shutdown, it has proven to be a fantastic way to communicate with others as if we’re in the same space. When someone has a runny nose and cough at home, we can still talk and see each other, watch the same show/movie/game, share stories, and even play a game together without exchanging germs.

Phone calls

I remember the days when I talked forever to friends on my corded phone. While texting has become the more common form of communication, we haven’t given up on the phone. In my family, we have our kids call their grandparents and family for real conversation, if they’re not on FaceTime. We do the same with friends and it’s a great way to catch up with people near and far.

Go on a walk or a hike

You don’t have to be an outdoor enthusiast to enjoy a stroll at a nearby park or even in your neighborhood. One of my local go-to parks is Lake Roland which has paved and natural trail offerings as well as a nature center. You can also find some accessible trails in and around Baltimore HERE. Or consider meeting someone for a walk in the neighborhood.

Playground Meetups

If you have family or friends with young kiddos, you could meet them at a local playground. Feel free to take a tour of The Coolest Playgrounds in the Baltimore Area, thanks to Baltimore Magazine for publishing this list.

At the coldest and sometimes darker times of year, it’s important to connect with our family and friends, especially those who may not be as busy and who could feel more isolated. There are safe and engaging ways to connect with each other that lift up spirits and create memories.

I’m always looking for new and fun things to do. How do you stay connected with friends and family during the winter months? Email me at ebloom@thejewishnetwork.org — I’d love to hear from you!