Summer long weekends get all the love—there’s sun, there’s heat, and there are three glorious days to revel in summer’s perfection. But when you factor in traffic, bugs, the possibility of rain, heat waves, sunburns, hangovers and the overall pressure of having the best time ever, even the most die-hard sun worshipers have to admit that winter long weekends starts to look pretty appealing. Here’s why.
Less pressure to do all the things
Swimming! Boating! Water-skiing! Camping! Hanging out with friends! Yoga by the lake! Outdoor movies! Barbecuing! The list of stuff you feel you have to do on a summer weekend can get a little overwhelming—after all, summer is short, and if you don’t cram every single activity into every available moment, you’ll regret it in February. On a winter long weekend, though, you can stay inside and wear your pyjamas for three days and not feel guilty. After all, it’s winter. That’s what you’re supposed to do.
No traffic
If you do decide to get out of the city for a winter long weekend—and that’s an awesome idea, by the way—you’re pretty much guaranteed that you won’t hit a horrendous traffic jam on Friday evening. Now, you might hit snow, but unless things are really bad, you probably won’t be stuck crawling along the highway for hours and hours. And if the snow really is terrible? Remember, on winter weekends it’s OK to stay home and do nothing.
There are fun things to do outside
If you’re not indulging in guilt-free cocooning, there are lots of fun, winter-specific things to do outdoors. Find a skating trail (Arrowhead Provincial Park in Ontario has one), go dog-sledding, try ice-fishing, go hiking, try snowshoeing, go tobogganing, build a snow fort—the list is endless. Remember, there’s no such thing as bad weather—just inappropriate clothing choices. Bundle up and get outside, and enjoy the feeling of beating winter at its own game.
Less pressure to visit family and friends
Winter weekends have the perfect built-in excuse for not participating in dreary “duty calls”—so sorry, the weather’s acting up. (If it’s really obvious that the weather isn’t a problem, you can always have a cold instead.) But really, winter long weekends don’t have the same pressure to visit that other holidays do, leaving you to set your own agenda happily without guilt or obligation.
Not as many chores
There’s no lawn to mow, deck to stain, leaves to rake, garden to weed—summer’s chores are a distant memory on winter long weekends. If you really want to relax, spend one day doing the indoor chores that will bug you if they’re left undone, then spend two days blissfully free of “shoulds.”
All the cosiness
No matter what you decide to do or not do, there’s no better feeling than being cosy. Cuddle up on the couch with a soft, fleecy blanket, build a fire, sip on some decadent hot chocolate or mulled wine, light some candles, and remember that the whole point of a long weekend is to relax and recharge. Invite your friends over to enjoy the warmth as well, and make the cosiness an emotional as well as a physical feeling.
What are you doing this winter long weekend?
