Denver, Colorado, is heading into its snowiest period of the year. Current forecasts, only somewhat reliable though they may be, indicate a slightly snowier than usual Winter for the Mile High City. In a town that is no stranger to snow, even during normal years, this could mean a lot of nights snuggled up in front of the fire.

A cozy way to spend your time? Sure. On day one. Come January, you’ll have had enough of Winter, but it will not have had enough of you. What should a Denver citizen do to keep themselves busy?

Make a Nest

Home is where the heart is. More to the point, it will be where you are for many of the snowy days ahead. Setting up a comfortable home environment is an important part of making this experience manageable.

Start with a deep clean. This may sound tedious—and not necessarily very impactful, but it can have a major impact on how you experience your home.

Once you’ve given the floorboards a nice scrub, work on finding ways to keep yourself entertained while you tuck in. Line up a nice roster of puzzles. Check out a good selection of mysteries from the Denver Public Library. If you enjoy games of chance, consider playing a Bitcoin slot at Bovada.

There are many rewarding things you can do without ever leaving your house. Another of them? Develop a wellness routine that you can fall back on when you get a little stir-crazy. Even mild stress—like feeling cooped up—can influence your mood if left unchecked.

Consider regular mediation. A fitness routine. That might mean splurging on a gym membership. Small things add up.

Lean on Your Friends

Life slows down a lot during the winter. During these periods of activity lag, you may find more time than usual to spend with friends or family you don’t always see. Regular social interactions, just like a fitness or mindfulness routine, have the capacity to help improve your mood.

Think about working regular social gatherings into the rotation. It will be a great way to step out of your comfort zone a little.

Winter Sports

Denver is conveniently located near many prime winter sports venues. Try your hand at skiing, or even head over to Rocky Mountain National Park for some Winter wildlife viewing. Not only will these experiences keep you active but they will also achieve some of the other benefits we have described up until this point.

They will stimulate your mind by introducing you to something new, and also get you outside which has many proven mental and physical health benefits.

Take Advantage of the Denver Art Scene

Denver has an incredible art scene. People from all over the world are aware of the permanent Meow Wolf installation, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. There are TONS of exciting artistic opportunities located all over the city.

The many art galleries notwithstanding, our town is also home to the Denver Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Visit a Museum

The winter is an excellent time to expand your horizons. Did you know that our city is home to one of the best natural history museums in the country? The Denver Museum of Nature and Science is your one-stop shop for all things plant, mineral, and animal.

Take a trip into space at the Gates Planetarium, and then stick around awhile to meet dinosaurs, view a collection of thousands of beautiful gems and minerals, and take a look at one of the largest taxidermy collections in the country.

Basketball, Anyone?

Also don’t forget that sporting events are still alive and well during the Winter in Denver. The Denver Nuggets have been hit and miss over the last few years, but that doesn’t mean you should sleep on them.

Sporting events are a great way to get out of the house any time of the year. They can also provide a mental health boost in the form of the natural shared sense of community that they create. Studies have shown that attending live sporting events can improve subjective well-being and reduce feelings of loneliness.

Bottom line? If you want to improve your mood this Winter, it’s a good time to become a Nuggets fan.

Conclusion

Is it hard to stay happy in the Winter? Not necessarily. Colorado is built for snowy weather. When trying to make the most out of cold weather, it’s important to take advantage of opportunities that you don’t necessarily have year-round.

You know what the philosophers say about what to do with lemons, right?

Make something out of them. Denver might be in for a cold winter, but what’s it to you? Find fun things to do, pull out a good book, and have some friends over. You’ve got this.