Ideas for making a COVID winter bearable

[WearyandBleary]

I need some plans to make winter bearable with social distancing etc. I assume it will be much like now. I am dreading christmas without church and carol singing and family occasions.

I’ve been thinking about buying a whole load of festive lights and maybe some posh furry throws. It’s a bit desperate but I need ideas. Anyone got any plans or suggestions?

This is so stupid, but this thread made me cry! I love Christmas, but for me it’s totally a family thing. My partner and I have been together 4 years but we always spend Xmas apart. The idea of just doing Christmas stuff with him and not my family breaks my heart!!
Also - his family would definitely have him at theirs even if it was against guidance but mine won’t have me in the house for long even though it’s allowed, so I’m not feeling hopeful. I’ll also be working right up until the end of term so not much time to make sure I had no symptoms.
Enough woe is me... I’ll be doing scented candles, autumn and then winter decor, long walks, baking, making mulled wine, scented wax melts, etc etc.

Some big puzzles! Do you have any outside space?

Thanks for the thread OP, some good ideas on here. I'm worried about what winter will bring, so good to have some plans to brighten it up a bit. It's usually my favourite time of the year, especially around Halloween and Bonfire night.

Reading this thread has made me sad. Lockdown over summer has been ok ish really as I’ve still been able to get out and about and the things that have been cancelled aren’t as important to me. It will really hit the children over winter if there is lockdown again plus no Halloween, possibly no bonfire displays, none of the usual fun at Christmas. The thing that will hit me the most will be if my 4yo can’t do a nativity. It’ll feel like a missed milestone for her alongside some of the other rubbish when she’s at such a lovely age for all of the festivities.

On a less exciting note: I've stocked up on painkillers, cold & flu stuff, cough sweets, tissues etc now there are plenty back in the shops. Winter may be tough enough anyway, I don't want to face it with a sniffly nose and no Lemsip available!

Stocking up on cold and flu remedies etc is an excellent idea, thanks to pp who suggested that.

@Rainbow12e

Maybe I am the only one who thinks things will be relatively back to normal? Maybe no nativity plays or Christmas fairs but the rest will still be going ahead, shopping, cinema trips, being sble to meet with family etc.

I think you might be, yes

I'll be happy if things do feel ok, but I can't see how I'll want to be inside with lots of people when cases will be higher than now.

@Rainbow12e

Maybe I am the only one who thinks things will be relatively back to normal? Maybe no nativity plays or Christmas fairs but the rest will still be going ahead, shopping, cinema trips, being sble to meet with family etc.

I can’t see it being back to normal. Many people aren't following the guidelines now so cases will rise in winter as more things move indoors.

I did post upthread and I don't want to come across as miserable. But I have been in lockdown (and still am really) during winter.

Apart from all the practical things that would probably be a good idea to think about, we are finding mental health a very very worrying thing. I do not know if this is the same everywhere, but its a very noticeable problem.

Added to that we don't really have the financial backing from the government that those in Europe do, people are losing jobs, going hungry etc etc.

So if I had more warning, I would start donating to food banks, clothing banks, blankets for housing shelters and animal shelters. I would keep much more close eye on single friends, older people and those just going through a tough time. I know this isn't a summer / winter thing really, but I think it is worse during the winter as people are not as out and about as much.

For a personal practical side, we have very big shortages (I did mention some) of gas, vitamins especially zinc which is nearly impossible to find. Humidifiers and air purifiers are selling out as soon as stock arrives. The oils that go into those (esp eucalyptus oil) are hard to find as well.

Food stuffs have not been that much of a problem, during the highest level of lockdown, bread flour and yeast was quite hard to find, now not a problem. For us, pineapples have been scarce, but that is because we have an alcohol ban and folks have resorted to making their own.

I have not even thought ahead to Christmas, as to be absolutely truthful right now I am just operating on a day to day basis.

I mention the mental health as it is a very big issue in my household at the moment (so I may be coming in with a biased view) and it has most definitely been exasperated by the pandemic.

@isthismylifenow thank you for your perspective and you are bang on - I am thinking about my own mental health but really need to think about others’. Good points.

I've been dreading the prospect of winter but there are some lovely ideas on here. I think I will embrace the Hygge and also plan a winter patio. We already have a wood burning chiminea and have some old throws I could repurpose. What would make good winter planting ? I need to stock up on Winter Pimms.

Thanks for this thread, OP, I've found it really helpful. I am already starting to plan ahead for the winter and it's nice to feel that others are too. I bought myself a lovely candle in a jar yesterday to save for the darker months when everything is a bit gloomy.

I am worried about mental health as mine is already pretty shot due to social isolation. I'll just have to be proactive about finding interesting ways to be social as we go into autumn. I struggle from October to Feb anyway so an extra layer of pandemic stress will be tough.
Looking forward to seeing what else people share on here

Rhubardtea

I was a little late to it this year, but I ordered a few paint by number sets, which my dd is enjoying and really does help to stabilize her on a bad day, as they are very calming to do. And quite time consuming, so you can get a little lost in the project which i think is a good thing.

I may buy some sets of books for the children they were reading and rereading all of their favorites in lockdown.

Lovely idea for the thread. I hadn't really thought of trying to use my outdoor space more when it gets colder but now I will. Even if all is well and we are not in lockdown, winter is long, so some of these ideas will definitely be useful for me.

@Rainbow12e

Let's face it though, everything will stay open which is now although you may find yourself unlucky if your local area goes into lockdown. Can't see how it can be any different to how it is right at this moment. Cases won't necessarily be higher and everyday, things at improving so why the pessimism? Winter is a trickier time granted but no need to assume all these awful restrictions will be put on us. I am not worried. Even if the government ban household gatherings, lets be honest, most will ignore them, especially at Christmas.

The thread is really about how to enjoy the coming winter, but sorry, you're wrong I fear.

I do understand why you want things to be ok, but it does look like things are already becoming more problematic.

So I myself am making plans for this winter being different.

Loving the idea of a hygge Christmas.. off to google!

I like the positive angle of this thread.

I've nearly finished birthday and Christmas shopping.
Everyone has snow boots, gloves, warm coats and jumpers in next size up.
I've filled a large cardboard box with pasta, flour, chopped tomatoes, rice, tinned veg etc in case there are Brexit shortages.
Got some new board games stashed in case we are stuck in. Some 1000 piece jigsaws too. We've never done them before but it's a nice cosy, relaxing activity.
Calpol, paracetamol, ibuprofen, plasters, toothpaste, soap, inhalers, toiletries all stocked up.
I bought an enormous snuggly oversized hoody from ebay. Like an Oodie but a fraction of the price. With my electric heated throw and ugg slippers I'll be toasty!
We're going to make a list of new recipes to try. Eg apricot and chustnut stuffing to go with a Sunday roast, giant Yorkshire puddings, festive cookies etc.
We have a Nespresso machine which makes fab coffee so I didn't really miss coffee shops in lockdown but I'm very tempted by a velvetiser for hot chocolate. DCs would love it too.
Foraging for winter foliage and making garlands sounds very wholesome. We have apple and blackberry trees near us as o must freeze some for crumble.
DCs want lego advent calendars this year. That will add excitement to the cold mornings.
Walks to look at the neighbours' Christmas lights will be nice. Trick or treating will still be on, right?!
Thinking of getting some posh craft paper for paper chains.
DD has a keyboard and is pretty competent so I'll order her a book of carols to learn to play.

Checking this thread for more ideas!

There are some nice “community advent calendars” where different houses have a number and each do a window for that day which is shared and also “hunted” for by local people - I think I might get our local arts group onto that idea!

Good plants for winter are things like pansies and Small evergreen shrubs - and love the tiny Christmas trees you can get in December, just six or seven inches high: I always get loads of those.

I’ve been looking at sites for making Christmas houses out of clay with lights inside: I might make some for the garden. Going full on Kirstie’s Homemade christmas here

Even if the government ban household gatherings, lets be honest, most will ignore them, especially at Christmas.

I suppose this thread is for those who won't ignore them.

This is ridiculous everyone is back to normal mostly. Seeing family, going on holiday, visiting parents etc. Things will be back to normal by christmas. Quite frankly the cases will be lower still and if they arent I think people will say f it. We cant sacrifice the many for the few any longer and just carry on as normal.

@IndiaMay

This is ridiculous everyone is back to normal mostly. Seeing family, going on holiday, visiting parents etc. Things will be back to normal by christmas. Quite frankly the cases will be lower still and if they arent I think people will say f it. We cant sacrifice the many for the few any longer and just carry on as normal.

Thanks IndiaMay but for lots of people it won’t be like that and it will be quite sad. My christmases are usually spent in a very small house will very elderly relatives, and doing work at church with very elderly parishioners. I am not expecting to do any of that, and my Christmas will be sad and strange without it (as I know will theirs).