Feeling upbeat and positive during the cold, dark days of winter can seem like a pretty impossible task for many people. You’re stuck inside, often separated from your friends and other people you love, and the days can just seem to drag on, leading to worsening mental health or seasonal depression. This doesn’t have to be your experience! There are plenty of ways for you to get out of the house and do things that will improve your mental health this winter, and if you live in the Lehigh Valley, you’re lucky enough to be surrounded by lots of great options. Here are a few fun destinations and activities that will help your mental health until spring comes.
Dog Parks
It might be cold out, but if you can manage to bundle up and take your furry friend out for an afternoon together, it’ll do you both some good! Getting some exercise and fresh air will help you to feel better, as will spending some quality bonding time with your dog, and the exercise will be good for your pup as well. Polk Valley Dog Park in Hellertown is a great park to check out to get you outdoors and help Fido burn off some excess energy!
Yoga Studios
Attending a yoga class or two is a wonderful activity for the wintertime. It’s indoors, so you don’t have to worry about digging out your biggest winter jacket, it’s great exercise that will help release endorphins and make you feel better all around, and it’s a social activity as well, which is important for keeping your spirits up, especially in the winter. Lehigh Valley Yoga Studio in Pennsburg offers several different kinds of classes that you can check out, and you might even make a new friend at one of them.
Smoothies
Hit yourself with a blast of nutrients from a delicious smoothie to help bust through those winter blues. Fruit smoothies and juices tend to be associated more with the summertime, but if you have a local smoothie bar you really like there’s no reason not to pay them a visit during the colder months! As an extra benefit, getting a boost of Vitamin C from something like citrus in your smoothie can help your immune system, and nothing drags you down in the winter like being sick. Frutta Bowls in Allentown is a great place to check out if you’re on the hunt for a new smoothie spot. They also offer bowls, oatmeal, and tasty fruit toasts!
Skiing and Snowboarding
When it comes to winter sports, nothing beats hitting the slopes for a day of skiing or snowboarding. You might be tired of winter and having to skirt past the snow drifts in your neighborhood, but you’ll forget what you ever disliked about the season once you’re racing downhill. Get some friends or family together this winter and spend a day at Blue Mountain Resort in Palmerton. They have tubing available as well as skiing and snowboarding, and you can also get lessons there if you or anyone in your group is more of a beginner!
Beautiful Walks
One of the best ways to help keep your mood up this winter is the most simple– go on an outdoor walk. Exercise, fresh air, and sunshine might seem like they won’t make that much of a difference on how you feel, but if you give it a try, you might be surprised with the mood boost that you get. Your walk can be as simple as a stroll around your own block, but if you really want to appreciate the beauty of winter in the Lehigh Valley, getting out to a park or a trail is a great idea that will let you take in the scenery. The Lehigh Parkway is a fantastic place to go for a walk in Allentown and includes nearly 6 miles of trails, several bridges, and even a disc golf layout!
With these fun winter activities to help you beat the winter blues, you should be able to keep yourself busy and happy until spring. There’s plenty of beautiful places and fun hobbies in the Lehigh Valley to enjoy, so get out there and explore! Your mental health will thank you.