5 tips for hibernating at home this winter

Whether it’s because of rough weather or a desire to limit contacts during the pandemic, many of us will be spending plenty of time at home these days. Here are some tips to help you have an enjoyable and stress-free season in your refuge from the world:

1. Create a cozy space.

The first step is making sure you have a warm nest in which to watch movies, read books and cook delicious meals. So, outfit your home with the essentials, like fluffy blankets, fuzzy pillows and plenty of candles (real or LED). Choose colours that bring you joy, whether it’s calming neutrals and pastels or bold, energizing shades.

2. Designate activity areas.

Things can get blurry when you spend lots of time at home, with work bleeding into fun spaces and kids’ toys creeping into grownup territory. But even if you have a smaller home, you can establish dedicated areas for each activity using area rugs and hidden storage.

3. Dream up things to do.

While new shows and movies are hitting streaming platforms almost daily, taking a break from screens is a good idea. Prepare some no-tech activities that everyone can enjoy, from fun crafts you find on Pinterest to finally printing your digital photos and sorting them in albums.

4. Batch cook for lazy days.

On a weekend when you’re snowed in or it’s way too cold to go outside, dedicate some time to cooking in larger batches and freeze portions of stews, soups, curries and casseroles that you can use later on. This will help you save time and effort in your day to day and means you’ll have comfort food ready and waiting in the freezer for those busy workdays or lazy weekends.

5. Be ready with homework help.

Whether your kids are learning virtually, in person or a combination of the two, chances are they’ll need help with their homework at some point. Easily accessible and user-friendly, online data tools from Statistics Canada are great resources. You’ll find insights from the 2021 census that can be useful for many core subject areas, including geography, math, history and language. It’s also a great way to help your kids learn about their community and Canada.
Find more information at statcan.gc.ca/census.

credit – newscanada