To say this year has been challenging is an understatement, to say the least. We’re all feeling the effects of the pandemic in some way, directly and indirectly, physically and mentally, whether we believe in it or not. It can feel tough to try to “keep it together.”

Now, cold weather is upon us and snow is about to arrive in force. We’ll see a return of grey days and whitewashed landscapes. It’s important to keep our spirits up, and thankfully, our RVs can help us to escape and stay connected.

Get outside.

If you’re reading this, then you’re probably already somebody who loves the outdoors. Being outside, even for only 15 or 30 minutes, is one of the best things you can do for your physical and mental health, in every season. Best thing, your RV, toad, or tow vehicle can get you there.

We’ve had to learn to be creative all these months by moving more gatherings outdoors, by spending more time outside during our free time because many indoor attractions have been closed or restricted. We’ll have to be creative during the winter months, too. Get some new gear, such as snowshoes, or an extra-warm winter jacket so that being outside in low temperatures is more comfortable.

Being outside and being active, according to Harvard, has a couple big benefits: “Winter workouts help you get exposure to sunlight, which may help ward off seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that some people experience during the winter months…. Studies also have shown that exercising in cold weather can transform white fat, specifically belly and thigh fat, into calorie-burning brown fat.” A better physique and improved mental health, yes, please!

Stay connected.

Video calls and virtual meetings and simple phone calls aren’t the same as seeing people face to face, but that doesn’t mean they’re pointless. We are made for human contact, so that feels lost with the all-virtual approach. However, even when we can’t meet up with our friends and family in the same room, we can still communicate with them and show them how much we care. We can reach out to offer words of encouragement, or just to catch up. We can call someone when we’re feeling blue, and honestly, we should. Relationships remain, although in a slightly different context, during this time. It’s important to avoid complete isolation, so make sure you stay in touch with your friends and family any way you can… even if that means driving hours to wave hello from the driveway. Make the effort.

Keep your mind – and hands – busy.

We don’t mean on your phone or your computer. Pick up an old hobby that you’ve let go for far too long, or start a new one that has always interested you but you never had the time to commit. Have you always wanted to write a book? Now might be the time. Have you been meaning to visit waterfalls in the winter but never had the time or the motivation? Start planning your excursion, which brings us to our next tip.

Make plans.

We’ve discussed this before on this blog, but it needs to be reiterated. We feel happy when we are making plans, even happier than when we’re in the midst of living those plans. There’s something about the anticipation of the event. It’s exciting to have something solid marked on the calendar, something to look forward to. 2020 has been overshadowed by cancelled plans and seem to have voids of memory as the months blend into one another. That’s why it’s important to make plans – track time and to have something to look forward to. Make reasonable plans for next season, based on what we know from our experience this year, and make grandiose plans for “once this thing is over.” Of course, an RV has to be included. (If you can’t wait, follow these winter camping tips so that you’re better prepared for a winter RV trip, because there are a lot of perks to off-season camping.)