For folks who don’t love being cold, loving winter living can be a challenge.

Here’s how to embrace winter in four steps.

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woman sweating in the gym

Swedish-American author andfriluftlivexpert.

But I cant be blamed.

Experts in This Article

Swedish-American author andfriluftlivexpert.

But my Florida friends wouldnt let me be.

Woman walking on a treadmill at the gym.

Just wait until winter, theyd say.

Thensee if you still love it.

It turns out there was some truth behind my friends warnings.

Full body female athlete in sportswear using rowing machine during fitness workout in gym.

I was not prepared for winter in ColoradoI mean, I didnt even have a coat.

My after-work hikes with friends turned into indoor happy hours.

[Friluftslivis] about being in the present moment in nature, McGurk says.

Happy woman dancing and listening to music near a green empty wall outdoor in the city.

Swedish-American author andfriluftlivexpert.

To feel joy in nature is very central to friluftsliv.

Youre outside just for the sake of being outside.

The concept was never an intentional lesson, but rather a lifestyle.

Healthy female training in the gym, performing a hip thrust.

[Friluftsliv is] more a lifestyle and a philosophy than a set of activities.

Its more a lifestyle and a philosophy than a set of activities.

Heres what I did to make the switch, and how it went.

A young black woman doing post-run stretches in the park on the road amidst green grass and trees.

How to embrace winter withfriluftslivin 4 steps

1.

Im pretty sure my cropped hoodie qualified as bad clothing in my new winter life.

So I finally invested in a few pieces to keep me warm, even in subzero temperatures.

Yourbase layer is all about warmth and wicking.

I opted for merino wool because its naturally odor resistant, wicks away sweat, and is unbelievably soft.

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Oh, and dont forget your extremities.

Thick socks, mittens, and a hat are a must.

Drink coffee outside

When the weather is warm, I basically live on my balcony.

My egg chair is my favorite office space, reading nook, and even napping corner.

But as soon as the temperature dipped below 50F, I found myself spending less and less time there.

Give up the treadmill

Caveat: If you enjoy running on a treadmill, go forth.

But, why make my run less joyful just because I thought I hated the cold so much?

But it can actually be good to feel a little bit of discomfort sometimes.

I wont mince words: The first one sucked.

But I kept showing up, and week after week, it became easier.

Sometimes practicingfriluftslivpushes us out of our comfort zone and into a fuller life.

We need to face those little challenges to feel alive, McGurk says.

Play outside

Can you remember the last time you played outside?

Before October 2023, I couldnt.

But the end of our childhood doesnt have to mean the end of playing.

Now, one of my favorite ways to practicefriluftslivis right after a big snow.

In fact, last time we did this, we played so hard we broke our toboggan.

Did I deep-belly laugh when I got to the bottom?

And if someone makes fun of you, tell them to gofriluftslivthemselves.

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