Westerly Sun Column | How to Get Through the Winter Doldrums

With all of the ups and downs in temperature lately, it’s hard to keep track of what season we’re actually in. As I write this, the weather is distinctly spring-like. Last week, I would have sworn we were in the depths of winter. But, no. Despite some frigid temperatures, and too few hours of sunlight already, winter does not officially begin until this Saturday. If you, like, me, are sick of winter before it even begins, here are a few ways the library can help you get through the next three months.

It always helps me to have something to look forward to. Obviously, an all-inclusive trip to somewhere tropical would be ideal (and we have plenty of travel guides available to check out, for those who want to make this a reality!), but even scheduling something small into your calendar can help the weeks pass by. Check out the upcoming events on the library’s calendar (www.westerlylibrary.org), or sign up for our enewsletter to get updates about new and exciting offerings. This Saturday, for instance, the Irish Coastal Club is hosting a lecture at the library titled “Celebrating the Winter Solstice & Christmas in Ireland Through the Centuries,” presented by Elizabeth Hannan Kading and musician Richard Donohue. This lively performance will hopefully help clear your winter blues, and focus on the festive aspects of the season!

Another great distraction is taking up a new (or old) hobby; specifically, one that can be done in winter! If you like to be active, this is a great time to start practicing yoga, experimenting with weight lifting, or even trying your hand at skiing or snowboarding. Yarn arts like knitting and crocheting have the dual benefit of keeping you busy, and adding to your collection of accessories to keep you warm outside! If you miss tending to your garden, you could look into hydroponics or kitchen gardens over the winter, or spend some time planning your spring garden. There are a plethora of books at the library to help you get started with any of these activities, as well as clubs like Knit and Crochet, or Sewers in Stitches, to help the time fly by!

If these sorts of external motivators aren’t working, perhaps you need to warm yourself up from the inside out. I’m not talking about self-help, though that’s important as well, and we have plenty of popular books to help guide you. I’m thinking more about soup. Or bread. Cookbooks like “One-Hour Comfort” by America’s Test Kitchen, or “Half Baked Harvest: Quick & Cozy” by Tieghan Gerard, are full of delicious comfort food recipes to please your stomach and raise your spirits.

If all else fails, you can binge watch a series like Alone (available on Kanopy), or a book such as Brian Murphy’s “81 days Below Zero: The Incredible Survival Story of a World War II Pilot in Alaska’s Frozen Wilderness” to put things in perspective. Happy Winter Solstice, and fingers crossed for an early spring!

by Cassie Skobrak, Adult Services Librarian