Beat the winter blahs

Every year, each one of us takes out a four-month membership to one of two winter teams. Wonder where you stand? Well, if the thought of crunchy snowflakes under your boots makes you giddy, you're probably a winter thriver. For people like you, the other three seasons are just a prelude to the frosty main event. But if your sanity depends on creative avoidance of snow and sub-zero temperatures, you're likely a winter survivor. For you and your gang, this season is about retreating rather than revelling.

Figure out whether you're part polar bear or a snowbird:

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Are you a thriver or a survivor?
Question of 4 When you were a child, an ideal February afternoon would have featured: you in a pair of puffy snow pants, some snow-fort-size boulders and a followup cup of hot chocolate you with your trusty pair of craft scissors, sparkles for decorating paper snow flakes and lots of glue The best vantage point to have in a pretty winter scene is: a well-groomed cross-country ski trail featuring a big blue sky and snow-dusted evergreens snowflakes falling on the other side of a charmingly frosted living-room window You're gearing up for a winter workout. You pull on: multiple layers that breathe well, UV-protective shades and sturdy winter boots – winter's chill can't keep you from your power walk a pair of Lycra shorts, a cute tank top you bought on a summer-remainder rack and cross-trainers – your stationary bicycle is calling your name You're having friends over for a mid-winter dinner. You serve: black-bean chili and crusty bread – you can throw the chili together in 30 minutes and pick up the bread on the way home from your afternoon at the skating rink slow-cooked roast and home-baked rolls – puttering around in a warm kitchen is the closest thing to wintertime heaven Congratulations – you're a winter thriver. Neither snowstorms nor sub-zero temperatures can keep you from the great outdoors. Meet a thriver Crystal Michaelsen If Crystal Michaelsen of Winnipeg could be picky about it, she'd ask for bright sun and a big blue sky every winter day. But as a full-on cold-weather fan, she's content to savour whatever the season tosses at her. "It's the highlight of my life, the whole winter season," she says. "Christmas is there and hockey is there." The 22-year-old University of Manitoba student plays, coaches, watches – and lives, thinks, breathes – the all-Canadian game. How to savour the season Chill out When you're prepared for them, cold temperatures can bring big thrills. Consider, for instance, the exhilaration of stepping into a warm house after spending a brisk hour or two outside. Crystal Michaelsen of Winnipeg especially loves exercising when it's cold. Whether she works up a sweat while tobogganing or shovelling snow, she loves to be rewarded with that refreshing chilly feeling. In fact, she'll actively seek it out: "I will buy a Slurpee and walk down the street in winter," she says, laughing. Host a winter carnival Invite your friends and neighbours to meet up at an ice rink or nature trail for an afternoon of fun. Or have them over to your place for snowshoe races and fort-building competitions. Warm up afterwards with steaming hot chocolate and cinnamon toast. Jane Trimble, 49, of Thunder Bay, Ont., used to live in a small Alberta mining town where she and her neighbours would spend gorgeous wintry days at a nearby lake ice fishing, skating and huddling around a big bonfire. In Alberta, if you don't embrace the outdoors, you'll end up one unhappy camper, she says. Be a road-safety maven As a winter lover, extreme weather conditions won't keep you indoors, so knowing how to handle your car on ice and in snow is essential. Aside from allowing more time to get from A to B, Ethel Archard, spokesperson for the Canada Safety Council, recommends finding a safe place to test drive your wheels. Find out what your car does if you brake suddenly on snow or make a sharp turn. If you're dealing with really difficult conditions, snow tires are much better than all-season ones, she says. Love your layers "I hate the cold but I love the winter," says avid cross-country skier and runner Isabelle Saint-Laurent. The 42-year-old wears multiple layers when she's on the trails and always totes a backpack with extra clothes and gloves, just in case. Back in her car, the Ottawa resident stows a Thermos full of tea with lemon and honey. If you suffer from hypertension, bundling up is even more important. Researchers at the University of Dijon in Dijon, France, found that people with high blood pressure are at greater risk of heart attacks when the mercury drops below -4C (25F). Slap it on, still Slathering on the sunscreen is second nature in July, but in January? In fact, U.S. researchers who monitored skiers in Colorado found that the sun's intensity at the base of the mountain in December was as strong as it would be in Florida on a summer day. The cold doesn't stop radiation from hitting your skin. So, if you're spending the day on the slopes, take care of your exposed bits. Share the love Why not spread around some of your surplus winter energy by becoming a volunteer? The winter months are an ideal time to donate a couple of hours a week to others. The options are endless, from distributing blankets, clothing and food to the homeless, to spending some quality time mentoring young children. Contact your local volunteer bureau for opportunities. Want to learn how the other half feels? Meet a survivor. Nice going! Although winter may not be your favourite season, as a survivor, you've adapted by finding a selection of strategies for chilling out, indoors. Meet a survivor Jeanette Arts You are not going to catch Jeanette Arts of London, Ont., making snow angels in her backyard. Walking her 10-year-old daughter, Jayme, to the bus stop, yes, but savouring the cold, the snow or the freezing rain, absolutely not. In fact, ask the 42-year-old makeup artist what she thinks about winter and she'll laugh and say, "Oh, yuck." But Arts stays snug and sane during the chilly season by turning her home into a winter hot spot. "If I had to be outside all of the time I wouldn't be happy." How to weather the winter Start a winter-survival club If you live to be 80 years old, you're going to spend 26 years of your adult life in cold weather, says Lenka Jordanov, a Barrie, Ont., life coach. So, it pays to make friends with the season. Here's how: gather a group of like-minded friends and set biweekly get-togethers between November and March. Then come up with some fun themes. For instance, host a beach bash complete with daiquiris and beach-blanket movies. Get steamy A cold snap isn't so bad when you're submerged in bubbly warm water. Jeanette Arts of London, Ont. spends as much time as she can in her backyard hot tub hanging out with her husband, daughter and two stepsons. If you don't have your own hot tub, simply draw yourself a deep luxurious bath. Warm water won't just keep you toasty – it will also raise your body temperature and help you relax. Enjoy winter veggies Hardy produce, such as cabbage and carrots, makes scrumptious and cosy winter dishes, but that's not all. A study from Japan's National Cancer Center found that white and yellow vegetables can lower the risk of stomach cancer. Study participants who ate Chinese cabbage or cucumbers at least once a week were 52 per cent less likely to develop tumours than those who didn't, and those who ate carrots or pumpkin reduced their risk by 36 per cent. Play dress-up When she's padding around the house, Arts says she loves to dress as if it were July. "I always wear shorts in the winter," she says. Arts even decorated her sitting room in a tropical motif to remind her of warmer days. So, pull on a favourite summer dress to do your vacuuming, or climb into your gardening outfit before you pay bills over the phone. Yes, you may have trouble punching in your payments with your gardening gloves on, but they're sure to remind you that warmer days aren't far off. Learn a little "Take a silly course, and if you can take it with a friend, that's even better," suggests Jordanov. Check out your local school board or community centre for pottery, belly dancing or fencing lessons, and you'll be concentrating on something other than the weather. Or take up music: a study from the Mind-Body Wellness Center in Meadville, Pa., found the moods of nursing-home employees who participated in drumming sessions improved by 48 per cent while their fatigue, anxiety and depression levels dropped. Seek the sun Frigid temperatures don't diminish the value of sunshine to our bodies, explains Jennifer Mather, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. In fact, Australian researchers have found that more sunlight means a higher level of serotonin in the brain. This, in turn, may boost our moods. If whizzing down a ski hill or twirling around a skating rink isn't for you, try layering on breathable clothing and taking a walk. Even sitting in front of a sun-filled window can give you a lift. Get great gear Pushing yourself out the door can be half the battle if you hate the cold. But get yourself the warmest, most fabulously fashionable coat-boots-hat-scarf-and-mitts outfit you can afford and you'll want to get out and show it off. It's guaranteed to give you a lift while you wait for the snow to melt. Want to learn how the other half feels? Meet a thriver. CCongratulations – you're a winter thriver. Neither snowstorms nor sub-zero temperatures can keep you from the great outdoors. Meet a thriver Crystal Michaelsen If Crystal Michaelsen of Winnipeg could be picky about it, she'd ask for bright sun and a big blue sky every winter day. But as a full-on cold-weather fan, she's content to savour whatever the season tosses at her. "It's the highlight of my life, the whole winter season," she says. "Christmas is there and hockey is there." The 22-year-old University of Manitoba student plays, coaches, watches – and lives, thinks, breathes – the all-Canadian game. How to savour the season Chill out When you're prepared for them, cold temperatures can bring big thrills. Consider, for instance, the exhilaration of stepping into a warm house after spending a brisk hour or two outside. Crystal Michaelsen of Winnipeg especially loves exercising when it's cold. Whether she works up a sweat while tobogganing or shovelling snow, she loves to be rewarded with that refreshing chilly feeling. In fact, she'll actively seek it out: "I will buy a Slurpee and walk down the street in winter," she says, laughing. Host a winter carnival Invite your friends and neighbours to meet up at an ice rink or nature trail for an afternoon of fun. Or have them over to your place for snowshoe races and fort-building competitions. Warm up afterwards with steaming hot chocolate and cinnamon toast. Jane Trimble, 49, of Thunder Bay, Ont., used to live in a small Alberta mining town where she and her neighbours would spend gorgeous wintry days at a nearby lake ice fishing, skating and huddling around a big bonfire. In Alberta, if you don't embrace the outdoors, you'll end up one unhappy camper, she says. Be a road-safety maven As a winter lover, extreme weather conditions won't keep you indoors, so knowing how to handle your car on ice and in snow is essential. Aside from allowing more time to get from A to B, Ethel Archard, spokesperson for the Canada Safety Council, recommends finding a safe place to test drive your wheels. Find out what your car does if you brake suddenly on snow or make a sharp turn. If you're dealing with really difficult conditions, snow tires are much better than all-season ones, she says. Love your layers "I hate the cold but I love the winter," says avid cross-country skier and runner Isabelle Saint-Laurent. The 42-year-old wears multiple layers when she's on the trails and always totes a backpack with extra clothes and gloves, just in case. Back in her car, the Ottawa resident stows a Thermos full of tea with lemon and honey. If you suffer from hypertension, bundling up is even more important. Researchers at the University of Dijon in Dijon, France, found that people with high blood pressure are at greater risk of heart attacks when the mercury drops below -4C (25F). Slap it on, still Slathering on the sunscreen is second nature in July, but in January? In fact, U.S. researchers who monitored skiers in Colorado found that the sun's intensity at the base of the mountain in December was as strong as it would be in Florida on a summer day. The cold doesn't stop radiation from hitting your skin. So, if you're spending the day on the slopes, take care of your exposed bits. Share the love Why not spread around some of your surplus winter energy by becoming a volunteer? The winter months are an ideal time to donate a couple of hours a week to others. The options are endless, from distributing blankets, clothing and food to the homeless, to spending some quality time mentoring young children. Contact your local volunteer bureau for opportunities. Want to learn how the other half feels? Meet a survivor. Nice going! Although winter may not be your favourite season, as a survivor, you've adapted by finding a selection of strategies for chilling out, indoors. Meet a survivor Jeanette Arts You are not going to catch Jeanette Arts of London, Ont., making snow angels in her backyard. Walking her 10-year-old daughter, Jayme, to the bus stop, yes, but savouring the cold, the snow or the freezing rain, absolutely not. In fact, ask the 42-year-old makeup artist what she thinks about winter and she'll laugh and say, "Oh, yuck." But Arts stays snug and sane during the chilly season by turning her home into a winter hot spot. "If I had to be outside all of the time I wouldn't be happy." How to weather the winter Start a winter-survival club If you live to be 80 years old, you're going to spend 26 years of your adult life in cold weather, says Lenka Jordanov, a Barrie, Ont., life coach. So, it pays to make friends with the season. Here's how: gather a group of like-minded friends and set biweekly get-togethers between November and March. Then come up with some fun themes. For instance, host a beach bash complete with daiquiris and beach-blanket movies. Get steamy A cold snap isn't so bad when you're submerged in bubbly warm water. Jeanette Arts of London, Ont. spends as much time as she can in her backyard hot tub hanging out with her husband, daughter and two stepsons. If you don't have your own hot tub, simply draw yourself a deep luxurious bath. Warm water won't just keep you toasty – it will also raise your body temperature and help you relax. Enjoy winter veggies Hardy produce, such as cabbage and carrots, makes scrumptious and cosy winter dishes, but that's not all. A study from Japan's National Cancer Center found that white and yellow vegetables can lower the risk of stomach cancer. Study participants who ate Chinese cabbage or cucumbers at least once a week were 52 per cent less likely to develop tumours than those who didn't, and those who ate carrots or pumpkin reduced their risk by 36 per cent. Play dress-up When she's padding around the house, Arts says she loves to dress as if it were July. "I always wear shorts in the winter," she says. Arts even decorated her sitting room in a tropical motif to remind her of warmer days. So, pull on a favourite summer dress to do your vacuuming, or climb into your gardening outfit before you pay bills over the phone. Yes, you may have trouble punching in your payments with your gardening gloves on, but they're sure to remind you that warmer days aren't far off. Learn a little "Take a silly course, and if you can take it with a friend, that's even better," suggests Jordanov. Check out your local school board or community centre for pottery, belly dancing or fencing lessons, and you'll be concentrating on something other than the weather. Or take up music: a study from the Mind-Body Wellness Center in Meadville, Pa., found the moods of nursing-home employees who participated in drumming sessions improved by 48 per cent while their fatigue, anxiety and depression levels dropped. Seek the sun Frigid temperatures don't diminish the value of sunshine to our bodies, explains Jennifer Mather, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta. In fact, Australian researchers have found that more sunlight means a higher level of serotonin in the brain. This, in turn, may boost our moods. If whizzing down a ski hill or twirling around a skating rink isn't for you, try layering on breathable clothing and taking a walk. Even sitting in front of a sun-filled window can give you a lift. Get great gear Pushing yourself out the door can be half the battle if you hate the cold. But get yourself the warmest, most fabulously fashionable coat-boots-hat-scarf-and-mitts outfit you can afford and you'll want to get out and show it off. It's guaranteed to give you a lift while you wait for the snow to melt. Want to learn how the other half feels? Meet a thriver.