Activities that you can enjoy at home during the winter season in VancouverÂ
Mizuki Kinoshita (she/her) // ContributorÂ
Anaïs Bayle (she/her) // Illustrator
The winter season is cold in Vancouver, and there are many rainy days. Many people may not enjoy the season and avoid going outside. However, there are many indoor activities and hobbies that are low cost and easy to learn. With new hobbies you can enjoy the winter season more by yourself, with family members, and your friends.Â
If you like to create, making handmade accessories is a fairly simple activity to relax at the end of a busy day. There are some videos on how to make simple homemade accessories, like beaded bracelets, on YouTube. For example, those from creator Danica Mae. You can buy a kit of tools or just some beads and string, and it is not expensive. You can enjoy it on your own or with your friends or family members, and even exchange them.
Some people may find it harder to exercise because of the weather in the winter season. However, there are lots of workouts you can try at home. Yoga with Adriene is a popular yoga instructor on YouTube and she has many videos for people of all experience levels. MadFit is a good option for anyone looking for a more high intensity interval training (HIIT) style workout. You can choose the length and type of training you want to focus on as well. You do not need to go to the gym on rainy and cold days and pay membership fees. These creators, and others, provide a way to stay active from the comfort of your own home.
If you like drawing, learning illustration is a fun option—the possibilities are endless. Try learning to draw your favourite anime or cartoon characters, or anything else that piques your interest. If you have the budget, buy some new pens or pencil crayons. Some new equipment can be the dash of excitement you need to try something new.
If you like travelling or learning about other countries’ cultures, learning foreign languages that you are interested in is a great choice. You can study by using YouTube and other online resources. Apps or websites, such as Duolingo and HelloTalk, can help you practice a new language and talk to native speakers. Stay warm at home and grow your horizons.
If you like cooking, making cultural dishes is also a good idea. Vancouver is a very multicultural city, so you can find lots of international foods at the grocery store. For instance, there are some Asian supermarkets in Vancouver, such as T&T, where you can buy meat, vegetables, and soup bases for a homemade hotpot. You can also order on delivery apps without going out and cooking. Big Way Hot Pot is a popular hotpot restaurant in Vancouver that offers delivery.Â
Karaoke might seem inaccessible at home, but you do not need an expensive microphone. Karaoke versions of all of your favourite songs can be found on YouTube, which means that you can choose whichever song you like, no songbook necessary. You can enjoy and release stress while doing your own solos or singing with family or friends.Â
Do you have plastic bottles? Don’t throw them away. If you have some, you can build your own bowling alley. You only need ten pieces of plastic and a ball. The rules are the same as usual bowling. You can make your own at-home bowling tournament with friends to decide who is the strongest at home or fly solo. It might sound silly, but it’s a fun way to spend an afternoon.
There are a lot of fun activities that you can do at home during the colder (and darker) months. With the above options and more you can not only enjoy your down time, but try some new things, and be creative during the winter season at home.
