It can be tough to find activities for weekend fun in the depths of winter; January can be particularly depressing. By the third Monday of January, people’s moods in the cold climes of Canada reach an all-time low on the so-called “Blue Monday“. Although scientists regard the theory surrounding this date as nonsensical, I see it as having a lot of merit: we’re constantly cold and sleepy, our Christmas bills have arrived, and we’ve probably failed in all of our New Year’s resolutions.

That being said, there are lots of ways to avoid the winter blues:

1. Anticipate and plan for spring. If you have some upcoming time off from work, plan a trip; if you have a place to live, plan to do some serious spring cleaning; there are so many options! Personally, I’m planning to start into the licensing process for a motorcycle.
2. Try out a new indoor activity. It can be an excuse to get out and socialize with friends and family. I recently spent an evening out playing pool at the Frederick Mall Billiards; it was fun, cheap, and engaged both my brain and body. Other possible activities might include rock climbing, swimming, or classes in a new activity (e.g. painting or photography).
3. Visit a new, quirky restaurant in town. I’ve already reviewed a few local board game cafes in the Region of Waterloo (e.g. Games on Tap), but you can also enjoy an entertaining evening out at a ‘normal’ restaurant. More and more, there are restaurants that set up their tables for social interaction (long, low tables and many chairs) which also have board games available for people to use. I was at Imbibe Food ‘n Drink over the weekend; I had a great quesadilla and local craft beer (Undercover Brother from Barnstormer Brewing in Barrie, Ontario) while playing a game of Trivial Pursuit with friends.
4. Attend a free public lecture. I went to the Sustainable Food Systems Dialogues at THEMUSEUM in downtown Kitchener over the weekend. The Kitchener Public Library also hosts an “Ideas & Issues” lecture series. These fun gatherings can expose you to new ideas, different perspectives, and open debate.

Below are a few pictures from my own weekend adventures. I hope that these ideas inspire you to take action and get out of the house during the dark, wintery January days!