January 31 is Hell Is Freezing Over Day—a day for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere to commiserate as we try to survive the cold, dark days of winter. If you’re not a fan of winter, today’s post has simple winter survival tips to help you get through the next few weeks.

This post was originally published in January 2023. It was updated and republished in January 2026.

The weather as a national pastime?

As a national pastime here in Canada, talking about the weather rivals watching hockey while sipping on a cold beer or hot Tim Horton’s coffee. In the winter, we complain it’s too cold. Then, when summer comes, we moan about the heat and humidity. Living in a country of extreme weather, I suppose that’s not surprising.

In southwestern Ontario, and much of Canada, the winter of 2025-2026 has definitely been one for the record books. We had record snowfalls and cold temperatures in both November and December. The usual January thaw lasted only two days and didn’t come close to melting all that snow. And now, a polar vortex has us in its icy grip. Enough already!

It could be worse. A couple of years ago I was a bit taken aback when I opened up The Weather Network app to see a forecast low of -99 for February 2, which just happened to be Groundhog Day.

They updated the forecast a few minutes after I snapped the screen shot. Compared to -99, -18 would feel positively balmy. But no matter what the groundhog tells us on February 2, winter is far from over. With that in mind, here are eight winter survival tips to make the February days a little brighter.

Winter survival tips

Look on the bright side

While it may feel dark and gloomy, there is a bright side. Here in Kitchener, Ontario, we’re already enjoying almost a full hour more of daylight than on the winter solstice.

On December 21, we had only 8 hours and 57 minutes of daylight. On January 31, we’ll have 9 hours and 53 minutes to enjoy. And by the end of February, daylight will increase to 11 hours and 9 minutes.

Visit https://www.timeanddate.com for details on sunrise and sunset times in your area and celebrate the additional daylight.

Get outdoors

It’s so tempting just to stay indoors and keep warm this time of year. But research shows that getting outdoors is good for our mental and physical health.

I try to bundle up and get outdoors every day even if it’s only for a 10-minute walk. In December, I got lazy and definitely noticed a difference in my mood and energy levels. January got off to a good start and then the polar vortex hit, making Ontario the coldest place on Earth. Sadly my walks have been a casualty of those bitter cold temperatures. I hope for milder conditions in February. Our normal February high temperature of 0C would feel tropical right now.

For ideas on fun outdoor activities, check out 25 fun things to do when it snows.

Get moving

If you can’t bear the cold, you can still keep moving and add some indoor physical activity to your day. You don’t need a gym membership or fancy equipment. Check out my lists of 15-minute and 30-minute YouTube workouts for easy workout videos that even the biggest couch potato can manage.

Home workouts have been a godsend in recent weeks, but if workout videos aren’t your thing, crank up your favourite music and dance around the house.

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Plan your spring garden

If you’re a gardener, spend some time planning this year’s garden. Find some gardening blogs or sites for inspiration. You can even start some seeds indoors to get a head start on the growing season. There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing plants grow from tiny seeds.  

Bring the garden indoors

There are many health benefits of adding some houseplants or flowers to your home or office. Pick up a few inexpensive houseplants at your supermarket or department store.

We’re fortunate to have a south-facing front window, so my houseplants are thriving. Just looking at them gives me an energy boost.

Make a pot of chili or homemade soup

Is there anything better than a bowl of hot soup on a cold day? Last year, I bought a new slow cooker and started to make big batches of homemade soup and freeze them in individual portions for weekday lunches. You’ll find some of my favourite recipes I’ve tried on my Recipes board on Pinterest and in this post.

Plan a get-together with friends

A social gathering gives you something to look forward to. Reach out to some friends you haven’t seen in a while and plan a get-together. It can be as simple as going out for dinner or coffee, or a potluck dinner. You could even plan a fun outdoor activity and come home to some delicious slow cooker hot chocolate and spicy appetizers.

Enjoy a “snow day”

Finally, there’s nothing wrong with planning a snow day, or perhaps you refer to it as a duvet day or pyjama day. Whatever you call it, it’s a day to curl up under a blanket in your pyjamas and read a book, watch movies, or binge-watch your favourite Netflix series.

It will be over soon

No matter how you feel about winter, we can take solace in the fact that it will end at some point. In fact, spring will arrive in about 6 weeks—but who’s counting?

Although winter isn’t my favourite season, I admit I’d miss it if it wasn’t around. Surviving winter just makes spring that much more enjoyable.

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What do you do to get through the winter? Tell me your winter survival tips below.