13 Things That Will Make Winter Suck Less in Illinois

Are you 'trapped' in this cold state with no signs of escape? If you're not a fan of the cold, windy winters in Illinois, try one of these 13 things to feel better.

I've spent most of my life living in the Midwest and I've seen enough of the seasonal change that people speak so fondly of when you ask them if they'd like to move to a place like Arizona. The absence of sunlight and the extreme cold are not my favorite things, so I do a few things to make the winter season less awful. Which of these things does it for you?

13 Things That Will Make Winter Suck Less in Illinois

This first one is the MOST IMPORTANT one for me. From late November to darn near St. Patrick's Day, it is the ashy season. My skin gets so dry during the winter

All the butters

The first rule here is that all lotions are not created equal, and often the first ingredient listed for most lotions and creams, is water. WATER?!?!?! If your skin is always ashy, rubbing on a product whose first ingredient is water, will not help keep your skin moisturized. I don't know how I'd ever make it through the super cold and dry season without the powers of shea butter, almond butter, kokum butter, cocoa butter, and mango butter.  I love this Shea Moisture line of products, I have several.

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Go to bed early

Bring a hot drink and a good book with you to help you fall asleep.

Get outside in the cold

Life sucks even more than the cold without daylight and fresh air. Get dressed warmly, and get yourself outside for a bit.

RELATED: What Men (and Women) of Illinois Over the Age of 45 Should Stop Doing NOW 

Hot drinks

For every new hot drink you add to your selection, you'll see a decrease in the amount of suckiness in your life. Some flavored teas, different coffees, and definitely some more luxurious hot chocolate drinks. #LotsOfMarshmallows

Weekend afternoon nap

Make some room in your life for one of those afternoon naps that you wake up from and can't remember what day, or what time it is.

TV Bingefest

Time to start watching the content you've been adding to your watchlist but never actually watching

Do something for someone else

It's been proven that doing a good deed for someone else actually helps you feel better. Maybe clear some snow for a neighbor, or how about a grocery store run for an elderly person?

Online shopping

Nothing quite like the dopamine boost you get from spending money.

No daily leg shaving

Candlepalooza

Fill your house with some great smells.

Hot bath

Bring a space heater into the bathroom and warm the room up for your peaceful soak. Adding some eucalyptus and music to the room.

Plan a trip or outing

Spending a warm spring day at a baseball game or a summer beach trip with the kids sounds perfect. I would recommend not counting the number of days until your trip.

Remind yourself that you don't live in Yakutia, Siberia

Yakutia is the coldest place in the world. In January the average temperature is around –40° F, but there are times when the temperature hits –70°. Illinois winters can sometimes make our faces hurt but at these temperatures, you shouldn't wear glasses outside—the metal will freeze and stick to your face, making it difficult to remove them without tearing off chunks of your cheek.

There's always another approach you can take to changing your stinkin' thinkin' about winter. Maybe a reminder that things can ALWAYS be worse. Try this list, 13 Things That Make Illinois Winter Suck Even More.