Six great things to do at home this winter

When it's raining or freezing outside, you may just feel like huddling in bed all day - which is fine sometimes - with lots of good books to read. But there are many of other interesting ways to fill your time, even on days when you don't have to brave the weather and go out to work. Here are some ideas for you and the family to keep the winter blues at bay:

• Plan your summer holiday, down to the last detail. Ask each member of the family what they would really like to do (go to the beach, go to the mountains, go to the game reserve, take a cruise, take a long train trip, travel overseas etc) and then collect up all the brochures and online information you can for each choice. Get around a table and discuss the budget and time frame for your holiday, share all the pictures and information you've gathered and work out if you can perhaps combine several choices into one amazing trip - or agree to take it in turns to nominate a destination. Older children especially will also enjoy learning how to find and book the best value transport and accommodation. And getting the trip organised will give everyone something to look forward to after winter.
• Take an online class and improve your skills and/ or qualifications. There are so many online courses available now that you could learn the basics of just about anything that interests you by the time winter is over. You could boost your promotion prospects with a course in project management or human resources, give free rein to your creative side by learning to draw or take photos or play a musical instrument, or get ready for a new career/ "side hustle" with a course in carpentry, cake decorating or computer programming. What is more, there are literally thousands of courses you can take for free and without a matric certificate (seehttps://www.lifehack.org/articles/money/25-killer-sites-for-free-online-education.html) as well as many more formal certificate and diploma options from top-rated colleges and universities.
• Catch up with family and friends, in person. Organise an old-time movie night or series binge with homemade popcorn and pizza; have some family round for a "proper" Sunday lunch; have a big bring-and-braai for your children's friends and all their parents; have a baking or crafting or dress-up day with your children or arrange a mini-spa day with friends. And if all your loved ones live far away, try calling or skyping them for a chat instead of just texting or messaging.
• Redo your decor. We're not talking about spending a lot of money here - although it can be a lot of fun to browse online furniture and antique stores. Just try moving things around for a fresh look and hanging your artworks in different places. Winter is also a good time to (dare we say it?) tidy your cupboards, declutter your home/ garage and donate useful items like blankets and coats to your favourite charity. If you're stuck inside, you will also have more time to raise some spare cash (for your summer holiday) by advertising and selling things online.
• Organise your photos. If you have boxes of old family and holiday photos hanging around, now's the time to scrapbook them or digitise them and store them in the Cloud using an app like PhotoScan, Photomyne or Unfade. You should go through all the photos and videos on your cellphone, too, and free up memory by deleting all those you don't want or need.

Get some exercise. Just because you can't get to the gym or go cycling or running doesn't mean that you can't work on your fitness and well being. There are loads of free cardio, Pilates and yoga workouts online that you can do at home with no equipment, and your body and brain will thank you for the extra oxygen...