Winter in Maine can bring impossibly short days that feel devoid of sunlight, massive piles of snow and temperatures so cold they are prefaced with a negative.
While winter in the Pine Tree State is no joke, it doesn’t have to break you as long as you are prepared.
Here’s what you need to know to get through this winter:
Essential Knowledge
Emergency kit basics
You never know when you might find yourself in an emergency situation. Storms, fires, earthquakes and floods — people around with the world deal with these disasters. Then there are smaller emergencies, like being stranded beside the road with a flat tire or struggling through a prolonged power outage.
These dilemmas are often unpredictable, but you can prepare for them ahead of time. One of the best ways to do that is to build an emergency kit of necessities: food, water, first aid and other survival gear.
For more information on how to put together a comprehensive emergency kit, check out Aislinn Sarnacki’s guide to building the “ultimate emergency kit.”
Get outside
With Maine’s long, dark winters, it is important to do things to take care of your mental health.
Seasonal affective disorder, also known as S.A.D. can impact many people. There’s a few ways to combat this “winter depression,” and we have some tips for how to make the most of the short, dark winter days.
One of the most beneficial ways to combat winter depression is by getting as much Vitamin D as possible while getting outside in nature.
Maine’s winters may get icy, but having a trusty pair of ice cleats and ski poles will allow you to go most places while there’s snow on the ground.
If you don’t know where to start, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are popular low-impact activities and you can rent or borrow the supplies from many places across the state.
Even getting outside for 30 minutes to build a snowman can boost your mood!
Plus, here are some basics on how to enjoy walking, ice fishing, making a snowman, being outside with your pet, hiking, skiing, snowshoeing and skating.