After Christmas, it can feel like just a couple of grey, cold, months that lie ahead with not a lot to do and a lot of cabin fever.

But the good news is there are things you can do to make you feel productive even in the winter time and also help you prepare for spring, and help the winter months pass by a little quicker.

Here are five ways to get through the winter even if all you want is for it to be spring already, and be that much more excited for when it finally comes.

Make sleep a priority

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Since it is cold and grey and the sun goes down a lot earlier it may be time for you to also go down earlier and catch up on sleep that you have probably been needing.

The winter is a great time to get more sleep and get in the habit of having an earlier bedtime, which will not only make you feel more rested but also help prevent the chances of you getting sick, which can be an issue in winter.

Organize your home

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The one upside to being stuck in your house all day because it’s freezing outside is that you can use that time to do some organizing.

You can go room to room and write down all the things you’ve been meaning to do and then each day you can mark those items off of your list.

Not only will it be nice to spend time in an organized home, but you can also involve the whole family because they are also stuck inside and can help the house get into tip-top shape before spring.

Clear your driveway

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Clearing your driveway of snow and ice is a great way to be motivated to actually leave your house, but also ensures that you actually will be able to if you ever need to.

It may seem silly considering once you clear the snow only more will come, but making sure to do it on a regular basis will ensure that it stays relatively clear and doesn’t become overwhelming.

If you are not in the mood to do it and want some professional help you can hire snow removal services to come and do it for you, and you can look for some in your area by visiting websites like ifyardbutler.com.

Go outside

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Although this may be the very last thing you want to do during winter and before spring comes, getting outside will really help your mood and give you something to do.

Even if it’s just for a short walk or if you are feeling more adventurous and go skiing or snowboarding, getting outside will get you moving and active and make time pass a lot quicker.

Have a nice fire

Another simple thing that makes a big difference, in the wintertime, there is nothing like building a nice warm fire and sitting by the fireplace, reading a good book, or watching a good movie.

It will make winter time a lot more bearable and help pass the time before spring finally comes.

The post 5 Ways To Get Through the Winter Even If All You Want Is Spring appeared first on InstantELLA.

1. Slow Cooker Cheesy Potato Casserole

Casseroles are great around the holidays. They are easy to throw together and they feed a lot of people. This wonderful recipe from The Diary of Real Housewife is a perfect quick dish to prepare and let sit in the crockpot all day while you visit with your guests or prepare the rest of your meal.

2. Sweet Potato Casserole Bites

Do you love finger food around the holidays? Or maybe you need some quick appetizers that are sure to please? Then look no further than these delightful sweet potato casserole bites from Shaken Together Life. They’ve turned a classic holiday dish into a convenient and delicious appetizer.

3. Loaded Leftover Mashed Potato Balls

You can make this dish for an appetizer or with the leftovers from your Thanksgiving mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes have never been so delicious! You can find the full recipe at Handle the Heat.

4. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Take a classic and make it better. Everyone loves mashed potatoes, and these roasted garlic mashed potatoes will have your guests back for seconds and thirds, so make sure you make plenty! Go to Cooking Classy to find the recipe.

5. Scalloped Potatoes

Don’t underestimate the power of a delicious classic potato dish. You don’t have to do something totally unique or super fancy to please your guests. Try this scalloped potato recipe from Gimme Some Oven and see how happy your guests will be.

6. Duchess Potatoes

Take your mashed potatoes to the next level with this fancy look. Bake fluffy, perfect individual servings of mashed potatoes with this treat. Find the recipe at Home Made Interest.

7. Roasted Maple Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes

Because sweet potatoes are a staple of holiday gatherings, we had to throw another recipe in here. These roasted maple cinnamon sweet potatoes are sure to have your yam-loving guests coming back for more. Find the full recipe at Together as a Family.

8. Three Ingredient Roasted Potatoes

You can never go wrong with roasted potatoes. This 3-ingredient dish is so simple to prepare that you’ll want to make it with every meal. All you need is baby red potatoes, olive oil, and dry onion soup mix. You can thank The Food Charlatan for the recipe.

The post 8 Awesome Potato Dishes for the Holidays appeared first on InstantELLA.