These Local Suggestions Could do Wonders for Your Worldview
Have you ever noticed that the closer we get to spring, the further away it feels? Once the winter holidays are over and we’ve started writing the dates of the New Year correctly, winter can start to wear out its welcome.
Although a short month, February can prove particularly challenging, as it is typically New Hampshire’s snowiest month, which can result in snow days, closures, and disrupted routines.
Even though March marks the official start of spring, for an estimated four to six percent of the population, winter depression is a real thing, with another 10 to 20 percent struggling with seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
Author Christine Carter, Ph.D., captures what it’s like to suffer from SAD during the winter months:
“It’s that time of year when getting out of your warm bed is not for the weak, and trudging through everyday life seems monotonous, exhausting, boring, and, well, just hard. For many people, winter is a very difficult season to muster the strength to feel joy and excitement about much of anything. SAD struggle is real, people. It’s real.”
While treatments like light therapy have proven effective in treating the symptoms of SAD, it’s also helpful to know about fun seasonal opportunities that present something new to see or do. In other words, it can help to find new ways to bring excitement back into your life.
Fortunately, New Hampshire has plenty to offer in that regard.
Check out some of our favorite options to help you weather the rest of winter and hopefully have some fun doing so!
Get Artsy!
You needn’t journey to Boston to find amazing art exhibits and galleries. Located in the heart of Manchester, the Currier Museum of Art is a fantastic destination that boasts a wealth of exciting exhibits, as well as educational programs, exciting events, and even classes. For an inspiring and indulgent treat, check out Brunch in the Winter Garden, offered every Sunday morning at 10 a.m.
Space Out!
With exciting exhibits and programs for all ages, the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center is well worth a drive to Concord. This air and space museum features a planetarium and observatory, and the available programs include summer camps, festivals, and certain days designated for special evenings, like “Super Stellar Fridays.”
Re-Set the Stage
An easy way to treat yourself to a much-needed change of scene is to check out some of the theaters and music venues conveniently located in Concord and Manchester. Our capital city offers the non-profit cinema, Red River Theaters, which screens everything from classic films, to independent features, as well as offering special events and film discussions.
Just across the street, you’ll find Concord’s Capitol Center for the Arts, which features an impressive calendar of performing arts events, which has included international acts, Broadway shows, various musical performers, and even professional conferences.
Whether you catch a matinee at Red River Theaters or a Friday night performance at Capitol Center for the Arts, historic downtown Concord offers a variety of fun restaurants and shops, including cozy spots to escape the cold like Gibson’s Bookstore — an ideal destination to stock up on reading material before the next big storm.
For those closer to Manchester, the Palace Theatre has featured outstanding performances since its construction in 1914. Situated right on beautiful Hanover Street, the theater is surrounded on both sides and also faces outstanding restaurants and shops. Just a block from Elm Street, visitors to the Palace will have even more dining options only a short walk away.
Whether or not you wrestle with symptoms of SAD, we hope this list of opportunities will help you make some more fun memories this winter while there’s still time… remember, the first official day of spring (March 20, 2022) is just days away!
Let us know if you check out any of these venues by sharing your experience — or other suggestions — with us on social media!