I've heard the wive's tales, the doctors' research, and the modern-day talk about cold weather. It's hard to sort fact from fiction in what others say, but it's clear to me what's true in my life: I get really tired during the winter!

Question

As the temperatures began dropping in our town here in rural China, my husband and I started noticing the same thing: we wanted to sleep all the time. 10:30pm as a bedtime suddenly seemed unnecessarily late. Getting out of bed in the morning got a lot harder. We felt kind of lazy, and I wondered what was up: were we just losing our usual motivation because it was so cold both inside and out, or do we humans actually need more sleep in the winter?

Answers

My online findings were mixed, but two apparently reliable sources came to the same conclusion: though we don't hibernate like some mammals, our bodies have an internal clock based on the sun's presence and absence. When the sun goes down sooner, our nights last longer, so it's natural for us to sleep more. The Total Wellbeing Blog says "don't be too hard on yourself when you can't drag yourself out of bed as quick on those colder, darker mornings," and the UK's NHS suggests using winter as a time to improve your health by finally getting the sleep you actually need all year round.

What to do?

Since we still have jobs, families, and other committments, we can't simply sleep the days away just because it feels good. Here are some of my family's tricks to keep warm and active during these cold days. Share your own in the comments!

* DO sleep! - Getting enough sleep, even if we don't during the rest of the year, seems to help us stay active during the hours we should.

* Hot water - When I'm cold, my tendency is to snack on something carb-y, which just keeps me going for a little while and then drains me of energy soon after that. I've found that drinking hot water - the temperature you would use to make tea or coffee - is actually a sweet and pleasant treat that makes me feel warm all over.

* Heating pads - In a place like we live where homes don't have heating, all the stores are selling heating pads to keep your hands warm. I like to put mine on my feet while I type. Make your own with TipNut's instructions.

* Walking - My husband and I always love after-dinner walks, but during this time of the year we like morning walks, afternoon walks, and pre-dinner walks, too! Getting moving gets our bodies warm, and, if the sun's out, our apartment's probably colder, anyway!

* Layer clothing - You've heard this one a million times, so I'll just share one tip: knee-highs under regular socks are GREAT in the winter because you can pull them up to your knee while you're outside, and, if you are blessed with a warm indoors, just push them down to your ankles. Easier than taking off heavy socks that make your feet sweat inside.

* Electric blanket - We're forming a habit of turning the electric blanket on 30 minutes before we want to go to bed (and of course we turn it off before getting in). This way, we don't go to bed too soon, because we want it to be warm when we get in! Electric blankets are also more energy-efficient than heating the whole room, so they're better on the environment and your pocketbook.

* Warm breakfast - It's a lot easier for me to get out of bed in the morning if I know warm food is just minutes away. I've been making my own "instant oatmeal" packets and keeping plenty so I can eat it with breakfast every day.

...and you?

What are your winter tips? Share 'em in the comments so we can all benefit!

Since I launched Simple Makes on September 14, 2008, I've played around with different post formats, page layouts, topics, post frequency, and content. I've blogged recipes, book reviews, printable how-to guides, links to craft tutorials, photos from my home, and thoughts on simplicity.

As I write and look at the response (both mine and that I see in visits & comments), I've finally settled on what you can expect when you come to Simple Makes:

Tuesdays, I will blog about simple & green living for families, based on what my family's been doing together. Posts on family activities, travel, and crafts for kids fit in this category.

Posts I've written that would fit into this category include:
* Puzzle People Game
* Enjoy your Family... without Spending a Cent!
* Packing Light Tips

Thursdays, I will blog about simple & green living for homes, based on what we've been doing in our home. Cleaning tips, composting, and recipes fit in this category.

Posts I've written that would fit into this category include:
* Energy & Air Leaks
* Shower Supply Simplification
* Apartment Composting

Saturdays, I will blog short posts on any simple or green living topic, mostly using photos & links. Weekend snapshots, announcements of giveaways or special deals, and link love-type posts fit in this category. I'll also reserve posts like "On Simplicity" for Saturdays.

Posts I've written that would fit into this category include:
* Weekend Snapshots #1, 2
* Top 10 Craft Tutorials
* Simple Living or Giving Up?

Tuesday & Thursday posts are my content, based on what my life's been like, written in a way that you can use what I've done and learned, too!

For Saturday posts, I need your help. What'd you blog about this week? What's your Etsy store got on sale? What nifty link did you run across this week that I'd love, too? The best way to get my attention is to tag it for:simplyla on delicious. If you're delicious-less, try email: send your idea to me here.

Hope you're enjoying the way Simple Makes is going; comment to share your thoughts & ideas!

Those weighty words jump out at me from the instruction page for a stimulating simulator webgame, ElectroCity. Why?

Though the game is targeted to school students, the idea behind it plus the fact that real-world sustainable living, too, is "easy to play, hard to master," stirred my interest enough to send me reading through the how-to and starting my own town, Coziville.

What's the big idea?

“We recognise the importance of sustainable energy generation, energy efficiency and environmental management. We want to help people think about these subjects laterally, and what better way than to experience them first-hand and see the impacts of your decisions,” says Genesis Energy Chief Executive Murray Jackson, whose company funds ElectroCity.

That is a big idea!

My Review

While definitely not the fast-paced game play you'd expect if you're a veteran of popular city simulator games (partly because, realistically, you start with little money so it's a bit hard to get going), this game does a lot for critical thinking and helping players think about the result of their choices. From the how-to: "You need to balance your city’s growth with its environmental impact. Your citizens need electricity and jobs, but they also love their clean green image. So you get to decide whether that forest should be made into a national park or logged and turned into an aluminum smelter." Sound realistic? It is.

I found this forum thread on WiseBread.com forums several months ago and have followed it ever since. Go check it out and join the discussion: do people live simply because they enjoy the simple life, or because they 'can't any do better'?

...and you?

I'd love to see a lively debate in the comments section right here, as well, so comment away!

I'm back! Only until Sunday, though, so keep asking questions (about ANYthing!) for me to answer when I return.

Simple Pleasures


We saw the sites, ate the food, spent the money. My favorite moment, though, was a simple one... on a letterboxing hike, we found this beach and were the only ones there. We played in the sand, sorted through the seashells, climbed the rocks, and got our toes wet. Check out my flickr account for more trip highlights.

Coming Soon

Stay tuned for an upcoming post on packing efficiently (packing light!), in answer to Whitney's comment on the "Ask me!" post.

I'm also researching for a good cartooning how-to resource. I'd like to answer 's question, plus, inspired by reading The Creative Family, I might like to learn this creative art form myself!

Since I mentioned letterboxing, I'll go ahead and let you know that a series of posts is in the works and will be featured this November.

Other News

I checked my site stats this morning and was excited to see I'd been featured at ecoTumble, the Tumblr site from Lighter Footstep, a blog I subscribe to. (To quote: We think there’s a strong connection between “green” and simple living. So we love Lori Ann’s Simple Makes blog...) Thank you so much!

Okay, so you already know how to recycle. If you're living in a city with a recycling program, you put your paper in a bin, and your glass in one, and aluminum... but what about the CDs, broken electronics, and keys?

My dad told me that our hometown hosted an "E-waste" drive last month. How exciting! Residents usually have to drive their electronics outside of town and pay to have them properly disposed of. For one day, though, citizens could bring their old electronics to the fairgrounds for free, where volunteers helped unload it all. Last January's drive, our newspaper reports, 92,000 pounds of electronics were collected, thus saved from the landfill!

Recycle It!

For everywhere else, everything else, and all the other times of the year, we still get stuck with unusable items we don't want ending up in landfills. Here's a list of items you can recycle, each linked to a site where you can send it. I tried to only include free programs (some even pay you or donate to charity!), though I can't guarantee they won't change.

batteries, rechargeable
bikes
books
CDs
cell phones
CFL lightbulbs
classroom supplies
computers/monitors
digitial cameras
DVDs *
eyeglasses
hearing aids
keys
laptops & other computers by mail
laptops & other computers nationwide drop-off
pagers *
pda's *
printer cartridges (inket & laser)
TVs
wheelchairs

(*'s mean it's the same link as a previously listed one, so if you're clicking 'em all instead of just searching for the items you have to recycle, you don't get a bunch of duplicates)

Even More

For local drop-off locations for the above items and others, run a search on Earth 911. It'll tell you the nearest spot that accepts an item for recycling!

Many manufacturers have their own programs for the electronics they produce. Find those here.

As of March 17th, 2008, the US Postal Service is piloting a program that lets you drop e-waste into a free envelope which is sent (also for free) to be recycled. See if you're in one of the pilot areas.

Not everything you're done with is useless. Read about it at Share the Technology, which is full or links to places you can donate those electronics you can't use anymore.

...and you?

Do you know of other free recycling resources? Comment with the url and I'll add it to this list!

Remember last winter's cold, drafty nights? What about the electricity bills as you tried to force out the low temperatures? Getting rid of air leaks is a first step to raise the inside temp while lowering energy use!

Air Leaks?

Locating and sealing your home's air leaks is green, because you're using less energy. It's also frugal, because less energy means lower energy bills. Thankfully, it's simple, too, because the air that makes your house cool is air that's easy to identify!

I was glad this week to find the link (in a 5 minutes for going green article) to a DIY guide for conducting a home energy audit. Because I live in an apartment and don't have a heater, not all the tips are relevant to me (though check it out if you own a home and can add insulation or replace outdated heating systems).

What I can do, though, is seal up air leaks. Here's how.

What to Do

1) Find air leaks
2) Caulk & seal air leak sources

To find air leaks, the how-to guide suggests a pressurization test, which you can read about in the article. Basically, you close off everything (door, windows, etc.) and then feel for spots where air is still moving (a wet hand will feel cold). Make sure to read the directions first for a few tips and warnings.

The guide then explains which types of cracks should be caulked and which should be sealed. Because it is dangerous for combustion appliances to not have enough air, you need to read the details in the article to make sure you're not sealing necessary vents.

Anything else?

As an added bonus, If you're like me and battle insects inside (which take advantage of some of those leaks, like windowsill cracks) during other seasons of the year, you'll take care of that problem at the same time, too!

...and you?

Share your links or tips for other ways to reduce energy use during the cold months. I'll meet you in the comments section!

I've spent the past month learning how to set up www.SimpleMakes.com, and am finally done. As I worked, I wrote but saved instead of published posts until I was ready with a uniform theme for the site. It's all ready now!

All the posts to this point are available as backdated entries. So they don't get lost in the archives, here's a quick index to what we have so far:

On Simplicity
Sept 8, 2008

Green posts:
Start Living Sustainably
Sept 12, 2008
Apartment Composting Series
Sept 4, 2008

Craft Posts:
Mugful of Craft Tools
Sept 5, 2008
Crafting How-to Books
August 29, 2008

Home Posts:

Desk Drawer De-clutter
Sept 9, 2008
Home Design: Flickr & Color
Sept 2, 2008
Simple Candle Wax Fix
August 26, 2008

...and you?

Stay tuned for more posts: simplicity, green, craft, home, and family. Please comment to let me know what you'd like to see!