I’m Not Big on Winter Hiking (Here’s What I Focus on Instead)

"Winter is a season of recovery and preparation." — Paul Theroux

Some people enjoy winter hiking. I’m not one of them.

It’s easy to assume that because I love hiking, I do it year-round. That when winter rolls in, I’m out there trudging through the snow and layering up like an REI catalog. 

But here’s the truth: I don’t do winter hiking. I have zero interest in it.

I’m just not a cold-weather person. I don’t like freezing fingers, icy trails, or the hassle of gearing up just to stay warm. Winter isn’t a season I try to push through ― it’s a season for me to step back.

While some people lean into winter adventures, I use this time differently. 

The Off-Season Advantage

I could force myself into winter hiking. I could bundle up and trudge through the snow to capture those beautiful winter scenes of snow-covered trails and frozen waterfalls. 

But I’ve learned that it’s just not for me. Instead, winter is when I pause, reset, and focus on the bigger picture. 

Winter is a quieter, more intentional season of growth. After a tough training season, my body needs a break, and winter gives me that space. 

I’m not out on the trails pushing through icy conditions. Instead, I try to stay active in ways that support recovery and help me prepare for the next adventure without burning out.

But beyond physical recovery, it’s also about shifting my mindset. 

Instead of seeing winter as lost time, I’m recognizing it as an essential part of my creative cycle ― a season for reflection, big-picture thinking, and laying the groundwork for what’s next.

Winter is when I recalibrate my business and make decisions that move me closer to the life I want to live. This time allows me to strategize, plan, and build systems that will support me in the long run.

By embracing the slower pace, I’m able to think more strategically about where I want to go and how to align my work with that vision.

It’s the off-season, and for me, it’s a season of possibility.

How I Missed the Mark This Year

Winter is when I switch gears, but I don’t want the public-facing side of my business to grind to a halt, which is kind of what happened this year. Without a solid plan in place, I lost my momentum, and that’s a lesson I’m taking forward. 

One of the biggest challenges I faced as a new creator in my niche was not having a backlog of content to lean on. On top of that, I let myself get sidetracked by politics, all while navigating the sudden and heartbreaking loss of my senior dog.

Because of this, keeping up felt impossible, and I knew I needed a better approach ― one that would allow me to stay consistent without the pressure of constantly producing in the moment.

I wanted a system that kept my content flowing, even when life got unpredictable.

To remedy this, I plan to create more evergreen content ― material that remains relevant over time, such as guides, listicles, and inspiration for outdoor adventures ― while reserving real-time, outdoor content for the months when I’m out on the trails.

I’m also thinking about ways to shift my focus seasonally to keep things fresh. 

For example, in the winter months, I might focus more on the business side of things. This could mean sharing insights on building a business aligned with your lifestyle, offering tips for solo creators, diving deeper into specific topics, or working on side projects.

That way, I can stay engaged with my audience, build a content library that works harder for me year-round, and enjoy the freedom to live and work on my terms.

This approach not only supports my business goals but also opens up the possibility to snowbird (to spend winters somewhere warmer) without losing momentum or compromising success.

Planting Seeds for the Future

These last few months have been a reminder that growth doesn’t come from endless hustle. It comes from strategic planning and knowing when to push and when to pull back, understanding that both are essential.

The off-season, with its slower pace, is a crucial part of that equation. 

Some of my best ideas come when I step away from the constant push to produce and sit quietly with my thoughts. These quiet moments not only help me process difficult times, but they also give me the space I need to reflect, recharge, and find clarity amidst the chaos.

It was during this period of slowing down that I shifted focus, rebranded, and started this blog. I allowed myself the necessary time to reassess my goals and set a new course for my work.

Slowing down isn’t a setback; it’s an investment in long-term sustainability. It’s not about doing less; it’s about doing what matters more ― building a solid foundation for what’s to come.

The off-season isn’t a time to be overlooked or wasted. It’s a time to nurture the seeds for what’s next, to find inspiration in the quiet, and to give space for new ideas to take root. 

And that, for me, is the true value of this season.

That’s all for this one. Thanks for reading.

TLDR: Unlock the power of the off-season and build a business on your terms.