Also, every time my kids complain about being bored, I make them put a toy in the Goodwill box. “If you’re bored, that means you’re tired of the toys we have, and it’s time to get rid of them,” I tell them. That stops the complaining and gets rid of stuff; it’s a win-win.

Invent new games

Joe Riley lives in Davenport, Iowa, where the low temperature Thursday was minus 5 with a wind chill of minus 21.

Image Joe Riley's dog, Zoey, the subject of a family bet during the polar vortex. Credit... Morgan Riley

Invent new games. We have one called “Will She Poop on the Stoop?” We bet if our dog, Zoey, will make it past the stoop to do her business. Five dollars says she’ll poop on the stoop.

The result: Zoey just sort of stood there in terror, while we watched from a window to see if she would venture past the stoop. I’m out five dollars so far.

Spend more time on each pose

Charity Eleson lives in Oregon, Wis., where the low temperature Thursday was minus 5 with a wind chill of minus 21.

While I know I should not rush through my yoga practice, I frequently do so I can move on to the next thing on my to-do list. Wednesday while marooned inside, I spent more time on each pose, conscious of breath and body throughout. The polar vortex turns out to be a teacher.

Take a walk ( in lots of layers )

Ellie Barta-Moran lives in Spring Green, Wis., where the low temperature Thursday was minus 12 with a wind chill of minus 24.

I just walked four blocks to get lunch at our bar, mostly to say I did it. I was wearing a wool union suit, long underwear, two shirts, a wool sweater, wool legwarmers, two pairs of wool socks, a long down coat, gloves, leather hunting mittens, a balaclava, a neck gaiter, a wool hat, a scarf and sunglasses to trap my breath and keep my eyeballs from freezing. It’s sunny and beautiful out, so it was a cozy walk!

Use the phone to — wait for it — talk

Lisa O’Keefe lives in Chicago, where the low temperature Thursday was minus 2 with a wind chill of minus 41.



The weather is so bad that I am using the phone to actually have a conversation with friends. I’m using a phone to talk. It’s like junior high all over again, except instead of talking about junior high things, my friend and I had to confirm we had the same brand of Brazil nuts from Whole Foods, and whether or not the nuts smell funny. Adulthood.