Happy Holidays from the Next Day Animations Team!  We’re all looking forward to the year ahead, and hope that you’re getting ready to enjoy a lovely season.  We sure are!  We wanted to share with our clients a little bit about what each of us are looking forward to in 2022.

What’s winter without winter activities? Getting outside makes the short days feel a lot longer, and we have lots of recommendations, including skating, skiing, and biking (when the weather permits!). In 2020 we received a Bicycle Friendly Business Certification from the League of American Bicyclists – we love that our staff can stay active in all kinds of weather!

Hannah says, “I love checking out holiday lights and window shopping. Andddd forcing my tiny dog to play in the snow ”

Laura shares, “This year, as the temperatures dropped, the Baltimore team members worked with The Sixth Branch, a local organization that works with communities to maintain outdoor spaces. We cleaned up a lot near a park – sweaty (despite the cold) but rewarding!” – Laura

Morgan reflects on the Minneapolis cold: “Honestly, when it’s -10 in Minneapolis and I just want to get out of the house, just going for a drive around the city is the best. Or playing some indoor ping pong!” 

A big part of staying positive during the cold and darkness of the winter season is leaning into all the things that make wintertime so special.  

Perhaps you’re familiar with the concept of hygge? It’s a type of coziness perfected by places with some of the longest winters: Denmark and Norway. Think warm wool socks, hot tea, good company. In 2021, we translated our videos into over ten languages ranging from Khmer to Amharic, so we have a soft spot for learning words like this. Here are some of our tips for maximum hygge.

Beny suggests “Building a roaring fire in the fireplace while drinking hot chocolate with friends and family and music playing. That’s it. That’s all you need.”

Hannah recommends cooking good things, she says: “I love winter foods – stews, roasted things, baked goods – and spending slow afternoons cooking and making the house smell delicious”

Louise is a hygge expert: “Lighting some candles and curling up on the couch with a good book. Two favorites from this year are Virtue by Hermione Hobe and Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters.” -Louise 

Elisa says, “I cut up and froze 2 halloween pumpkins so I can have pumpkin pie and pumpkin soup all winter long. I think I’ll find a recipe for pumpkin cookies too.” 

Of course, technology is a pretty big part of our lives here at Next Day.  This year, we’ve continued to use technology to connect with clients and each other. Sure, we make videos that tug on the heartstrings (and the brainstrings!) – but we also bond through Zoom calls and talking about the latest binge-worthy show. In 2021, we wrote a few articles about explainer video trends and visual trends – and made a few videos about our digital lives. This winter, we’re taking a more personal approach to technology.

Maya shares “I’ve been spending time curled up on the couch with my laptop, chatting with friends on zoom (usually book club or Dungeons and Dragons. Nerd Alert!). It’s so nice to have long winded convos with friends from faraway, especially when it’s cold out!”

Bess says “Having some time off during the holidays means I have time to go back and enjoy all the great recommendations from my coworkers during the fall!” 

One last suggestion from our team is exercising your creative muscles this winter!  

We’re a pretty bunch of people. Even those of us who aren’t illustrators or animators love to indulge in the fine art of fleece hat construction or to attempt to perfect their cat toy design.

We also love to support the creative work of others. Our Illustrating Awesomeness Scholarship received applications for the fifth year. Creativity manifests itself in all kinds of ways, and winter continues to be an inspiration! Just think of those Russian novelists scribbling away during the long nights…

Laura says, “I’ve been making toys for all my friends’ cats using homegrown catnip!”

Bess shares “Winter is the perfect time for getting carried away and spending hours on my latest craft projects.  I recently rediscovered making designs with Perler beads, which used to be my favorite as a kid!”

And Elisa reflects on a California winter: “I like to make fleece hats. I wish it were colder in California so I had more opportunities to wear my hats.”

If you’ve made it this far, you’ve now got a ton of ideas for making this winter and new year an extra special one.  From our team to yours, we hope it’s magical.