Tell me if this one sounds familiar: The more it snows — and the colder it gets — the less you feel like leaving the house to do anything “extra.” We’ve reached the time of the year in Sullivan County when it takes 20 minutes of pre-work just to leave the house. 

First, you have to get the car started and make sure you remembered to flip the heat settings to defrost the last time you parked. 

Then you spend 5 minutes trying to figure out where you (or the dog) put your winter hat, pulling the inside out sleeves of your parka right-side out, buttoning 18 buttons and snapping 13 snaps, looping the scarf so it sits perfectly around your neck and lower face but still leaves space for breathing and finding the right finger holes for your gloves. 

Once you’re finally wrapped in enough layers to feel like the kid from A Christmas Story, you’ve still got 5 minutes of car prep left on your to do list — 10 if the wind is particularly feisty that day. I get it. 

The pandemic has changed all our shopping habits — some experts say for good. Going online to place an order became a habit when we were all wiping down our groceries and baking sourdough, and it’s particularly hard to fight it when just stepping outside your house makes your face hurt. 

You don’t need the same old “shop local” plea this year. 

You need a nap. 

How about we meet in the middle?

Shop online via the website of your favorite local shop for an online store. A little obvious? Perhaps, but sometimes the most obvious solution is one we need to be reminded exists. 

Visit Bookshop.org. If you’ve got a load of book lovers on your holiday shopping list, you don’t have to do your business with a certain book selling behemoth. Bookshop.org allows you to browse new and used books online, then designate a local book seller to receive the profits of your purchases. This year I chose The Hound Books in Roscoe to receive the money from my picks (and yes, they have an online store too!).

Already done shopping? Carve out 15 minutes this week and write positive reviews for a few of your favorite local businesses on Google, Facebook, Yelp, or any other place where they show up on the internet. It won’t cost you anything but your time, and it can have a huge impact for small shop owners trying to stay ahead of the big box competitors.