How to Combat Cabin Fever!
Cabin Fever is very real in the long cold months of winter. Going stir crazy can affect your mood and emotional well being. With the weeks of winter stretching outward try a few of these helpful ideas to keep the winter blues away!
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Read a Book Series
The winter after I earned my masters degree I rewarded myself with reading an entire seven book series. During the winter of my first year of teaching I stared reading Outlander before bed most evenings. I look back fondly on both of those winters as a result.
I personally love reading from traditional books. But I have many friends who devour books using a kindle or will listen to audio book after book all year long.
Plan a Garden
Look forward to the season to come by planning a garden. In some parts of the country you can even start seeds indoors in late winter. Reading, researching, and planning a simple vegetable or flower garden is a wonderful way to spend cold February evenings. There is nothing like dreaming of springtime to combat cabin fever.
Start a Hobby
Being snowed in at our cabin is a reality that happens a few times each winter. So having a few electronic free (yes the power can go out too) hobbies is a must!
Over on Instagram I’m pretty vocal about my love of adult coloring book coloring. The need to create is in all of us. For me, it manifests itself in taking pictures, writing, and dreaming up engaging lessons for my students. I’ve also found a deep love for coloring in the winter months especially. Listening to my favorite music, current audio book, or even while watching a movie, I love to keep my hands busy and color.
Do some research, take yourself to the local craft store or library and look into finding a hobby or hands-on activity that feeds your soul. Maybe it’s cooking, or knitting, or simple wood working. Whatever it is, allow yourself the simple joy of doing something with your time for no other reason than your love for it.
Catch up on Your Favorite Show
It’s pretty easy to see why binge watching on your favorite streaming app is so popular in the winter. We all have so much time on our hands! I personally love saving episodes and catching up on a few of my favorites shows in the late weeks of January.
Find your Flow with Yoga
I fell in love with yoga last year. Carving out 20-30 minutes a few times a week became such a beautiful time for my soul. I love this program and find it not only instructional but wonderful for fitness. I suffered from some plantar faciiatis last winter as well and strengthening my leg muscles with yoga was one of the best things I did for myself.
Keep Getting Outside-Cabin Fever No More
It is so sad when the sun sets early in the winter. But that just makes me even more determined to get out of our cabin on sunny days. Grab the hiking poles and snowshoes and prioritize winter hiking. There is nothing like a brisk hike! Maybe you can even take a quick walk around the building during your lunch break. The Vitamin D is essential to your health and well-being, and it’s still possible to get it during the winter!
Puzzles and Board Games
On snowy days in the winter my family will occasionally (it’s harder now with big kids who have their own schedules) play games or do a puzzle. Our favorite family board game is Catan and we love doing a puzzle together too! We find that 500 or 750 piece puzzles are great for a night or two of enjoyment!
Cabin Fever is a little bit of a mind game during the long weeks of January and February. But hopefully a few of my ideas for combatting cabin fever will help!
With hope for you and your intentional home,
