11 Activities for Beating Cabin Fever This Winter
The arrival of winter means that, sooner or later, cabin fever will be creeping up on many of us. With the lack of sunlight and the move to indoor activities, it’s often all too easy to go stir crazy.
Refreshing your hobbies and activities is one great way to fight cabin fever. Cold weather can actually be a great opportunity to pick up new hobbies and knowledge while making treasured memories. Scroll down to learn about 11 rewarding ways to spend your winter that are sure to brighten your mood.
1. Make some craft projects.
It’s not so bad being stuck inside when you’ve got some cool crafts to work on! Crafting lets you express your creativity, provides DIY decor for your home and is a great way to keep kids occupied during the winter months. Seasonal winter crafts can be especially fun, including classics like paper snowflakes. Assemble some must-have crafting tools like craft scissors, glue, tape and a cutting mat. Then, choose a project and start getting crafty!
2. Read a good book.
If it’s been some time since you last picked up a book, use the winter as a reason to finally get back into reading. Don’t feel obligated to choose any particular kind of book – just make it something you enjoy! Remember that books are available in more formats than ever before, too. If physical books aren’t your style, try books on an e-reader, or even audiobooks that you can listen to while doing chores or exercising.
3. Take a hike.
Cold weather doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying the outdoors! If you’ve got some favorite hiking spots, try them out in the winter and see what they’re like. Winter hiking can actually be tons of fun if you enjoy the quiet, since fewer people are typically out on the trails, and it’s also an amazing workout that will help keep you fit through the winter. Just remember to follow the rules of winter hiking safety.
4. Play a board game.
Board games can give you some much-needed mental stimulation while you’re stuck inside, and they come in many varieties – from complex strategy games to simple fun and competition. Board games also offer something that’s worth its weight in gold in pandemic times: an opportunity for face-to-face connection with people whose company you cherish!
5. Find an indoor exercise routine you like.
Physical activity is a proven mood-booster with tons of benefits for your physical and mental health. That’s why exercise should be an essential part of anybody’s plan to beat the wintertime blahs. Home workouts are more popular than ever, so don’t be afraid to try a few until you find one that works for you. It might be yoga, kettlebells or something else entirely, but the important thing is to find an activity you enjoy and can stick with.
6. Learn a language.
There are lots of ways to learn a new language available today, including apps and virtual lessons that let you learn at your own pace. Do a little bit every day, and you might be surprised how quickly you make progress! If you’ve got a big trip planned for the spring or summer, it’s a perfect opportunity to improve your fluency in the local language. Learning about the culture that surrounds a language can also be a fulfilling way to beat the winter blues by expanding your global perspective.
7. Clean your living space.
There’s really no need to wait for spring to start cleaning! A clean and tidy living space can make a big difference in your mental health, and the winter months are an ideal time to take on cleaning projects that you’ve been putting off. Tackling these challenges will help you get a fresh start in spring, and they’ll also give you a vital feeling of accomplishment that will help you break out of your winter doldrums.
8. Volunteer in your community.
Volunteering is a wonderful way to make the winter pass by in a flash. Winter is a time when it’s crucial for communities to come together to meet everyone’s needs, and volunteers are the people who make it happen! The easiest way to get involved is to plug into your local community groups, but you can also organize your own volunteer programs, like coat drives, if you’re the type who prefers to lead.
9. Try a new arrangement for your furniture.
Switching up your furniture layout is a good way to inject vitality into your decor and your life. Check out social media and online decor magazines for some design inspiration. Even if you have to keep certain items in place, like a wall-mounted TV, there’s still plenty of room to organize and reorganize your space until you get something that feels just right. (Naturally, be sure to get input from anyone you’re sharing the space with before you start making big changes!)
10. Cook some delicious recipes.
Winter is also a great time to explore the world of cooking, whether you’re a newbie or a pro. Find some tasty looking recipes that you’d like to try, or select some of your favorite restaurant dishes that you’d like to try to imitate at home. You’ll level up your proficiency in this valuable life skill — and what’s more, you’ll save money when you can say “no thanks” to the takeout ordering habit that plagues many people’s winter months.
11. Get together with friends and family.
As long as your group is taking any appropriate pandemic precautions, a visit with friends and family can be an invigorating antidote to a case of cabin fever. Get together at home, at a local restaurant or bar or – even better – go outside! Whatever you choose, prioritize things that give you the spirit of togetherness because that’s what will ultimately get you through to the other side of winter.
