How to Cure Cabin Fever

Jan 25, 2011
Therese Haberman

How to Beat Cabin Fever - Therese Haberman

The winter blues are more prevalent in bad years, when the snow piles are at eye level and the wind seems to blow every day. Activities keep blues at bay.

There are some activities that will help keep the winter doldrums from taking over your mood and making each day seem like drudgery. Here are some ideas to keep you chipper and feeling good, no matter what the temperature.

Keeping Active in the Winter Months

Enjoy at least one night out each week. Whether you love to go to the movies or listen to live music with your friends, getting out and doing something fun will help keep your mood up.

Take a walk in the winter snow and cold once or twice per week. Even if you hate the cold, dress in layers, with hat, scarf and mittens and get outside and walk around the block. The fresh air is rejuvenating and you will feel great when you come back inside.

Have winter projects each year. Build a birdhouse or two or work in craft projects. Even knitting or crocheting for the needy is a fun and worthwhile endeavor. Keeping your hands active helps to reduce boredom.

Have a game night with the kids, neighbors or friends. Play cards, Monopoly or Balderdash. Or, start a dinner club with three or four others. Each participant would prepare a dinner specialty in their home and alternate with the other members. This can be a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly event.

Charitable Contributions of Time and Effort to Avoid the Blues

Volunteer at a local hospital, homeless kitchen or animal shelter. Giving your time and personal energy to others is one way to feel good about yourself. Also, seeing the misfortune that others bear can help you appreciate your own life and your blessings.

Get involved in a pet charity. A fun run or walk to raise funds is a rewarding activity, though fewer of these events tend to occur in the mid-winter months.

Volunteering to drive seniors to doctor appointments or to go grocery shopping is year round activity that can result in new friendships. You will certainly feel good about helping others with daily living chores.

Other Ideas to Keep the Blues at Bay

Winter is a great time to take a course at the local university or continuing education facility. Take Chinese language lessons, scrap booking or piano lessons if these are interesting to you. Or, if you have the credentials, earn a few extra dollars and teach your own cooking or writing class.

Be open to try new things. If you haven’t ice skated in twenty years, give it a try. Learn to snowshoe or cross country ski. Kick boxing and country line dancing are fun skills to learn.

Whatever you decide to do, keep your mind active and your hands occupied. Spending more quality time with family and friends during the winter will make for great memories. If you feel depressed, tired all the time and not able to enjoy your life, talk to your doctor. You may benefit from medication on a temporary basis to relieve the SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) or depression.

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