10 Productive Activities to Help You Avoid Cabin Fever

It’s cold outside. It gets dark before work is over. And you’re longing for the warm, fun-filled days of summer. If you’re starting to despair that winter will never end, take heart. Instead of being bored, get involved with some activities you can do at home. Here are 10 productive ways to help you avoid cabin fever.

Take a Walk

Fresh air is good for you, even if it’s cold. Lace up your sneakers and take to the streets. Stroll around your neighborhood or a park close by. Have a dog? Leash it up and take it with you. A nice, long (or even short) walk will get your blood flowing and give you a break from being inside.

Host a Game Night

Get some socialization under your belt by inviting a few close friends, neighbors, or family members over for some games. Play cards, board games, or break out your best charades. An evening of playing games gives you the chance to do something you haven’t done in a while and visit with people you enjoy.

Make a New Recipe

Like to cook? Scour the internet for a multi-course dinner and turn your dining room into a fancy restaurant. Make an appetizer, soup or salad, main course, and decadent dessert. Pair it with a bottle of good wine. Dress up, set the table, and enjoy your tasty efforts.

Tackle a Puzzle

Open up that huge puzzle you never thought you would have time to finish and get the entire family involved. Doing a puzzle takes brain power but lets you have time for conversations, too. Work on it a little every evening, or set up a marathon puzzle session on a weekend. Either way, it’ll get you out from in front of the TV or stop you from rambling around on the internet for a few hours.

Learn Something New

Now’s the time to expand your horizons. Fortunately, YouTube probably has a video to help you learn anything you can think of. Learn how to communicate using American Sign Language or a foreign language, how to crochet, how play the guitar, or how to paint. The sky’s the limit on ways to entertain yourself by learning new things. Plus, it will give you a sense of accomplishment that helps fight off the bored-to-tears winter blues.

Go for a Drive

Instead of another afternoon crashed on your couch, load up in your vehicle and set out on an adventure. Yes, it may be windy and gray, but you can stay toasty while seeing some new scenery. Take a back road, drive around a lake or river, or cruise through a park. A leisurely drive is sure to improve your mood and offer some relaxation.

Virtually Tour a Museum

The COVID pandemic forced all types of attractions to adapt to the new environment. The results are some amazing opportunities to virtually tour museums all over the world from your house. Make a short list of the ones that interest you and set a family date to “visit” them together. Afterward, have some hot chocolate and talk about your favorite parts of the tour and what you learned.

Have a Concert

While you may never make it onstage, nothing livens up an evening like a good sing-along. Grab a wooden spoon or hairbrush, turn on some videos, and belt out some tunes. Like 80s hairbands? Play air guitar and blast the lyrics. Prefer hip-hop? Sing loud and show your family your smooth moves. A sucker for country? Croon away with your favorite artist and try some line dancing.

Make Some Cards

If you have older family, why not send them a homemade “thinking of you” card? They will appreciate it more than you know, because they probably have cabin fever, too. Or make cards for the residents of a nearby nursing home. Another idea is to make them for healthcare workers, grocery store employees, or other essential workers who have been so important to us all during the pandemic. This thoughtful gesture will make someone’s day.

Clean Out Your Closet

No, this isn’t fun, but you’ll be glad you did it. Go through your closet and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit, or you don’t wear anymore. Ditch clothes, shoes, belts and anything else you’ve stashed away. If you get really industrious, take everything out of the closet, paint it, and thoroughly vacuum the carpet. Buy some storage bins and shelving to better organize your space.

Being stuck inside in winter is not fun, especially as the cold weather hangs on seemingly forever. But, with a little imagination and elbow grease, you can find some fun, productive ways to fight off cabin fever. And if all else fails, get online and start planning you summer beach trip!