While many people in the United States are on the homestretch to spring, those of us who live in the north still have about two months before we can safely put away our winter coats. With that in mind, I thought it would be great to discuss things to do to keep yourself from being eaten away by cabin fever.
Get outside
One great thing about March and April is that for the most part, the bitter temperatures are behind us so going outside can be enjoyable. Being outside isn’t too bad when you have clothing that helps you stay warm and dry. A beanie is absolutely essential as are gloves or mittens and I highly recommend a pair of fleece lined pants or wind pants for walking outside when it is 45 degrees F or colder. (You can check out my tip of the week for some recommendations on outerwear). A brisk walk outside does wonders to lift your mood. The next few months will bring great changes in all of the plants outside. You can observe and enjoy seeing these changes if you go outside on a regular basis.
Get together with friends
No need to have a full-fledged party to do this. Just make it informal without decorations, party favors, or a fancy invitation. Simply send a text with the details and you’ve got a party in the making. Buy or make your favorite dessert or savory snack or have friends bring food and make it a potluck. You can also make dinner together. Have several people bring various dishes so that you aren’t stressed with making all of the food. Host a game night with parlor games, board games, or video games. Host a movie night party complete with popcorn. If you don’t want to host something at home, invite friends to go to a movie, out for dinner, or to just go on a walk together.Take a peek at my article on hosting parties and gatherings for more ideas.
Take Advantage of Local Events & Nearby Towns
You don’t have to go far to find things to do. Become acquainted with what’s going on in your city. Minnesota has great events in the winter both indoors and outdoors. A quick Google search will easily find events in your area. Maybe you can find a home and garden show to inspire you for summer projects. Check out an arboretum or conservatory nearby for indoor spring flower shows. We recently attended a beautiful display of flowers at Minnesota’s Landscape Arboretum. Not many things are as good for the soul as are arrays of colorful flowers. If plants aren’t quite your thing, find a play, concert, comedian, or some other performance to attend. Another fun thing to beat the winter doldrums is to pick a town that is not too far from you and go on an overnight adventure to check out that town. Do a bit of research prior to your trip to find out the best restaurants in town and eat at them. Walk down the town’s main street and check out the shops there. You can always travel further and if that’s what you’re wanting to do here’s my post on finding places to travel in the USA.
Hobbies & Project Planning
Another great way to enjoy the rest of winter is to choose a new hobby and throw yourself into it. Better yet, find a hobby that you and your spouse can do together. You can of course expand a hobby or skill you already have as well. For extra fun invite a friend to join you. Kim wrote a fabulous article on finding hobbies that you can read to get your brain going on what might strike your fancy. One of my favorite things to do in the winter is to plan my cut flower garden. In preparation for my garden, I start seeds beginning in February. It brings me a lot of happiness to see these seeds sprout and grow. Starting seeds yourself gives you a wider variety of plants to grow in your garden since you can start varieties that aren’t available at your local garden center. Seed starting can even save you money. Try it out! You might find your new passion. In addition to garden planning you can plan any other outdoor renovations or projects that you might have on the docket. By creating your plan and gathering supplies now, when the weather is perfect for working, you’ll be able to get going on it right away.
Plan a trip
To get your mind thinking of something other than the unpleasant weather outside, plan a trip. Make any reservations you need for flights and/or accommodations. If you are driving to your destination, take a close look at the map to see if there are places along the way that you want to check out. Jump onto YouTube and watch videos about the area you are visiting to learn all about your destination.
Read
When was the last time you sat down and read for fun? Now is a great time to do that. To get out of the house, take a trip to the library, find a great chair there (preferably near a sunny window), and spend an hour or two, or more reading. If you’re not sure what to read, chat with a librarian to get recommendations. In addition to reading fiction, consider learning more about something that you don’t know much about by searching the catalog for books on your chosen topic. Libraries also have a multitude of magazines and newspapers so you can enjoy reading periodicals as well.
Serve and Volunteer
You don’t have to look far to find someone who could use a helping hand. There are so many ways to lift and serve others. You can serve simply by shooting a text off to a friend, smiling at a stranger, or holding the door open for someone. Volunteering is a very worthwhile use of time. Right now might be a perfect time to find a way to help someone or an organization that needs volunteers. Check out Kim’s article for tips on volunteering.
There are some great things about winter but it can indeed get tiresome. I hope the above recommendations give you an idea that will boost your energy and motivation level. Please comment below on what helps you get through the winter. The good thing is, before you know it spring will be here!
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