When we are stuck indoors in winter, we usually sink into the sofa with the TV remote and a snack in hand. If there is nothing good to watch, we begin to scroll through social media for longer than we care to admit. This approach to winter can slowly drain our energy levels and spirit!
But that needn’t be the case. There are many more interesting and meaningful ways to use our time and revitalize our routine during those cold winter days.
The dopamine hit from the screen is sure hard to beat, but in the end, it often feels like a waste. Here are 12 indoor activities to beat cabin fever during winter. These activities are something different that can benefit your mind and help you (or your kids) get creative.
Bowling
Sometimes, I totally forget about bowling. It’s such an easy and fun indoor activity that is suitable for all ages and is a great way to pass the time. Get your mates or other family members on board and take a lane at your local bowling club for an hour. Typically, the more people you have, the cheaper it is to play.
If you are confined to staying at home, you can create your own indoor bowling game in a long corridor. You can get a mini set for about $20 to $30 on Amazon.
Choreograph a Dance
Have you ever seen those popular dance videos on TikTok? Yeah, you know where I am going with this.
Put your phone on a stand and record your signature moves with other groovy members of your household. You can even dress up for the occasion by wearing matching pajamas. It certainly makes a good laugh, if nothing else.
Teach Your Pet a New Trick
A good way to pass the time is to give some love and attention to your pet. There may have been a trick or two that you previously put off teaching them because you didn’t have time.
Can your dog play dead, speak, spin, and roll over? Now may be your opportunity to show them — and with lots of treats, of course!
Make Your Own Christmas Cards
What’s more special than receiving a homemade gift this Christmas? Get your kids involved and make some easy and simple Christmas cards.
You can use a site like Canva to create some personalized Christmas cards with your family photo or buy colored paper, stickers, and stationery at your local store. There are countless ideas online for making beautiful and festive Christmas cards.
Make Blanket Forts
When I was a kid, I used to make a sort of canopy or fort from all the pillows and blankets I could find. It was super cozy and a great place to watch movies and relax!
If your kids have a lot of energy to spare, allow them to make some blanket forts. It’s a fun way to pass the time and get them creative.
Plan Your Next Vacation
Here’s the secret to staying organized and getting the best deals! Think about where you want to go on your next vacation and begin planning it well in advance.
Sometimes, venues and tours are booked out months in advance. Flights are often more expensive the longer you wait, in my experience.
Have a Games Night
A games night in might be just what’s needed to kick the boredom on those long winter days. There are any number of games you can play, from traditional board and card games to fun trivia and apps like Heads Up.
Here are some awesome ideas for you and your spouse or your kids!
Have a Spa Day
You don’t need to leave home to have an invigorating spa day. Keep a small stock of face masks, bubble bath soaks, and oral care kits ready to incorporate a bit of self-care into your routine.
If you don’t know how to relax, the time to learn is now! And yes, that may mean taking a break from distractions such as the cell phone.
Bird Watch From the Indoors
I love watching the little robins hopping around our garden in the winter months. Unfortunately, this is a time of year when food is scarce.
Every bird has different tastes. According to Holly Reaney at Homes & Gardens: “American robins, for example, love to eat fruits while blue jays love to eat peanuts and northern cardinals love black oil sunflower seeds. Once you’re feeding your regular guests, you can then branch out with other types of feed and attract even more species of bird into your garden.”
Learn Magic Tricks
Show other people how magical you are! Learning magic tricks may be a fun new pastime you hadn’t considered, but it actually deserves a reasonable mention.
Doing magic tricks is like acting — you have to learn the art of persuasion to convince your audience what they are seeing is real, even if it’s not. It can also get you to explore alternative ways of thinking and enhance creativity.
Online Learning
In our recent article about bad work habits to break before the New Year, Career Growth Expert Tracie Crites told us about the importance of being able to adapt in today’s workplace and keeping up with industry trends.
If you’ve kids at home, they might like to try something like kids coding Scratch or maybe some brain training or other courses you can find on platforms like Outschool.
Learn a New Language
There are so many resources available online now that you can learn practically any language you desire from the comfort of your home. Learning a new language is a great way to enhance your memory and concentration and improve your communication skills. It opens a new window of opportunities in your personal and professional life.
I learned the Irish language, which was the first language of my ancestors, and it’s my way of honoring them.
