We’ve been in pandemic mode for over a year, and many people have stayed home, changing the pace of their lives. And while staying home has kept us safe, everyone is dealing with a serious case of cabin fever.
It’s one thing to have cabin fever after a tough winter, which many of our northern neighbors have to deal with. (Here in Florida, we typically don’t hibernate until the peak summer months.) But it’s a whole other thing to be stuck indoors for an entire year. You may feel like you are missing out on life, the mood inside your home can become stagnant, and you feel like you want a bit of adventure outside your house, even just for a little while.
Staying in the house for safety’s sake is important because it protects our family, our community, and ourselves. But we also need the occasional experience outside the house. We can’t just spend all day every day at home. While we may not be able to socialize with other people, it’s still good to get outside, breathe some fresh air, and get a little sunlight. (We need that vitamin D!)
So while you can’t head to the beach or the slopes for Spring Break this year, there are a few things you can do to cure your cabin fever and still stay safe.
Take a walk outside. If it’s a nice enough day, taking a walk outside can be refreshing and healthy. Breathing in the outside air is different than just opening a window at home to air the place out (especially if you live with teenagers). Getting some exposure to sunlight may also give you the vitamin D your body needs. You can even invite a friend to walk with you. Walk around your neighborhood or drive to a walking trail and meet your friend there. (Just remember to stay masked up.)
Go to a state park. Public places have either stayed open or are re-opening, and some of them are more popular than others. People want to get outside and stay socially distanced, so many are heading to national parks. But that also means they’re skipping the state parks. Chances are there’s a state park no more than a couple of hours from your house. You can take a quick trip to a state park for a hike or nature walk and still be back home before dinner time to talk about the amazing experience you had. And if you want to stay away for a couple of days, many state parks have overnight lodging.
Ride your bike or skate. Just like walking, bike riding and skating are two ways to get mobile and go faster farther. You get some good exercise and some time in the sun too. Or if it’s still winter where you are, and there’s snow on the ground, rent some cross-country skis and head out on the trails. If you live close to the mountains, go downhill skiing or even tubing and sledding.
Go for a long drive. Sometimes beating cabin fever just means seeing new scenery. You can get that by going for a long drive. Drive a couple of hours away to a place you don’t go very often but have always wanted to see. The trip is all about the journey and not the destination. So even if the destination isn’t what you had hoped, the point is to get away for a while. Drive out to the country, find a small town, and stop for lunch. If you don’t live near any water, drive for a few hours so you can hike around a lake or along a river.
Go Kayaking or Canoeing. If it’s warm where you live, find a lake or river near you and rent a kayak or canoe. (We also have several fresh-water springs in Florida for this.) For a little money, you and a friend can rent a canoe, or you can go solo in a kayak. For just a little bit of money, you can take a tour with a group, like the bioluminescent tours in Titusville, Florida. (Titusville is also very close to the Kennedy Space Center if you want to learn more about our space efforts.)
Of course, you’ll want to do all of these things with a sense of caution. Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions. But it does beat breathing the same air at home all day long. At least when you’re outside, you’re in a well-ventilated area and at a lower risk for COVID infection. Just remember to stay masked up and socially distant.
How do you beat cabin fever? Do you avoid it or deal with it as it comes? What are some of your favorite “cabin fever cures?” Share them with us on our Facebook page, or on our Twitter stream. You can also find us on our Instagram page at @TravelproIntl.