To claim cabin fever right now is an understatement and usually reserved for snow-bound or flu-induced weekends. We’re on month 10 (!) of keeping our own company, and even the grocery store is a special outing now. So how do you cope in this new world?
Here are some safe and responsible ways to get out of the house this winter:
- Bundle up for winter hiking.
Find a state or city park near you and invite a few friends for socially-distanced walks. Not only will you get some much-needed exercise, you’ll gain a mental health boost just by being outside in nature. - Order takeout.
Plan a date with your significant other or whole family by ordering takeout and driving to a scenic overlook. Bonus points if you support local, family-run restaurants! - Walk the neighborhood.
Catch up with a friend over thermoses of hot chocolate, tea, or coffee while walking local streets. If you’re strolling solo, listen to audio teaching from your favorite study or catch up on the MARKED podcast - Scout out the best Christmas lights.
Drive around your neighborhood looking for the biggest, brightest displays of the holiday season. And don’t forget the Christmas playlist and hot chocolate! - Coordinate a virtual photo scavenger hunt.
Email all participants a list of items or locations to take pictures of, set a time limit, and create a private Facebook group or group text where everyone can upload their photos. (This works well for far-away loved ones, too.) - Play games that don’t involve cell phones.
Get the whole family involved! On your next drive, take turns stringing a story together with each person adding one word at a time. Or have one person come up with a word and the first person to sing a line from a song that includes that word gets a point. If you’d rather take in the scenery, create bingo boards of roadside sights or state license plates.
How are you getting out of the house this season?
