UPDATE – When Cabin Fever Strikes!!

By the time February rolls around, that cozy feeling we get when we snuggle up by the fire for a long winter’s night is wearing thin!! The long, ice-cold evenings and short, dismal days of this season are losing their appeal. Daylight is in short supply, the outside world is a slushy wasteland, and we’re inside feeling cooped up, irritable, lethargic and depressed.

Welcome to the world of cabin fever.

Cabin fever may not be a psychiatric diagnosis, but it is a real thing, clinical psychologist Joel Klapow told TIME magazine in 2014.

“Basically, it’s your mind’s way of telling you that the environment you are in is less than optimal for normal functioning,” he said. “It’s when you’re in a space of restricted freedom for a period of time that you can no longer tolerate.”

At Piper Classics, we want you, our friends who enjoy farmhouse décor, to be happy in your surroundings, and that can’t happen if you feel boxed in by winter weather. That’s why we’ve put together these 10 tips for curing cabin fever this season.

1. Change your diet

Avoid high carb, high-fat foods, which can make you feel even more inactive. Instead, seek out lean proteins that contain a lot of omega-3 fatty acids. These can boost your mood, and often contain B12 and vitamin D, which help regulate your emotions. Look here for the Best foods to eat in the wintertime.

2. Get outside

By the third snow day in a row, you’re ready to bundle your kids up so they can go outside and burn off some energy. Why not do the same? As long as it’s not dangerously cold, time in the sun – even if it’s just touching your face – will give you access to Vitamin D, which will boost your mood. Be sure to wear a hat and gloves, and to dress in layers. Here’s why you really need to get outside this winter.

3. Get regular exercise

Early in January, many of us begin the New Year with a “Get in shape” resolution. This is a good opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: you can stick to the resolution, and improve your mood. Don’t feel like you need to go to the gym. Anything you do to keep your heart rate up for 30 minutes a day will help your mood. You can just go for a walk, or make small changes in your daily routine to see big changes in your spirits!!

4. Have a family game night

Get your kids – and yourself – away from computer/tablet/phone screens for a few hours and bond over some board games. Families with younger children might enjoy games like Candyland or Chutes and Ladders, while older kids will go for things such as Risk, Trivial Pursuit or Clue.

5. Throw a party

While it was nice to bond with your family over a marathon game of Monopoly, you might want to interact with other people. So consider planning a small party for friends or neighbors. Planning and preparing for the event will keep you active and help pass the time. Be sure to click here for some suggestions on how to throw a no-fuss, no-muss get-together.

Why not pile your party supplies onto this Galvanized Utility Cart for style and convenience?

6. Change your décor

Sometimes, all it takes to make your surroundings feel different is a new look. Hang some new curtains, or add a new piece of wall art, or simply rearrange your furniture.

 

 

7. Take up an indoor hobby

Being forced inside by cold weather can give you time to catch up on work or tackle a home improvement project you’ve been putting off. But you’ve also been given a chance to try out a new hobby: knit a sweater, build a birdhouse, create a gallery wall or knock out the first chapter of the novel that’s been rattling around in your head for the last year.

8. Avoid binge-watching.

Catching an entire season of the latest Netflix or Amazon series might seem tempting while you’re snowed in, but activities that don’t engage the brain and body could leave you still feeling depressed.

9. Open the shades

Like we said above, one of the toughest things about this time of year is how little sunlight we see. (But take heart: the shortest days are always behind us as of December 21). Take advantage of what little light there is by keeping your shades open during the day. You’ll not only make your surroundings feel brighter, but you’ll also help warm your house. Once the sun has set, you may want to add ambiance, charm, and light to your rooms with some of our unique and stylish lanterns.

 

10. Think spring

We don’t just mean “Keep a positive attitude!” (Although that’s important too). Think about what you want to do when the snow melts and things warm up: adventures to take, an exciting garden to plan, and new additions and changes to update your farmhouse decor. So bring spring in!! Cabin fever doesn’t last, but you will. View our Spring & Summer collections to get you inspired for warmer, sunshiny days ahead.

 

 

Be sure to check out our other home decor products.