A Complete Guide to Beating the Quarantine Blues
It’s been just about a year since our lives all collectively took an interesting turn, and we are now feeling cabin fever without a doubt. I’m always on the lookout for safe and fun ways to get out of the house (full makeup on for the grocery store, anyone?) and I’m convinced that I’m not alone. Read on to get some ideas on how to kick those quarantine blues!
Backyard Fun
Ok, it’s not far away from your house, but it’s still outside. Besides, now that it’s March and it’s starting to get warmer, outdoor activities will be easier and easier to do. It’s amazing what a bit of fresh air can do for the soul. If you have kids or at least other people in your living space, outdoor games are always a great way to not only distract you from what’s happening in the world, but also a perfect way to bond with your housemates bonus points if you have a dog or five that can join in the fun.) You can get a simple backyard pool, and then get the dog one of their own because, well….who wants to share a pool with a wet dog, no matter how much you love them? Maybe the kids, actually. They probably don’t care. After a long day in the backyard having fun with your loved ones, grilling out is another great outdoor activity. Nothing quite like a home grilled burger that you can enjoy on the patio afterward. Chill out on the deck with a drink and watch the sunset - you’ll forget all your woes, if only for a night!
Cabin in the Woods
Cabin fever doesn’t count if it’s not your cabin, right? My partner and I have been tossing around the idea of throwing the dogs in the car, packing an overnight bag, and getting the heck out of dodge to a cabin in the woods somewhere for a weekend to just relax and unplug. To be honest, the only reason we haven’t already is because I watch far too many horror movies about cabins in the woods, and even if they are AirBnB approved, I am overly suspicious. Nonetheless, the idea of sitting out in the woods somewhere that I can’t hear any neighbors or loud cars or other annoying city noises sounds incredibly appealing. That or sitting in front of a fireplace in a cozy little cabin while I read a book or work on some knitting without a worry in the world for a night or two seems like such an amazing restart that everyone should have access to!
Get Active!
I myself am rather bad at this, and I don’t know why because I always feel better afterwards. Especially now when we have been stuck in our houses working from home, getting those endorphins going can really be an amazing mood changer. My fitness tracker tends to help me exercise more just by making me feel guilty when it gets to be 3:00 pm and I’m only at 500 steps. Even going for a few-mile walk with the dog cheers me up for at least a few hours, or a walk around the block every few hours just to get moving and have a change of scenery. I used to bike to work every day, and I think that was the best that I felt in my whole life. The longer I live in the city, the more I think hiking is another outdoor activity I would love to get into. I’ve also started trying to make a habit of doing yoga every day because I cannot tell you how much it helps my back pain, while also relaxing the heck out of me, and when the weather's nice I do it outside and feel even better!
It’s been a tough year. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and if you are in dire need of being somewhere that isn’t the inside of your house, I hope I was able to give you some ideas. Hang in there!