5 Ways to Beat Cabin Fever

As someone who has been working from home for 2 and a half years, I noticed I was developing Cabin Fever. And no, Cabin Fever does not mean that I miss being in a cabin so much that I need to take a vacation somewhere in the forest (I wish!)

So what is Cabin Fever? It is the development of restlessness, irritability, and loneliness resulting from isolation and lack of variety in a home environment. It is easy to fall into this if you do not monitor the amount of time you are spending alone and in the same environment. Working from home is everyone’s dream, but it can also make your home feel like a prison if you do not nip this in the bud before it begins.

I noticed I was developing Cabin Fever while I was yearning to leave my home. No one told me I was not allowed to leave my house, but my job usually makes me feel glued to my home office. My husband has been super supportive of me, and is always encouraging me to get out more often. For the days I couldn’t leave, I implemented things in my home to make it feel less stressful. I also began to journal about my home experience to document how often I feel isolated than connected in a community.

Here are the 5 ways that I beat Cabin Fever:

Redecorate or Rearrange Your Environment 🖼️

When we first moved into our home, everything was painted GRAY! The saddest colors of all colors. The lighting in our home was also fluorescent. At first, our home felt bright and welcoming. After months of working from home, I needed a change, and bulldozing the home and rebuilding it from scratch was not in the budget!

The first thing we did was paint our home. This was by no means an easy task, as there were multiple rooms where the original owners of the house decided it was a good idea to paint over wallpaper (GASP!). I needed this change for my own mental sanity, so my husband and I raised our paint brushes and got to work. I opted for more nature-resembling colors as I feel calmer in natural environments. Who would have thought wallpaper and the color gray would become the bane of my existence?

The difference it made to have the walls change from sad grey to warm French vanilla is incredible. My home felt less small and more of a space of comfort. After painting our home, I felt inspired to decorate our space. I love finding decor at thrift stores or accepting hand-me-downs from family and friends. I usually find the best framed artwork at my local thrift stores.

A quick change of scenery can work wonders on your mood, whether that is painting your home or rearranging the furniture. The change does not need to be extreme.

Get Moving 💃

If you work an 8-5 like I do, then you probably find yourself sitting more often than not. It is so easy to become comfortable with being lazy, but it can be detrimental to your mental state. I find that if I sit more than I move, I feel more trapped, sad, and unmotivated to do anything. There are many simple ways you can get moving that I recommend:

• Get a walking pad! This was one of the best decisions I have made. I can now take all of my meetings while walking. My work meetings usually last 30 minutes to 1 hour, so it’s an easy way to incorporate some movement into the busy workday. I have linked my current walking pad in case you are interested!
• Download the FitOn App. I LOVE this app. It is free, and trainers will walk you through workout routines. Some exercises last as little as 10 minutes and are low-impact. There are so many different trainers that you are able to test them out and find your preferred trainer. Did I mention that it is FREE?
• Go for a Walk. I walk my dog every day during my lunch break. Yes, that includes the winter. It is nice to get some fresh air after being in the house all day (especially during the colder months). Be mindful of the weather. I do not recommend going for a walk on too hot days, too cold days, or during any type of storm.

There are many more ways you can get moving at home. I recommend these options because these are the tools that I use daIly.

Connect with People 👩‍💻

Connecting with people can become difficult when you’re home alone for most of the day. Believe it or not, isolation can sometimes be more exhausting than socializing (at least it is for me). You can connect with people by having frequent phone calls (not texts), video chatting, or scheduling coffee dates. Humans naturally need a sense of community or connection with other humans. Don’t limit yourself to only work meetings and your home life (like I did for too long). Real human interactions that fill your cup make a big difference!

Bring the Outdoors Indoors 🪴

If you live in the north like I do, then you already know that it is cold outside much longer than it is warm outside. It is SOOOO important to bring a sense of nature into your home. One of my favorite ways to do this is by rescuing clearance plants from different stores (especially Lowe’s). Most days, you can find decent plants for 50% off simply because the soil is dry or the plant needs to be repotted. I have rescued more than 10 plants from the stores, and they are all currently THRIVING! Talk about a bang for your buck!

Some wallet-savvy ways to bring the outdoors indoors are by opening your windows. Let some fresh air in (without the furnace running, of course), open the blinds (let that sunlight in), and change your lightbulbs to a warm light. Staring a nature while sipping on some coffee can alter your brain chemistry in a cozy and positive way. I don’t know about you, but those white lights make me feel like I am stuck in an office or warehouse (EEEEEK).

Find a Hobby 🧩

Lastly, find a hobby that you enjoy! One of the easiest traps with working from home is falling out of your hobbies. I ended up losing my hobbies due to my self-isolation. With that, I no longer had anything that I genuinely looked forward to. Hobbies do just that, they spark joy and create structure in your days. Most days, I cannot wait to log off from work and cozy up with a book!

There are sooo many hobbies to choose from, and it is important to choose one that best suits you or something that brings you enjoyment. This can range from learning an instrument to writing a blog. I personally enjoy reading and singing so much that I started my own book club and joined one of my local choirs! Both hobbies allow me to still have a sense of connection with the community.

Cabin fever strikes hard once the hamster wheel of everyday life settles, and you don’t realize how fast the wheel is spinning. The smallest tweaks to your life can bring the biggest changes, and create motivation to stop running in place and make real progress! You may not be able to control everything in your life, by you can control your environment and the energy that it gives back to you.