The Best Ways to Beat Cabin Fever in Missouri

Winters in Missouri can sometimes be brutal. With what seems like neverending snow and ice, it can start to feel like you’re trapped in your own home. After several days of not being able to get outside, you may start to feel bored and restless.

Part of the reason we feel this way is because, as a society, we are very busy people. Even when work and school days are through, many children have after-school activities. This can keep children and parents busy right up until bedtime.

Because we are so used to being on-the-go, we don’t have much downtime and have forgotten what to do with ourselves when we are not in motion. It’s not that we need to be constantly entertained but, without our trusty calendar of events to tell us where to go and when, we’re lost. To have time for ourselves without having to go anywhere almost becomes confusing.

However, figuring out what to do when you’re snowed in is easy. There are plenty of things you can do inside your house. Here are our top five best ways to beat cabin fever in your Missouri home.

1. Dust off the board games.

If you are trapped indoors with at least one other loved one, now is a great time to break out the board games. Most board games are suitable for a minimum of two people. Even if only one other family member will play with you, you can still have fun.

For families with young children, try games like Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Operation, Guess Who?, Sorry!, Connect Four, and Uno. Okay, Uno is technically not a board game, but it’s still a ton of fun.

Families with children who can read quite well should try any of the games listed above as well as Monopoly, Clue, Othello, Apple to Apples, Chess, and Checkers. While many of those games don’t include reading, the directions are a little bit more complex.

If you have no board games at all, it’s okay. There are still games you can play. My two favorites are Charades and Pictionary. All you need is a timer, scratch paper, and a pre-game brainstorming session. Let every player write down suggestions and agree how much time each person is allotted to act out or draw their clue.

There are so many games that you can play with the whole family. Being trapped inside offers a great opportunity to interact without electronics, laugh, and make lasting memories.

2. What have you been wanting to do? Go do that.

Now is the best time for self-care time. Think about something that you’ve been wanting to do but haven’t gotten around to. Today is a perfect day to do that thing.

Here are eleven suggestions to help you decide what to do while you’re snowed in:

• Binge watch a TV show you’ve been wanting to check out;
• Check out that movie your friends have been talking about;
• Start reading (or rereading) a book;
• Listen to your favorite album, CD, or mixtape;
• Take a long, hot shower or soak in a bubble bath;
• Exfoliate dead skin;
• Call a family member or friend that you’ve been thinking of;
• Take some time to meditate;
• Create goals for the upcoming year;
• Do an in-home workout; or
• Be completely still and daydream.

3. Take short breaks to play outside.

No matter what sort of bad weather you have, take a moment to enjoy it. As many Missourians know, this too shall pass. The snow piles you have on Monday may be almost totally dissolved by the time Friday rolls around, so get out there and have fun now.

Whether you take a quick skate on your driveway or make some snow angels, the fifteen minutes you spend outside will do you good. When you play outside, it lifts your spirits, boosts your endorphins, and gives you a little bit of outdoor exercise time. Then, when you come in, you can really appreciate the beauty of a nice, warm home.

4. Declutter.

It’s possible that part of the reason you wish you were outside your home is that you already have too many items inside. When we accumulate things, they start to take over. Pretty soon, it starts to feel like there is no room for us because the stuff has taken up all the space.

If that sounds familiar, it’s time to declutter. The best way to tackle decluttering is to work on rooms that you are infrequently (such as the kitchen, bathroom, or your bedroom) or address any rooms that don’t feel welcoming. For example, if you don’t like being in your living room, spend some time there to figure out why.

In each room, examine each item. For each item that is yours, decide whether you use it or whether it brings you happiness. If you do not use it and it does not bring you happiness, put it in a pile to donate to a local charity. This donation is a win/win situation because your donation is often a tax write-off and someone who needs that item can be using it.

Please note that you should only go through items that belong to you. Do not attempt to process and sort items for your spouse and children. Instead, ask them to help you out and emphasize the importance of getting rid of things you don’t use. When you donate, you help others and make room for new goodies in your home.

5. Complete indoor renovations to get your home market-ready.

If you’re not planning on selling your home when spring rolls around, you might think this suggestion doesn’t apply to you. False. Instead, you should take the time to thoroughly clean your home and make any small repairs that you can.

Do things like:

• Wipe down your walls and baseboards,
• Clean your ceiling fan blades,
• Use Magic Eraser to remove any scuffs or marks from your walls,
• Freshen up the paint,
• Re-caulk your tub or shower (if you have caulk on hand), or
• Make a supply list for home projects to complete when the weather gets nicer.

For others, though, who are wanting to sell their homes this spring, check out our post, “5 Quick Wintertime Projects to Make Your Home Sale-Ready.” This will help give you an idea of some indoor projects that will help boost the value of your home come listing time.

If you are looking for other ideas to improve the value of your home, contact one of the agents with Ramseier Realty Group. We’re happy to help you identify winter projects you can be doing right now to ensure a spring sale. Give us a call today at 816.262.8077 or visit our website to learn more about us.