Updated with current information for 2022
When you’re knee deep in February ice, the cabin fever can get pretty thick. You’ve probably forgotten what grass looks like. Sunshine has the color of watered-down phlegm. It feels like years since you’ve been outside your Ohio University housing and you’re ready to murder your roommate.
Careful with that axe, Eugene. Get outside, breathe a little, shake out those wings and remember there’s a world outside your living room. Here are 6 tricks to busting through that winter induced cabin fever.
Take a Hike
One of the best ways to break through the confinement of winter is a nice hike. Pick a mild day and head to a forest. You don’t have to go far. Strouds Run is a quick drive from campus. The Ridges is technically still campus. The exercise and the nature will do wonders for your state of mind.
Frisbee Like Your Life Depends On It
Believe it or not, but playing Frisbee is still legal in February. You don’t have to wait until spring hits to toss the disc. There are plenty of days in February where the weather is at least 45 or higher, so your fingers won’t freeze off and you’ll get some much needed exercise. And if your house has a yard, you don’t even need to go very far to play!
Wage a Snowball Fight
Even when the world is a solid chunk of snow and ice, put down the XBox and step outside for a good old fashioned snowball fight. You’ll get some fresh air, some much needed Vitamin D sunlight (the reflection from the snow can increase its benefits), and remember what the outdoors are like. Just like frisbee throwing, you can do this right in the front or backyard of your rental.
Take Night Walks
Walking at night can be a great way to remember the world outside the walls of your apartment. Bundle up, head off to where there’s little civilization like the bike path or the Ridges and get a good look at the stars. It gives the brain a much needed dose of sky infinity, a sure cure for winter blues.
Take a drive
If your rental has parking and the roads are clear, consider taking a drive to clear your head and relax. You can even treat yourself to some Canes up in Lancaster – just a 45 minute drive away!
Stay at a friend’s place
If you’re living with roommates – be it a small two-bedroom apartment or large six bedroom home – you’re bound to get fed up with the people you’re living with, especially in the dead of winter.
To counter this, consider heading over to a friend’s or significant other’s home to spend the night. A nice change of scenery and being around other people can give you a much-needed break from your roommate(s). Plus, if you live farther off campus and your friend lives uptown – you can even enjoy a nice little night out on Court Street and come back to your friend’s apartment at the end of the night.