Welcome to the Too Darn Happy Cafe,
where the sunshine is always bright and the afternoons warm!
This morning I realized that for the first time in my life, I am not suffering from cabin fever.
I grew up in New England where we joke that summer is a week or two long in July, bookended by the other two seasons: mud and winter.
My hubby and I had agreed for years, especially when we were knee-deep in snow removal with the bitter wind biting at our ears, that we wanted to live somewhere warmer.
We just always found multiple reasons we couldn’t, shouldn’t, or wouldn’t.
Then we got a taste of a mild winter when Keith was temporarily transferred for work.
That did it.
That move, which included my husband moving away for almost five months, broke the proverbial ice on all our excuses, and allowed us to see possibilities that had been there all along.
And we began to plan. And pray.
A lot.
And then, we moved to Tennessee.
Has it been easy? No.
We both have large and close families, mostly in the Northeast.
Our youngest is now in Montana, and our oldest is married and still in New England, with the cutest little baby girl on the planet.
As difficult as it has been settling in and learning our way around, locating a church, shopping for a house, and adjusting to a new language—you know, that sweet Southern drawl 
—we would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
I never knew how amazing it would be to live in a place where I can
go outside in January in just a sweatshirt, take a leisurely walk,
and stop and photograph whatever I wanted along the way.
And not end up with frozen finger-sicles.
Instead of seeing lots of this a short walk from my door:
I drink in the blues and golds of apartment complex pool in the warm January sunshine:
And watch as the crew corrals the latest batch of leaves:
Yes, the snow is pretty.
I miss being able to photograph it.
But not enough so I’m willing to shiver as I shovel another billion flakes of it.
Here’s the thing:
Maybe mild winters and a more gentle transition of seasons is not your cup of sweet tea.
Maybe you can’t imagine not being able to lift your face to the gentle snowfall as the flakes sparkle like jewels on your lashes and and form soft snowdrifts around your boots.
I get that. I really do.
Whatever the case, though, you need to find joy right where you are by taking action to get rid of the fever.
What does that look like?
Well, that depends on you.
1. You can get out of the house to visit someone or to go window shopping.
2. Get outside and take a walk. To quote Tony Robbins, “Motion creates emotion.”
3. Weather not cooperating? Find ways inside the house to get moving. Do stretches, put on an interactive game like Zumba, Just Dance, or play some virtual tennis.
4. Watch a funny movie or read a humorous book.
5. Gather some friends, share some food and play some old-fashioned board games.
6. Volunteer. An hour, an afternoon, a life-changing week. Just do it. The benefits can be surprising.
7. Change your perspective. Andy Andrew’s book, The Noticer Returns, promises to teach you “how to completely alter the situations in your life that seem “bad” by harnessing the power of perspective.”
8. Take up a new hobby or interest.
9. Do something wacky.
10. Read encouragement on the web. Michelle of A Dish of Daily Life is one of the hosts of Ladies Only Blog Share. The most recent is Cry Me a Frozen River. Heh. Skip on over and check out the multitude of linked posts to help lift your spirits.
Understand you are probably going to have to practically grab yourself by the cuff of your neck, march yourself off that couch or computer, and not allow yourself to return until you have taken action to change your perspective.
Because a body in motion tends to stay in motion,
and a body at rest tends to eat too many potato chips and chocolate.
Suffering from cabin fever is a lot like feeling absolutely stuck where you are without hope of escape.
Micheal Hyatt recently shared takeaways about feeling stuck from a conference he attended:
When people get stuck, it is often because they are playing a game of either/or. That’s a dilemma. If you think you only have one choice, it feels like a demand. If you have two choices, it’s a dilemma. But there’s always a third choice. Realizing this is what it takes to get unstuck.
I can’t recommend this advice enough.
You do have choices in your life, whether it’s about how to cure your cabin fever or how to completely change your life.
Now, choose something to do to change your state of mind, and go do it!
Question: Do you get cabin fever? How do you get over it?
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I live in the Northwest US where we get our fair of snow too. When I’ve been cooped up too long, I bundle up and go outside for a bit or I cook something scrumptious.
Mmmmm, cooking something scrumptious. Yes, yes! That was one of my cures, too. Nothing like a hearty beef stew with homemade biscuits! Thanks for sharing, Lori!
Twitter: daywithkt
says:
I do get cabin fever – the cold and I get along less every year!!!
When my husband retires (about 6ish years) we are headed to a beach – that helps me overcome my cabin fever – knowing it is temporary!!
Kim recently posted…Do Clothes “Make” Us?
Thanks for the smile, Kim. I hear you loud and clear, as that sounds just like my hubby and I!
Seeing a situation as temporary-that’s a great suggestion! It adds so much more hope. Thanks for coming by!
Twitter: SUSZYCUE
says:
An awesome post as usual; very uplifting. I loved your list of ideas for breaking out of cabin fever. My problem is I want to go back to the Cabin; I am out too much. I really think i will start my new novel tomorrow. I haven’t been had to time to read one for a long time.
Blessings for all your thoughts today.
Living Waters by LeAnn recently posted…The Word Is Charity~
Thanks, LeAnn. You made me laugh about you being out too much. I am the exact opposite. I get entrenched inside, especially since I have been concentrating on finding a house here in Tennessee..
Twitter: lvfromana
says:
I love the changing seasons as they add so much variety to life – but I too can do without being cooped up due to snow. If thick snow lasts a few days then I like that, a few months as it did one winter a couple of years ago in Scotland not so much. I’d love to live somewhere where the summer is warmer though. Enjoy Tennessee
Ana recently posted…25 Winter Date Ideas
Are the summers in Scotland warm at all, Ana? I am woefully ignorant about geography and weather, as evidenced by my post.
I understand loving the change of seasons. Autumn in New England—the northeast part of the U.S—is absolutely breathtaking in its beauty. That being said, I happily trade it for the more subtle transitions and milder weather here. Thanks for stopping by!
Twitter: lvfromana
says:
It does warm up in the summer, thank goodness, but it’s a very mild climate so we don’t need air conditioning. For the few nights it ‘s too hot it’s enough to open a window
The weather is quite unpredictable though so we always go to somewhere hot for vacation in the summer – Cyprus, Turkey, France or Italy over the last few years and we went to New York a couple of times as well – that was hot (and humid!)
Ana recently posted…Why Does Breaking Up Feel So Bad When You Are The One To End It?
Twitter: susanrstilwell
says:
YAY for Tennessee, Kim! Yes, we have similar winters here in SWVA and I absolutely love them. And I take every opportunity to get out and walk in the winter sun. I also listen to podcasts when I walk, putting feet to the proverb, “train your heart to wisdom and your ears to words of knowledge.” That’s a sure solution to cabin fever!
Hope you got a little snow with this last system
Susan Stilwell recently posted…What my fracture boot is teaching me about my walk
Hi Susan! So nice to see you.
I used to listen to podcasts in NH when I walked, but I decided it was too dangerous. It was a curvy dirt road with fast drivers, and there were bears that would catch you unawares. My sister met one once when she was jogging on our road.
I love the proverb, and may have to go back to listening to the podcasts again. I do miss them!
Twitter: fiercedivablog
says:
Gasp! The advice about there always being a third choice. Oh, how I love this. LOVE this! And I love living in the south too! And wearing flip flops in January! And your advice on getting out of cabin fever!
I love your enthusiasm for this information, Ilene. It’s so empowering, isn’t it? Flip flops in January? Sweet! Always good to see you!
Twitter: NinaBadzin
says:
Ahhh, that all sounds nice especially now from Minneapolis.
Found your blog through a comment you left at an old post of mine at Brain, Child Magazine (about enabling my kids’ helplessness). Glad to find you now!
Nina recently posted…The Unspoken Code Between Childhood Friends
Twitter: adriennesmith40
says:
Beware Kim, it still snows in Tennessee! Which part did you settle in? I have family in the Nashville area which is why I can make that claim.
For me, I’m a southern girl myself residing in Texas but on the end where we get no snow. Okay, I’ve seen a little bit of a tease every so often of snow but it’s barely enough to stick, we just end up with a muddy wet mess. I can’t tolerate the cold though so I would never be able to handle cold cold winters. That’s why I live here and why I’m such a wimp.
I know it will be hard being away from family but I think you have to do what’s best for you because everyone can always visit.
Enjoy and stay warm!
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted…Guest Blogging Is NOT Dead Says Matt Cutts
So you’re a southern girl who really dislikes snow? I can empathize with that, as I have been a northern girl who feels the same way.
It does snow here in Knoxville, and it has, several times, Adrienne! Locals tell me this is the coldest winter they’ve had in a long time. Heh. It’s still much milder for me here than it was in NH.
If you are ever passing through Knoxville, give me a shout and we can do coffee!
Thanks for coming by!