37 Winter Activities That'll Help You Avoid Cabin Fever in 2021

There’s nothing like the first snow of winter: fluffy, white, and magical. Still, this frozen precipitation can lose its allure over the course of the season. After you’ve run through the usual list of outdoor winter activities once or twice — sledding in the park, starting snowball fights, lapping an ice-skating rink, building snowmen, and more — you may be ready to retire indoors by the warmth of a fire or in front of the television until spring.

Of course, keeping your family indoors for an extended period of time can lead to a case of cabin fever without enough fodder for entertainment. Winter can also have an impact on your mental health. Losing sunlight and finishing work after it's dark can negatively impact your mood, sleep, and motivation to do anything but lie around on the couch (not that there's anything wrong with lying on the couch—no judgement!). More than 500,000 people in the U.S. are so affected by the winter blues that they actually develop seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is a type of depression related to the changing seasons. Symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, social withdrawal, and fatigue often begin in November and end in March, according to University of Cincinnati Health.

If you're struggling with symptoms of anxiety or depression, seeking support from a mental health professional is the best course of action. But in many cases, trying to stay physically and mentally active can also help manage symptoms of the winter blues. So whether you’re trying to fill a snow day, weekend, or entire holiday break, these at-home plans will help keep you busy and entertain the whole family.