5 Indoor Hobbies to Try This Winter

Who doesn’t love snuggling under a warm blanket while you catch up on the latest movies or dive into a new book? And the idea of hibernating, especially during snowstorms and freezing rain, often sounds preferable to slipping and falling on ice or risking catching the flu. But if you’ve been spending too much time indoors, you might have a serious case of cabin fever.

Wondering how you can counteract the winter blues? Take up an indoor hobby or two. Enjoy these five activities from the comfort of your home, get your mind off the weather and take pride in learning a new skill.

1. Learn to Knit or Crochet

An image of someone sitting inside knitting on a cold winter’s day is a cliche one for a reason. Not only is it a great way to pass the time, but the hand movements can actually help if you suffer from arthritis. Knitting and crocheting can be done while you’re listening to an audiobook or watching television, and the scarves, hats, blankets or socks you create make wonderful gifts for friends and family. If knitting and crocheting are new to you, you’ll need to get knitting needles or a crochet hook and yarn. There are plenty of patterns to follow as well as instructional YouTube videos you can watch to help get you started.

2. Get Cooking

Nothing beats the comfort of a home-cooked meal. Whether you’re an experienced cook or a kitchen novice, the winter months are the perfect time to experiment with new recipes. It’s a great opportunity to take a break from your tried and true meals. There are plenty of places where you can find new recipes. The website and phone app Pinterest is a treasure trove of recipes for everything from appetizers to desserts and even beverages. You may also want to look through old cookbooks for recipes you’ve skipped over in the past and ask friends and family members to send you their favorite recipes.

3. Learn a New Language

Have you always dreamed of becoming fluent in Italian? Do you wish you remembered more of your high school Spanish? The chilly winter months are the perfect time to make that dream a reality. Whether you’re preparing for a trip to a foreign land, or you’re simply interested in becoming bilingual, you can download an app, like DuoLingo, to your phone to get started.

4. Move More

When you’re stuck inside for days on end, it’s easy to plant yourself on the couch and hunker down. However, being sedentary is not only boring, but it’s also bad for your mental and physical health as well. Nowadays, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the benefits of exercise from the comfort of your own home. Free YouTube videos and at-home fitness video services provide a variety of fitness formats. You can find everything from chair workouts to yoga, Pilates, dance fitness, and strength training. Get your heart pumping while you enjoy the many benefits of exercise, including increased happiness, a healthier immune system, and a stronger body and mind. Plus, who doesn’t want to be in better shape for the summer?

5. Get Creative

Take advantage of this extra time at home to embrace your inner child. Children seem to have endless amounts of creativity and are experts at keeping themselves entertained. Take a page from their book, embrace your inner artist and purchase an adult coloring book, learn calligraphy or take up painting. Exercise your brain and spend your free time completing crosswords or word searches. Invite friends or family over for a game night or a puzzle. Letting your creativity flow is sure to chase the winter blues
away.

Allegra Gallian is a freelance writer and blogger who specializes in lifestyle, health, wellness, and fitness. She lives in the southwest suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. When she’s not writing, Allegra enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.