10 Fun Things To Do When You Are Snowed In
I have been snowed in by blizzards and ice storms. I was fortunate enough to have enough food and supplies to last until it was safe to go back out again. After a while, though, the cabin fever started to get to me a little. Based on my experiences, here are some ideas of how to stave off boredom and enjoy your time at home when you're snowed in.
1. Cook something
One time, I made tortillas during a snowstorm using a really simple recipe and some stuff that I had lying around the house. Even with just random ingredients like flour, salt, and butter, you might be able to make some interesting things. If you want to prepare for a future snowstorm, find an online recipe web site and look for recipes that you'll probably have enough ingredients for during a snowstorm. Or go and buy some things to make before the storm hits. If your electricity is out during a storm, though, this might not be a viable option.
2. Stories
I did a lot of reading during a snowstorm one year. A little escapism makes a good way to pass the time when you're snowed in. Making up a story is great if you don't usually do that sort of thing, because doing something new and different is often a great way to get rid of boredom. Don't feel embarrassed or anything. You don't have to tell your story out loud; just imagine it to yourself. If you do feel compelled to tell the story out loud to someone who's with you, then you'll both be entertained, you'll have a bonding experience, and the time will pass more quickly.
3. Sing
I don't usually get the chance to be all alone and singing without fear of embarrassment. If you're at home alone, or if you're with people who won't be too bothered by your singing, this could be a great way to pass the time. It will exercise your vocal chords and lungs, and it will probably make you feel good. Singing is one of those things that can release endorphins, the natural painkiller. Singing will pass the time, and if you're a good singer, you'll entertain those around you, too.
4. Clean
Cleaning is usually a really boring chore that a lot of people don't like, but cleaning house during a snowstorm will not only make things clean but will also help to pass the time. If you're having a hard time motivating yourself, read how to clean your room when you really do not feel like it.
5. Sleep
This isn't a great recommendation, but if you're low on sleep, you might want to sleep during a snowstorm to take advantage of the extra time during a blizzard. This is best if you are already really sleep-deprived and need to catch up. If you're low on sleep at any time, you should always get as much sleep as you can so that you don't have a so-called sleep debt. Just be sure not to sleep for too long at a time, because this tends to make you feel even more sleepy. A nap for fifteen or thirty minutes is probably the maximum you want to go for to avoid added sleepiness.
6. Play Games
If you're bored, play a board game. Most board games and card games don't need electricity, and they're a great way to spend time together with family. If you have a portable game system that has enough battery charge or batteries to last a while, you can play a game on that. Although be sure to conserve batteries if you might need them for radios or flashlights.
7. Meditate
Meditation might sound like a weird new-agey thing, but meditation could help you learn how to minimize stress and gain better control of your thoughts. There are still debates about the potential health benefits of meditation, but as a form of stress relief, it has been shown to be helpful. Just sit quietly and monitor your thoughts. Concentrate on a single, positive thing, like an imagined object that makes you happy, then if you find your mind thinking of anything but that, gently guide your mind back to the contemplation of the happy thing. Don't get frustrated when your mind wanders; the goal of meditation is not to stop your thoughts, but rather to practice and get good at quieting your thoughts when they pop up. This can train you to be more mindful--that is, more in the moment, rather than absorbed in your thoughts and not focusing on what's around you--which can help you be in a better frame of mind even when you're not meditating.
8. Make plans
There have been times when I have felt so overwhelmed by the day-to-day things that I couldn't give much thought to the future. If you have felt like you've been too busy to make any plans, a blizzard is a good time to catch up on those goals. If you have enough light to write with, or have a charged up laptop, or can just make plans and remember them in your head, you can write down some thoughts about the future, and think about some short-term objectives that can help you achieve long-term goals.
9. Write letters
The old-fashioned way of communicating by writing letters is none too commonplace these days, but it hasn't completely gone away. Just get out some paper and a pen or pencil, find an envelope and some postage, and start writing a letter. Friends and relatives might be pretty happy to get a surprise letter from you, especially when so many people just get bills and junk mail in the mailbox these days. Adding stickers and drawings to your letters will make them even more special for your recipients.
10. Play in the snow
If the weather isn't too bad, you don't necessarily have to stay indoors. If you have good winter clothing that will keep you warm and dry, you can go out into the snow and make snowmen, walk around, have snowball fights, and just enjoy the quietness of a snowy day. Just be careful not to walk around on the roads, and be sure not to walk on any ice.