When someone says he or she is experiencing cabin fever, most people would imagine that person being cooped up at home on rainy weekends or during a blizzard. However, cabin fever can also mean other things.
What is cabin fever?
Cabin fever refers to feeling a series of negative emotions and distressing sensations after being isolated or cut off from the outside world. During these unprecedented times where social distancing and working from home are the new norms, the feeling of isolation and loneliness are bound to happen to individuals from all walks of life.
Although cabin fever is not acknowledged as a psychological disorder, it can cause a series of symptoms that are difficult to manage if not dealt with properly. In fact, if not handled well, it can also hinder daily work and activities.
The Symptoms of Cabin Fever
Contrary to popular belief, the symptoms of cabin fever aren’t just feeling bored at home. The symptoms almost always stem from a deeper, stronger feeling of isolation and they can include various symptoms: restlessness, reduced motivation, irritability, hopelessness, difficulty to concentrate, irregular sleep patterns, difficulty to wake up in the mornings, lethargy, distrust for people around you, lacking patience and constant sadness and depression.
Among the qualities within an individual that can tell how he or she may tide over cabin fever are their personalities and tempers. Some people may experience cabin fever and can get over it within a few days after distracting themselves with work or hobbies. Others may not be as fortunate and cannot manage their daily activities until the cabin fever ends.
How can we manage cabin fever?
The fortunate part about cabin fever not recognized as an official health disorder is that there is no standard one-way treatment for it. Nevertheless, mental health experts still acknowledge the severity of cabin fever symptoms.
If you are experiencing cabin fever, you can formulate your own solutions by reflecting on your own personalities, needs and the reason you are isolated. The key takeaway is to find meaningful ways to engage yourself so they can help relieve yourself from the distress you face from cabin fever. Here are a few suggestions for you to start:-
1. Spend time outdoors
Despite the partial lockdown that we are going through, it is important to take some time to be outdoors. Did you know that spending some time with nature is good for your mental health? Spending time outdoors is known to boost your mood, relieve stress and improve feelings of wellbeing. If you can’t go outside to jog or walk around your neighbourhood, you could always emulate the outdoors ambiance by trying out gardening on your porch or opening your windows to let the breeze in.
2. Establish a healthy routine
Now that a lot of people are opting for remote work, a lot of individuals struggle with balancing time for work and daily activities. In fact, some people who don’t set up a routine will often have their eating and sleeping patterns disrupted. Maintain a schedule by setting up time for work, meals, exercise, home chores and even time to wind down. Keeping up to the routines will help you achieve daily goals and keep you productive.
3. Keep socializing
Despite the new norm limiting individuals from going out and socializing with friends and family, there are still alternatives to keep socializing in these unprecedented times. Feeling connected to people you love helps to alleviate from the loneliness you get from cabin fever.
If you live with your family, try to talk to them whenever you have something weighing down on your mind. If you live by yourself, schedule video calls regularly with your family or friends and plan fun things to do online. The key is to honestly share your thoughts and emotions so you can realize that what you feel is normal and you’re not alone.
4. Be creative
Now is the best time to be creative and go all out on your artistic side. Did you have a guitar that’s dusty in the corner of your room? Clean it, tune the strings and start learning new songs. Do you have an old sketchbook that you bought two years ago but the pages are still blank? Sharpen your pencils, load up on ink pens and start sketching. Can’t get that catchy KPOP song out of your head? Learn the dance routine for that song from Youtube tutorial videos.
Keeping up a creative or artistic hobby not only keeps your time occupied and helps to relieve some stress from work, it can also lead to improved general wellbeing.
5. Set aside some ‘me time’
Let’s face it - despite spending months working from home and adjusting to the new norm, a lot of people still struggle to relax and have their own time to themselves. They either devote their time to work entirely to the point of exhaustion or have to attend to their responsibilities as parents, sons, daughters of the family. Many people forget to have some time to themselves to reflect and relax.
While it is true that everyone has their own roles and responsibilities within their social standings, you should also remember that you are responsible for your own wellbeing. Set aside some time for yourself and do activities that allows you to relax, from either reading a new book or listening to endless rounds of your favourite playlists.
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