January in Willow Lake is beautiful… for exactly twelve minutes. After that, reality sets in. The wind hurts your face. The snowbanks get higher than Mo. The sun clocks out at 4:45 p.m. And everyone starts pacing around their house like caged squirrels. Yes, friends, it’s officially Cabin Fever Season — that special time of year when winter settles in and the walls start closing in (usually around the same time your family asks, “What’s for dinner?” for the third time in an hour).
As a prepper, I’m not immune to cabin fever — but I am prepared for it. Here’s how I stay sane, cozy, and reasonably cheerful while Willow Lake hibernates under three feet of snow.
1 – Make Your House Feel Like a Cozy Den (Not a Snowbound Prison)
January isn’t the time for stark minimalism.
January is the time for:
Soft blankets
Warm lighting
Good books
Scented candles
Socks that feel like hugs
Tea (a necessity, not an option)
I rotate out lighter décor and bring in all the winter comforts. My house ends up looking like a cross between a reading nook and a mountain lodge — and honestly, I love it. Mo loves it too. He rotates from blanket to blanket like he’s testing beds at a furniture store.
2 – Keep Your Hands Busy (Your Brain Will Thank You)
Cabin fever thrives on idle hands, so I always have a winter project ready:
A puzzle spread across the table
A craft I started last year (and might finish this year!)
A notebook full of ideas
A small winter herb garden by the kitchen window
A new recipe to try
A sewing repair pile I finally tackle — one item at a time
And yes, sometimes my project is simply reorganizing a shelf I already reorganized in October. Organization is therapy.
3 – Read Something That Pulls You In Completely. January is prime reading month. I curl up with:
A new mystery (my favorite, obviously)
A comfort reread
Something funny
Something inspiring
Something escapist enough to convince me I’m not currently freezing
Bonus: reading keeps me from staring at the weather app every hour and saying “Really? MORE snow?”
Ian reads too — usually sitting beside me, Mo at our feet, Roxie pretending she wasn’t about to knock over my bookmark. It’s peaceful, even if Ian occasionally falls asleep mid-chapter.
4 – Get Fresh Air, Even When You Don’t Want To
Mo insists on this one. There are days when the wind hits my face and I wonder if my ancestors made questionable settlement decisions… but the moment I’m out there, breathing crisp January air, everything feels clearer.
Just a short walk helps:
wake up the brain
shake off the urge to hibernate
reset your mood
convince yourself you’re still alive
Mo bounds through snow like a creature born for winter. I follow behind him, bundled so tightly I resemble a walking pillow. But afterward? I’m always glad I went.
5 – Have “Pick-Me-Up” Moments Built Into Your Week
To survive cabin fever season, you need intentional joy.
Mine include:
A weekly tea ritual
A cozy movie night
A spa-at-home hour (face masks, warm towels — the works)
Trying a new soup recipe
Calling a friend
Browsing the Willow Lake Library for something unexpected
Baking something small — banana bread counts
Sitting by the window just to watch winter be winter
These are little moments that break up the monotony and remind you the world is still turning — even if it’s frozen solid.
6 – Check on People (Cabin Fever Loves Company)
Winter gets lonely, especially after the holidays. So I make a point to check on:
My mom (though she’s usually busier than all of us)
My dad at the station
My brothers (who claim they’re fine but aren’t fooling anyone)
Neighbors
Friends
Anyone living alone
A quick call or message can turn someone’s whole day around. Plus, I like knowing everyone’s doing okay in the Willow Lake deep freeze.
7 – Give Yourself Grace (It’s Winter, Not a Productivity Boot Camp)
January is a strange month. People expect themselves to launch into resolutions like rockets, and I’m over here celebrating that I remembered to drink water before noon.
So let me say this clearly: You do not need to conquer the world in January.
You can:
Rest
Pause
Move slow
Recover from the holidays
Save your big projects for spring
Winter is for hibernating — we’re just more polite about it than bears.
So my Cabin Fever Season advice is simple:
Keep warm, keep moving, keep cozy, keep connected — and keep your sanity by planning tiny joys into every week. And if all else fails… make soup. Soup solves everything in January.
Stay warm, stay cozy, and of course…
Stay prepped and prepared.
Pepper
