Winter can be fun…at first. Bundling up in warm clothes, sitting by roaring fires, experiencing the first snow of the season, even spending more time at home to relax is nice.

Unfortunately, by the time the calendar reaches the end of February, the fun has faded. We’re all tired of short days, freezing temperatures, and being stuck indoors.

What better time to discover some new hobbies to make the last month or two of winter (fingers crossed!) pass quickly? To get you started, here are some fun and inexpensive ideas to help you ramp up your excitement and cure your cabin fever.

Grab a Book. Reading is a great way to pass time, workout your brain, and open new worlds to explore. No matter what your interests, there are amazing books available to teach and entertain. No need to buy either, check out Project Gutenberg, one of many free online options out there.

Take an Online Course. Winter is the perfect time to commit to learning something new. Take up a new language, brush up on your writing skills, learn how to play an instrument. Whatever your interest, there’s likely a course out there for you. Here are some great online options to consider: Skillshare, Udemy, and MasterClass.

Organize Your Home. Ok, for some this doesn’t sound like much of a hobby, but few things raise your spirits like being productive and achieving a goal. Clearing out the clutter in your home and organizing your surroundings can help you enjoy your home more and give you a sense of accomplishment. Where to begin? Here is a link to a great article on how to get started.

Games and Puzzles. Good for your spirits. Good for your health. Good for your brain. Board games, card games, video and VR games, word games, jigsaw puzzles…all offer a variety of benefits, including a heavy dose of fun. Get started now by trying out these intriguing online options: Wordle. Luminosity.

Put Pen to Paper. Whether old-school or digital, writing can be a great winter (or anytime) activity. Journaling, blogging, writing stories or poems, all give you an opportunity to share your thoughts, explore your interests, or put on paper those creative ideas floating around your head. And if you want to take it to the next level, try entering a contest, here is a list of all kinds of writing competitions to consider.

Don’t let the winter doldrums weigh you down. Fight back with a new hobby! It might do more than just help you pass time until spring, it might introduce you to a life changing passion.

Stay well.