Woman RVer with cabin fever

How to Combat the Dreaded ‘Cabin Fever’ of RV Life

You can quickly develop a distorted view of RV life by watching YouTube videos and scrolling through Instagram. Many influencers rarely show the negative side and make it look incredibly exciting. While this can sometimes be true, RVers experience their fair share of not-so-glamorous moments. If you’re experiencing cabin fever, you’re not alone!

Today, we’ll shed some light on the dark side of RVing and what you can do to avoid cabin fever. Let’s get started!

What Is Cabin Fever?

Cabin fever is a mental state that develops when someone lacks social interaction and is confined indoors. This is typical of individuals who are quarantining due to an illness or are stuck inside because of the weather. 

Cabin fever can have a range of symptoms, but individuals typically experience irritability, restlessness, and intense levels of boredom. Those who suffer from anxiety and depression will likely notice they experience these feelings more intensely during cabin fever.

While you may be unable to escape the conditions causing it, learning how to handle the feelings is important. Luckily, we’ll share some advice and tips to help you in your battle with cabin fever.

Woman RVer with cabin fever

Do RVers Get Cabin Fever?

Unfortunately, RVers are not immune from cabin fever. One could argue that, due to the lifestyle, RVers are more likely to experience it more often than others. Even in a large RV, you’re likely looking at not much more than 300 square feet. Cramming several individuals and pets into this small space can be overwhelming in normal circumstances.

However, not every day is going to be sunshine during your adventures. Mother Nature often doesn’t care that you have an epic hike planned. She could quickly cancel those plans by dumping a few inches of rain or dropping the temperature by 20 or 30 degrees. In those situations, you’ll have no other option but to wait it out inside your rig.

A rainy day here and there isn’t typically a big deal for most RVers. However, cabin fever can start to set in if you experience consecutive days of less-than-ideal weather. In addition, the shortened hours of daylight in the winter can take a toll on you mentally. You can find yourself in a serious funk before you know it!

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How to Combat the Dreaded Cabin Fever of RV Life

Luckily, there are several things you can do that can help combat cabin fever during RV life. A healthy defense against a funk while RVing will utilize several tips and tricks. Let’s see which ones you can try the next time you experience cabin fever while RVing.

Create a Daily Routine

One of the best ways to avoid cabin fever is to create a routine. Create a schedule of how you’ll spend your time and set aside time for things you’ll want to look forward to throughout the day. Knowing that you have an exciting or interesting activity coming up can help keep you going.

In addition, our bodies tend to thrive when we’re in a routine. Going to bed and waking up at a specific time can be tremendously helpful. If you don’t believe us, just ask any new mom with her newborn on a schedule. Sometimes all it takes is a minor glitch to throw off your routine. Like a newborn missing naptime, we end up cranky and fussy the rest of the day.

Get Outside as Much as Possible

While you may not be able to spend the entire day outside, it’s a good idea to get out as much as possible. Going outdoors and breathing in some fresh air can be tremendously helpful. If there’s a break in the rain or you can bundle up against the cold, even a few minutes outside can have a significant impact.

If you’re in a campground, take a quick walk to stretch your legs and get your heart beating. It might surprise you how much better you feel after you get your blood flowing and elevate your heart rate. 

Exercise or Stretch Inside Your RV When There’s Inclement Weather

Unfortunately, inclement weather can sometimes last for several days and leave you stuck inside. You’ll have to transform your rig into a makeshift fitness center. Luckily, there are plenty of workout videos available for free on YouTube that you can try. Make sure you close your blinds to avoid giving the neighboring campsites a show.

A stretching session can sometimes do the trick if you don’t like doing an exercise video or a fitness routine. Touch your toes and stretch those muscles you may not have used to their full potential while you’ve been stuck inside.

Keep Your Brain Busy

One of the best ways to fend off cabin fever is to keep your brain busy. This could be through reading a book, learning a new hobby, or always having a puzzle waiting for you to put together. Just like you want to keep your muscles exercised, you also want to keep your brain fresh and energized.

The key to keeping your brain busy for as long as possible is finding an activity you enjoy. This could be a board game, video game, or another type of entertainment. However, it needs to balance fun and include a certain level of difficulty.

Woman sleeping in RV

Eat Healthily and Make Meal Plans

Some food may please your taste buds but can leave you feeling like garbage as your body digests it. Eating unhealthy foods can amplify and accelerate cabin fever. Not only will you feel crummy mentally, but also physically.

It’s a good idea to create a meal plan full of healthy foods. Eating fruits and vegetables can help boost your immune system and help you to stay in the right mental space while you’re stuck inside. By having a plan, you can also plan meals that taste good and require minimal effort. 

Find a Creative Outlet

If you’re going to be stuck inside with nothing to do, take the opportunity to find a creative outlet. This could be drawing, making music, or learning a new hobby. You can experience many emotions and thoughts that you’ll want to capture. Some of the best pieces of art were created during difficult times. Who knows, your cabin fever may result in the creation of a priceless work of art.

Plan Day Trips to Nearby Attractions

If the weather is causing you to experience cabin fever, look for nearby attractions that don’t depend on the weather. This could be malls, movie theaters, or other entertainment completely indoors or not affected by Mother Nature.

This can be a great opportunity to get out of your RV and into a new setting. You can find plenty of opportunities to spend some time out of your rig without spending a penny. However, there are plenty of museums and other cultural options that may come with a cost but are worth every penny to get you and your loved ones out of your RV for the day.

Schedule Movie Nights Instead of Continuous Binging

It might be tempting to binge-watch your favorite TV show or movie series, but this can only worsen your cabin fever. Instead of mindlessly watching TV all day, schedule movie nights or TV-watching time and make them something special.

Make a big bowl of popcorn and grab a few special drinks. Create an environment that makes the experience different. It may become a new Friday night tradition for your family!

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Full time RVer combating cabin fever

Do Full-Time RVers Get Lonely?

Many people hit the road and don’t stop to consider how potentially lonely the road can be. Full-time RVers often get caught off guard by unexpected feelings of loneliness. Traveling full-time often means spending limited amounts of time in an area. This can make it difficult to form meaningful friendships with others on the road. 

In addition, travelers could end up thousands of miles and several time zones away from their friends and family.

This is why it’s important for RVers to find an online community to join and connect with fellow travelers through social media. Technology can be a fantastic resource to help the miles seem a little less distant.

Is the RV Life Worth It?

RV life can be an incredible and unforgettable experience. However, it’s not always everything it’s cracked up to be. It will have its ups and downs as you make memories and experiences.

While there are some negative aspects to enjoying RV life, many full-time RVers find the positives far outweigh the negatives. The brief moments where you experience cabin fever can help you to appreciate the days when the weather seems too good to be true.

If You Love RVing, You Need to Stay Informed

Don’t rely on biased RV industry news sources to keep you informed with RVing news.

Stick with Nomadic News. We publish daily articles and breaking stories that matter to your RV lifestyle.

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