| It's contagious, and regardless of whether you live | | | | take stock of the clutter in your cabin. Stacks of |
| in the Land of the Midnight Sun, amid blizzards or | | | | yellowed magazines, dust-coated collectibles and |
| where football season is drawing to a close, the | | | | dated clothes in your wardrobe may be |
| ravages of nature's extremes lurk in the | | | | undermining your positive thoughts and emotions, |
| darkness. Yes, it is called Cabin Fever and how to | | | | thus contributing to your "fever." Clearing your |
| reason with this phenomenon takes planning, | | | | clutter can help bring about harmony and balance |
| foresight and fortitude. So before you slip from | | | | in your cabin. |
| motivation into hibernation, bring out the Ouija | | | | Feng Shui's #1 rule is easier said than done. |
| Board, polish your cowboy boots and stock up on | | | | Getting started is key. Here's a tip. Make two lists. |
| videos, chocolate and playdough. | | | | One list contains tasks that can be accomplished |
| Around the world people are plotting and planning | | | | in 15 minutes, such as organizing the holiday |
| their strategy to thwart this annual insidious | | | | decorations before you return them to storage |
| winter-time fever that brings on claustrophobia, | | | | and alphabetizing your spices, if you must. A |
| depression, and boredom. In Fairbanks, when | | | | weekend list is filled with projects that require an |
| temperatures dip to fifty below, children are | | | | hour or two of your time and energy. Bigger |
| gleeful when snow sledding and freeze-tag are | | | | chores include organizing the basement or garage, |
| followed by snorkeling in the swimming pool and | | | | and sorting through your child's unused toys and |
| blizzards are so powerful that Grandma's stove | | | | deciding together how to put them back in |
| blows sideways. | | | | service by giving them away or donating them. |
| Around the Chesapeake Bay watershed where | | | | Supporting charity is a great way to reason with |
| the temperatures are more mild, these Alaskan | | | | the season. |
| experiences make memories of the area's 2003 | | | | Even though the best Cabin Fever cure is to stay |
| blizzard seem as soothing as the fluffy | | | | busy, if "activity stuff" adds to your "fever," you |
| marshmallow foam oozing over a cup of steamy | | | | can kick back, listen to the river and watch the |
| hot chocolate. Now there's a savory tip on how | | | | deer amble by. Or more to the point, close your |
| to reason with Cabin Fever season. | | | | eyes and envision your body basking in sunlight, |
| The "fever" is inevitable, and so are the | | | | your hair fluttering in a warm breeze and your |
| house-bound blues. Before you become edgy and | | | | toes nestled in the white sand of the Caribbean. If |
| irritable, make a Cabin Fever Remedy Plan with | | | | all else fails, build a cabin--you are guaranteed to |
| your significant other, your kids, grandkids and | | | | break a sweat at ten below. Or, crank up some |
| neighbors. Try something new, like writing a | | | | Buffett, wiggle into your flipflops and mix a |
| 60-day remedy list. Does comfort food come to | | | | margarita--a sure way to cure a Cabin Fever |
| mind? With mindfulness, eating when stressed or | | | | Daze. Most of all, remember to celebrate, love |
| bored can be a healthy activity. A daily pot of | | | | and laugh. Your fling with spring is just around the |
| simmering soup or stew on the stove, | | | | corner. |
| homemade bread topped with peach jam from | | | | Yarrow is a public speaker and contributing author |
| the church fair and Aunt Cac's gingerbread | | | | to The Spirit of Women Entrepreneurs - Real-life |
| pudding stack right up there with meatloaf, | | | | Stories of Determination, Growth & |
| mashers and stewed tomatoes on my list. | | | | Prosperity. Buy the book at to learn about your |
| Other ways to mitigate the long, grim hours are | | | | "Three Feminine Trump Cards" and receive free |
| to sharpen your ice skates with anticipation of a | | | | tips to stay on track with your journey. |
| weekly round at the rink, browse catalogues and | | | | She delivers inspirational, motivational and |
| take a trip to purchase knitting patterns and yarn. | | | | humorous workshops, lectures and seminars to |
| Not your cup of tea? Then rev up your | | | | young women, "women of an age" and people |
| horsepower with a Basic Motorcycle Safety | | | | seeking more out of life. Topics include: Three |
| course and attend a rally. Hankering to write a | | | | Feminine Trump Cards Already in Your Deck; |
| poem? Get pen in hand and submit your work for | | | | Manage Your Personal Energy; and a Corporate |
| the yearly Cowboy Poetry Gathering. For you | | | | Wellness Program "Chi Flow Grows Cash |
| readers chomping at the bit to enliven your | | | | Flow©." She is also co-author of The |
| environment with color in all things, head to the | | | | American Bed & Breakfast Cookbook. |
| U.S. locations of Natchez and Vicksburg for their | | | | To book Yarrow as a keynote speaker for your |
| annual "shop 'til you drop" events. Other fever | | | | conference, retreat or event, contact her at or |
| remedies around the planet include Chain Saw | | | | 410.271.1377. |
| Carving Competitions, birdfeeder and bat house | | | | Yarrow is a certified Feng Shui Practitioner and |
| construction, and Polar Bear crawls, lunges and | | | | lives in Annapolis, Maryland in a 50s cottage within |
| plunges. It's scary, but the Indie tongue-in-cheek | | | | spitting distance of the Chesapeake Bay. Her |
| horror film "Cabin Fever" may shock you into | | | | winter-time activities include "fighting the fever" |
| sending Cabin Fever Greeting cards to friends and | | | | by making snow angels and Eskimo ice cream. For |
| loved ones. | | | | more information, Yarrow can be reached at |
| To conquer some of the dis-ease of Cabin Fever, | | | | 410.271.1377. |