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15 Ways to Beat Cabin Fever

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

cabin-fever

Mid-January is when the reality of winter in Minnesota starts to set in. The solstice may be behind us, but the seemly endless days of winter are ahead of us. And we don’t even have any holiday parties to look forward to.

That is when cabin fever sets in, and it can be pretty gross.

Here are 15 ways to beat off cabin fever, because spring is still a long way off, friends.

  1. Visit a greenhouse and buy some pants.
  2. Get some seed catalogs and plan next year’s garden.
  3. Go on a weekend getaway.  
  4. Get a daylight lamp.
  5. Take a walk (or snowshoe) in the woods.
  6. Plan a summertime road trip.
  7. Start a new hobby.
  8. Volunteer.
  9. Organize your pantry/garage/basement.
  10. Hold a cozy dinner party.
  11. Bake/Cook something new and time-consuming.
  12. Take an online class.
  13. Home spa day!
  14. Browse a bookstore
  15. Kitchen Dance Party while making cookies. (This might be something that I just do, but . . .)
15 Ways to Beat Cabin Fever | CassieRauk.com

(Before heading to Target) Shop your house first

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

Shop Your House First | CassieRauk.com

I know I have talked about it before, but for those of you that missed it, our house is constantly changing.  We moved to our 150-year-old farmhouse six years ago and have been working on it ever since. We have replaced some flooring, painted some rooms, and gotten rid of a whole lot of stuff.  All that work has barely scratched the surface. Our home projects will be never-ending.

A few months ago, I was planning a trip to Ikea.  I had new nightstands picked out and was considering if now was the time to get a love seat for our den-like area we call the porch.  Or maybe I should find a new chair for the living room? But that meant I needed to find a home for my dad’s recliner. Which was in good shape and super comfy, but it looked out of place with the straight lines of the couch we got a couple of years back.  

Then I remembered how it might be nice to have a house with all-new, trendy furniture. But I will not enjoy the credit card debt that comes with that.  So I (wo)man-handled the recliner into the porch. After I added a cozy blanket and a throw pillow, that chair looked pretty inviting. Then I dug out a console table that had been collecting dust in an unused room, things came together.  

Then I moved an old Ikea chair we had in our bedroom downstairs to the living room.  As much as I feel like I need a comfy reading chair in my bedroom, I hardly ever use it.  I picked up a new cover for it at Ikea and saving myself a load of money and end up with a new-to-me chair.  

Why am I telling you all this?  To remind you to shop your house first. 

Let me say that one more time:

Shop your house first.

Maybe that chair that is just so-so in the living room will make a great reading chair in the corner of your bedroom.  Or perhaps that old footstool would look much better in the corner holding your newest houseplant.  

The same goes for accessories.  I find much more joy grabbing my pens out of a Wonder Woman mug on my desk at work than I do the ‘pencil cup’ that I bought from Target.  

Before heading to the Ikea, your local thrift store, or settling down for some hard-core internet shopping, take a hard look around your house.  Shuffle furniture around and dig stuff out of storage.  

Your wallet will thank you.

Five Free Things You Can Do Right Now to Prep For the Holidays

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

Five Free Things You Can Do Right Now to Prep For the Holidays | cassierauk.com

The holidays are right around the corner, my friends. Can you feel excitement/panic/dread creeping up on you?

Whether you love the holidays or loathe them, they are coming at us in full force. But, we still have a few weeks to get our shit together. Here are a few (free) things you can do now that will help you get started out on the right foot.

Clean your light fixtures.

Weird right? But stick with me. Light fixtures are one of those things that collect vast amounts of dust and dirt (and in our case, bugs). Light fixtures are also one of those things that don’t get cleaned very often.

But if you can set aside a couple of hours to remove the fixtures and wash them with warm soapy water, it makes a massive difference in the light that cast. And during a gloomy winter day in Minnesota, it makes a huge difference.

Get rid of 20 things.

Preparing for guests and putting up your decorating is a great time to declutter. And unless you are one of those weird guys who keep all of their worldly possessions in a backpack, you can get rid of 20 things. Probably more, but let’s start small.

You will feel lighter, I promise.

Wash your windows.

In the same way that cleaning your light fixtures makes your house seem brighter and cheerier, clean windows make the whole house look cleaner.

Hopefully, the weather is not too cold yet where you are, but now is a perfect time to grab your newspapers and vinegar and give those windows a good once-over.

Clean out your cabinets/fridge.

Since the season of cooking and baking is upon us, now is a great time to give your fridge and pantry a deep clean. Wipe out the draws and shelves in your fridge. Dig into the dark parts of your pantry and get rid of all of the old food and donate the things that you are not going to use.

Make a list.

Get out your trusty notebook and make a list. A gift list, a to-do list, a grocery list. It doesn’t matter what kind of list, get it out of your head and on to paper.

What do you do to prep for the holidays?

PS – A few ways to simplify your life.

The Joy of Being Bored

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

Sometimes sitting quietly in a waiting room can bring you the clarity that you need. I like to call it the joy of being bored.

The Joy of Being Bored | cassierauk.com

For the last few months, I have been in the process of taking care of my dad’s estate. I haven’t been doing it alone, but it is a lot of tedious paperwork.

It also means I have spent lots of time waiting. At the bank, on the phone listening to horrible hold music, at the courthouse.

Most recently, it was at the lawyers’ office. No one was running behind, and there were no problems, it was just one of those things. There I sat there in the lobby, surrounded by strangers.

I didn’t pull out my phone and scroll through Instagram, I didn’t pop in an earbud and turn on an audiobook. I didn’t even pick up a magazine or newspaper.

But while I was sitting there with my thoughts something magical happened.

You see, not only am I dealing with estate issues, but I have also been working anywhere between 50-60 hours a week at the day job. Sitting in the lobby, I was stressed out, tired, over-caffeinated, and a bit hungry.

But as I sat there and stared out the window, my mind started to slow.

  • I stopped thinking about work and the self-imposed guilty about leaving early. (Mind you, I left an hour before the official end of my workday, but still managed to work 9 hours).
  • I focused on what truly needed to get done and what was unnecessary.
  • I calmed myself and stopped being annoyed by all of those little things that, when all bottled up, make you angry AF.

Soon enough, the lawyer came out and got me; I signed the paperwork I need to sign and left the office feeling lighter, just by staring out the window for 30 minutes.

PS – Self Care at Work

Self-Care At Work

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

It is easy to get stressed out and overwhelmed at work. Here are tips to help you get through your days because everyone needs a little self-care at work

self-care at work | cassierauk.com

We spend a large part of our day at work. And when we start counting the amount of work we do while we are at home (emails on your phone, conference calls after dinner, late-night texts from your boss), the amount of time we spend working is almost constant.

Long story short – work takes up a lot of our brain space.

And If you are not careful, this can lead to massive amounts of stress and overwhelm.

But it doesn’t have to — part of the solution in setting up boundaries (but that is a conversation for another day). But in the meantime, here are a few simple ways to take care of yourself at work.

Make a List

When I am having a hectic day, the first thing I do make a list of all of the things that I would like to get done that day. Then I go over it again to find the three things that must get done that day, including meetings. My planner helps with this.

Finding my top three tasks can take some time because you have to take a hard look at your day and figure out what matters most. And finding just three things is crucial. You cannot, I repeat, CANNOT get your three-page to-do list one in one day. You are just going to stress yourself out and set up your day for failure.

On good days I can knock that shit out with time to spare, then and only then, do I move on to the other items on my list. On not good days, if I can get my three must-do tasks, I still have a sense of accomplishment.

Take Breaks

If you are not careful, it is easy to spend hours at a time hunched over your desk. Not counting back problems and eye strain, sitting at your desk for long periods of time is terrible for your stress level and concentration.

Try setting a timer to go off every hour to remind you to get up and move around. At the very least, take your mandated 15 minutes and lunch breaks away from your desk. Take a walk around the office or, gasp, go outside!

Ask for help

I have a real hard time asking for help. For some reason, I see it as a personal failure if I can’t manage to get my tasks done on my own.

But sometimes the stars line up just right and everything blows up in your face.

When this happens, and it will take a deep breath and talk to someone. Maybe one of your cube mates can help you finish up a project, or your boss can temporarily delegate some tasks to someone else.

Your boss and coworkers will respect you more when you ask for help.

With a little bit of self-care at work, you can become more productive and focused. And not to mention a whole lot happier.

PS – deliberate unawareness as self-care and how to survive a job that isn’t your dream.

Road Trip: What Worked

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

In the days leading up to the week-long road trip that Jesse and I embarked on earlier this month, I had I idea to chronicle every part of the journey to share on Instagram. Then to write a long ‘what we did post’ to give you all the inside scoop.

Then something funny happened. I put down my phone, grabbed Jesse’s hand and I decided to enjoy the trip. And it was wonderful.

Curious about what we did? From the significant to the shallow, here they are.

Road Trip: What Worked | cassierauk.com #roadtrip #roadtriptips

We gave ourselves plenty of downtime.

One of the first trips Jesse and I went on was to the Black Hills of South Dakota. We had lots of fun, but we were so desperate to see all the things that we made ourselves crazy.

Oops, we forgot to relax on our vacation.

We have been giving ourself more downtime, but this time around we hit our grove. We did all of the site-seeing we had planned to do, and we also had plenty of time to eat ice cream, and people watch. And also get beers and watch Veronica Mars at our Airbnb.

We brought a laundry bag along (and kept it in the back of the truck).

This one is so simple but ended up being a lifesaver. Our bag was packed stuff full. As the week went on, we threw all of the dirty things in a cloth laundry bag. It was all worthwhile when we got home, and all of our dirty clothes were in the same place. Bonus points – the bag is also washable.

My purse stayed home.

My sister showed up to one of our breakfast dates with one of those sling backpacks a few years ago, and I thought that would be great for travel. I found myself a second hand one a few months ago and took it along on our road trip instead of my purse.

I must say, I do love my bag, but the backpack worked so much better. It was hands-free, out of the way, and it stored everything I needed (and some stuff that I didn’t).

I got a love handle for my phone.

I have this paranoia about dropping my phone off a cliff or in Lake Michigan while taking a picture. But since I am a straight-up contrarian, so you will probably not find me with a pop socket.

Enter the love handle. It is a small piece of elastic you attach to the back of your phone case. It is just long enough to tuck your finger into while holding your phone and still slim enough to fit into your pocket as usual.

That’s it! One significant and three shallow things Jesse and I did to make your vacation full of relaxation and fun.

There is nothing worse than needing a vacation from your vacation, right? What do you do to make it more relaxing?

PS How to plan for a Road Trip and Road Food

Deliberate Unawareness for Self Care

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

Life is coming at us fast these days, and that leads to stress and anxiety. The solution? Deliberate Unawareness for Self Care.

Deliberate Unawareness for Self Care | cassierauk.com

I know this isn’t news to you, but the information is coming at us fast and furious these days. With that and the hyper-connected lifestyle that has become commonplace, we are more anxious than ever.

To keep from losing my GD mind, I have taken a step back. From the news, from the media, from my phone.

And let me tell you something – not knowing things have made me a much happier (and less anxious) person.

Here is how I did it, so you can too.

I keep my news intake to a minimum.

The news can be a garbage fire of everything terrible and horrifying. I like to be knowledgable citizen, but that also made a frantic, anxious mess. So I keep my news intake to a minimum.

I have been an NPR listener for years, but even the soothing voices of the hosts are not enough when talking about wars, death, and the like. That is why I have limited much of my news to NPR’s Up First and Marketplace podcasts.

I also spend far more time focusing on local politics than national news. The politics of my county and state affects me as much as whatever is happening in the White House. And I have more power to create real change locally than nationally. So I can put my time to good use.

I steer clear of most workplace/friend drama

Don’t get me wrong – I love my co-workers. Most of them, anyhow. But sometimes working in an enclosed space with the same people every day is like being in high school.  

I make an effort to stay away (and out of the drama). I do help my fellows with any work-related issues, or try to direct them to the correct person for help, but gossip dies with me.

I limit social media.

I have, over the years, unfollowed some of the more problematic family and unfriended some people that, for various reason, I didn’t want to be ‘friends’ anymore.  

A few months ago, I got a much more strategic and pretty much unfollowed everyone. Now when I log onto Facebook (on my desktop, because I deleted the app from my phone), I see only posts from a handful of close friends and family.

I have also been cleaning up my Instagram feed. I only follow feeds that make me feel good and unfollow or mute (the Insta form of unfollowing) the rest.

That’s how I did it, folks! Instead of trying to keep up with our fast-paced world, maybe a bit of deliberate unawareness is just what you need for self-care.

Now it’s your turn. What do you lean away from to save you sanity?

PS – Meditation is so worth it and four things I have done to simplify my life.

Photo by M.T ElGassier on Unsplash

How to Survive a Job that Isn’t Your Dream

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

A couple of years ago, I hit a wall with my job. And by a wall, I mean I was so burnt out that the thought of spending 8 hours a day at my desk exhausted me.

I didn’t hate my job, mind you, I just found it horribly unfulfilling. The spark was gone. And being in my mid-30s the thought of doing this kind of work until retirement left me throwing up in my mouth.

I spent a weekend doing a bit of navel-gazing self-reflection and was able to change my mindset about my job. And let’s be real for a minute: most people are not working their dream job and many jobs are not anyone’s dream.

It took me the better part of a year to work through all of this on my own. Here is how I did it, so you don’t have to spend that much time spinning your wheels.

How to Survive a Job that isn't Your Dream | cassierauk.com

Remember why you work there in the first place.

Unless you work in the seventh ring of hell (and you might), your job probably has a few redeeming qualities. Maybe it is the excellent benefits. Or it could be that it is within walking distance of your apartment. Perhaps your manager is delightful. Or the job is super flexible so you have more time with your kids or can take weeks off at a time.

Keep these things in mind as you go through your workday; it may help you realize that your job is not all bad.

Do some soul searching.

Set aside some quiet time with a beverage of your choice, some paper, and your favorite pen and think about what you love to do. Write down the hobbies that you lose yourself in, anything skills you would like to develop or have a knack for, and the parts of your job that you do love.

Take the parts of your job that you do enjoy and lean in.

Hopefully, you were able to find some parts of your job that you do enjoy. Spend some time focusing on these parts of your career and develop your skills in these areas.

Make the boring parts of your job more fun.

There are parts of my job that are mindless, repetitive work. That is when I pull out my headphones and turn on an audiobook or podcasts. Audiobooks might not be your jam, but there are ways to jazz things up a bit. Chat with coworkers while you do inventory or make a game out of stuffing envelopes.

Develop relationships with coworkers.

Like it or not, you will spend just as much (if not more) time with your coworkers than you will with your partner or family. Your work life will be much easier if you make a few work-friends. Work-friends give you a good escape when you need to get away from your desk, someone to vent to about the crabby customer you just talked to, and a buddy to take a quick lunchbreak walk you.

Make an exit strategy.

Some jobs are not particularly fulfilling. If that is a dealbreaker for you and you find yourself in one of those jobs, it is time to come up with an exit strategy.

Maybe you can transition to a different position within your company that is more within your skillset. Or you can start a side business and think of your day job as your first investor. The same goes for going back to school: take classes online and think of your work as a means to an end.

Working at an unfulfilling job is a pretty gross situation to be in, but with a few mindset shifts (and an exit plan) you can stop the drift and focus on something that you do love.

Do you have a lack-luster job? How are you dealing with it?

One more quick note: You might very well find out after doing all of the soul-searching that your current job, while not something that is going to light your fire, is still the right solution for you. That is great! And don’t let anyone tell you that you need to change.

PS You don’t have to be nice to everyone.

Photo by William Iven on Unsplash

Books for Fall

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

Fall is upon us, my friends!! Time for hoodies, hot toddies, and good books.

Are you a reader? I sure am.

I am fortunate to have a job where I can listen to audiobooks and podcasts pretty much the whole day. So I can churn through the books.

Here are ten books that I am the most excited about reading this fall.

Books for Fall | cassierauk.com

City of Girls

Like every other woman in the world, I read Eat Pray Love. Ever since then, I have found Elizabeth Gilbert fascinating. (Hello, Big Magic!) It was when I read The Signature of All Things a few years ago I became obsessed. I was excited to hear she had a new book coming out. That excitement grew when I found out that it was another sprawling epic story about a fascinating woman.

The Testaments

I am both excited and terrified of this book. Excited because I have been mulling over the events of The Handmaid’s Tale since a read it years ago. Terrified, because what if Offred’s story should have been left a mystery. Either way, I am going to check it out.

The Lager Queen of Minnesota

A book about Minnesota families and making beer. What is not to love?

Everything is Figureoutable

I love Marie Forleo. So, of course, I am going to read her book. I preordered it that day it was announced.

The Nickel Boys

After reading The Underground Railroad a few years back, I have been on a mission to read everything that Colson Whitehead has ever written. His newest book which is about a horrific Florida reform school during the 1960s is sure to be another compelling read.

Sissy

Sissy is a memoir written by Jacob Tobia, and I am so excited to read it. It has everything. Snark! Gender-fluidity! Glitter! Trans-inclusive Feminism! Old Lady Costume Jewelry! Dick Jokes!

The Wedding Party

I never thought of myself as a person that reads romance books. I was pretty stuck up about it, actually. It dawned on me (slowly) that I love a good RomCom, so what I needed was a RomCom novel. I found that last year with The Wedding Date and have been reading everything Jasmine has written ever since.

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark

This book has been on my list for years now. There has a been an influx of True Crime these days. We seem to have a fascination with the most depraved people that this world has to offer. I am not much different. I suppose, but Michelle’s utter determination to bring this man to justice is impressive.

White Fragility

This is another book that I have meant to read for a while. It “examines how white fragility develops, how it protects racial inequality, and what we can do to engage more constructively.”

Save Me the Plums

I have been a fan of Ruth Reichl for years and was excited to learn that she was writing a memoir of her time at the helm of Gourmet magazine. And like every other book of Ruth’s, it is sure to be chock full of recipes.

Now I want to hear from you. What books are you excited to read this fall?

5 Reasons why you should meal plan

Written by Cassie · · This blog generates income via ads · This post may contain affiliate links

Meal planning is a boring topic. It makes me think of structured suburban moms with their full calendars that have to ‘put their face on’ before going to the store.

Not the hip woman without kids that I am. (LOL, I am so far from hip, I could barely type that).

When I started meal planning a few years ago, I noticed how it made my life so much easier. I sit down with a pad of paper, take a look at what is leftover in my cabinets and fridge, and start planning.

It has freed up so much brain space for me. And it can work for you too.

5 Reasons why you should meal plan | cassierauk.com

It will save you time at the grocery store.

I don’t wander around the grocery store looking for what tickles my fancy when grocery shopping. I get in, get my stuff, and get out. When you know precisely what you are cooking for the week and have it all written down, it makes trips to the store so much faster.

You might be one of those people that likes to walk up and down the produce section looking for the perfect carrot. I would much rather spend my time reading.

You will stop wasting so much food.

There is nothing worse than buying a bunch of fruit and veggies only to have it rotting away before you get to use it. I grew up pretty scrappy, and there was nothing my mom hated more than wasting food. Every time I need to throw something out (or compost) something just because of my lack of planning, I can feel my mom’s disapproving gaze.

When I started planning out my meals, I was pretty simply able to use up leftover food. I can make a roast chicken on Monday and use the leftover chicken in burrito bowls later on in the week. I also make veggies as sides and eat them twice.

You will save money.

With a bit of forethought and planning, you can choose meals for the week that the ingredients are on sale. It may just be saving you a few bucks on your grocery list, but over months and years it can add up.

Have meals planned out and a list in hand will also help you from buying things at the store that you don’t need.

You will be more intentional about the food that you eat.

If you are following a special diet or trying to lose weight, meal planning is critical. Without a plan, you can easily be stuck doing a Whole 30 with only carbs in your cabinet.

I was able to lose almost 30 pounds by planning out my meals, so I didn’t stress eat a whole pizza because I had nothing else in the house to eat.

5 Reasons you should Meal Plan | cassierauk.com

Meal planning doesn’t have to be a drag. Sitting down one evening with a pad of paper, and your Pinterest boards can be an easy way to simplify your week. Try it for a week or two.

It can save you time, money, and food waste!