During the winter it is pretty easy to just get stuck inside doing the same thing over and over. Whether it be binge-watching "Friends" for the tenth time, playing video games non-stop or just trying to get through the holidays in some other way, it can get a bit tiresome and cabin fever is most likely going to arrive. Well, winter can also be the perfect time to pick up a new skill or craft.

One year, my mother and I decided to take a knitting class together, where we learned the basics of knitting. It was a lot of fun, I learned a new skill and it made a difference in my weekly routine. We had this yarn shop in town that I could easily walk to, so every once in a while, I would go to the yarn shop with a friend of mine who was also into the yarn arts, and we would just chill out there and knit/crochet for an hour or two. It was a relaxing way to visit with each other, as well as possibly learn some skills from those who worked at this store.

Years have passed and now and then I will pick up those needles, try to find some extra yarn around the house and just try to do something, usually a scarf that I will never wear. (Not that they aren't good scarves, I'm just not a huge fan of wearing them, so if anyone wants a scarf, hit me up!) It's a way to keep my hands busy, but I am not overly mentally stimulated. I am known to fidget a lot, so by knitting or crocheting, it helps me not want to move the rest of my body, and just focus on my hands.

Now, the act of crafting does not have to be just limited to the yarn crafts. I have also dabbled in card making, which is extremely relevant during this time of year because of the amount of Christmas cards that need to be sent out. This was a great way to spend an afternoon with my family, because we all seemed to do it, just crafting with some music on in the background, experimenting with different materials and styles to see what we liked the best. Or it can just be drawing/doodling. You don't even have to be that good at it, but just being creative can help break out of the winter blues.

So, visit your local craft store! If you don't really know what you want to do, you can always look at sites like Pinterest to get some ideas, and most of them have directions on how to make those crafts. And if they don't work out, don't sweat it! Just add it to the ever-growing pile of "Pinterest Fails" and maybe get some laughs from your friends and family (or random internet people).

Talk to the people who work at craft stores, some of them are really passionate about crafting and have a lot of knowledge about what they do. Learn something new! Take classes or look online for tutorials. Start small, like learn how to make a pillow, or knit a washcloth. See if it interests you and then go from there! The limit does not exist on how far you can take your crafting interest.