What helps you when you feel like you're getting cabin fever?

Question

Last week I felt mentally trapped at home in Kingston and I couldn’t work out why.

It was a Friday morning, half awake I walked downstairs stepped out the back into the sun for a few minutes.

I walked back inside, put the kettle on, and eagerly waited until I could get my daily fix of coffee.

Still cloudy in the head it started to feel like I’d done this before.

It was because I had, for the past week it was the same morning same afternoon and same evening.

Not knowing what to fill my days with after finishing uni for the year.

Two mates were back in London and the opportunity arrived to get out of my comfortable cabin and take the short trip back to the city that raised me.

I agreed on meeting at the local curry house and set off North.

Before I knew it the weekend had flown by and I was making my way back on the South West Trainline to Surbiton.

On my cycle back I got thinking and reflecting, with a fresh and clear mind, on when I felt this before.

I pull out my phone, search for the voice memo app, and press record.

“Just remembering that in the way I didn’t know I needed to move out of London, to appreciate it more and to experience a way of living that isn’t London, that’s more laid back, peaceful and quiet.
This weekend, getting out of Kingston, allowed me to come back and appreciate it more.
For all that it is and can offer and all the stuff, I wouldn’t normally see because it was built into my daily routine. 
When you see the same things every day they start to blend together and you can’t appreciate the little things as much, the details that matter.
And I can come back and see it again with some fresh eyes
The takeaway from this is when I start to feel too comfortable or claustrophobic, find some way to get out of there for 2 days, 3 days, or 4 days, but not too long because you’re not trying to escape just allow yourself a few days mentally away. A break from a place that you’ve been for too long.
You will appreciate it more, take a step back, and come back with some fresh eyes"

I realised I used this all the time with my design projects when I was too close to the source and stuck.

Take a step back, walk away for a bit and come back with a new look and approach to the problem you’re trying to solve.

This is a subtle reminder to myself to not just use this in my work but in life as well, when you feel like you’re in a rut and feeling lost.

Call an old friend.

Go for a cycle into London.

Go to an event that is a little out the way.

Get uncomfortable and shake it up once in a while.