Living in remote Yukon is a shock to the system. With isolation and cold weather in the winter, it can be tough to live so remote. There can be no reliable internet or cellphone connection, no grocery store, and not many neighbours to help you out. It can be a challenge to entertain yourself.
But there’s so much to the Yukon. The remoteness of it can be amazing and freeing. You can learn things you never thought you’d learn, and experience things from your wildest dreams! It’s a bucket list experience (Don’t know what a bucket list is? Read my article here).
Entertainment can be the hardest aspect. What do you do when you’re stuck inside on a rainy day, with no Wifi? How do you deal with the quietness every day, with nothing much around you to stimulate you?
Here are some tips I’ve picked up along the way. I’ve been living in remote Yukon for one year now. Coming from London, England, I had to find ways to keep myself entertained and stimulated. Especially through the winter months! Here are my most helpful ideas to keep you entertained. To note, these can also be used for any remote place in the world. So let’s begin!
How to entertain yourself when living in remote Yukon:
Strategically download
Internet is usually limited. There usually isn’t enough home Wifi to start downloading your favourite shows and streaming online all day. When you go into town, like Whitehorse, go to the library or a cafe with unlimited internet. I really liked Baked.
Buy a coffee and pastry, get comfortable, and download your favourite downloadable things. Build up a small library for yourself so you have something to watch or listen to in your downtime.
Learn new skills
Especially ones that don’t need a lot of resources. Writing, drawing, how to do a handstand, or a dance routine are some examples. You can use that cafe time to download some tutorials or take notes from other websites on what you want to do.
The limit here is endless! And is only confined by your creativity. When you live in a place such as remote Yukon, there’s a lot of inspiration around you. Document your time and experiences, draw about it, and make an interpretive dance. The choice is all yours.
Exercise
Learn how to exercise outside. Each season has its unique challenges, so use that to make your exercise fun and different. Kayak, trail-run, swim… even chopping wood can be a workout! I’ve gotten to learn about my surrounding area by running along the trails through the forests.
There are also plenty of events throughout the year to get involved in, like the Klondike Road Relay. It’s fun, and healthy (apart from the beers afterward), and it’s fantastic to meet people and socialise. I know this from experience!
Which leads me to - attend community and cultural gatherings
In Beaver Creek, I attended a First Nations workshop where I learned the basics of beading. At the Whitehorse library, they have little workshops for things like astronomy that you can attend in person or online. It gets you out of the house as well and exploring the area you live in. Socialising and learning a new skill at the same time is a great opportunity.
Be curious
When you are out in the community – what’s the history? What cultural stuff is there to do and learn about? What are the fauna and flora you can spot? Learn about your surroundings. Buy a book in town and get outside to learn about the mushrooms you can find in the summer; or the different wildlife tracks in the winter snow. Get to know the area you live in, and spot the changes throughout the seasons. It will make everything much more interesting for you.
Speaking of books – get some whenever you can!
Preferably hard copies, as digital can be difficult to download. Go to thrift stores, exchange with members of the community, check the free stores at the dump, etc. Find the used bookstores in town and stock up. Then give them back when you’re done for others to read.
If you can get internet access then download apps like Libby. It’s a digital library where you can loan books for a certain amount of time for free. It’s linked to the actual libraries you are signed up with, so sign up at your local library first. This way you don’t have to worry about making it into town in time to return your books!
Start gardening
Whether it’s just some house plants, a garden outside or a greenhouse. This is a fantastic and rewarding skill to learn and be used all year round. It’s good exercise too and can get you outside. It has a good incentive, to help you live more sustainably whilst living remotely! Imagine being able to grow some of your own fruit and vegetables.
Be okay with the quiet
Living in a city, you get used to there always being noise. Appreciate the quiet and take notice of what’s around you. The utter stillness, especially at night in the winter, can be daunting at first. I remember being freaked out that there could be animals nearby and I couldn’t see them. Or that it was so dark I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face. Every little noise had me spooked. But a lot is going on that you don’t realise, and there’s a beauty to it. Appreciate it, and let it calm you.
Play games
Buy games physically, or download them when you can for future use. This can provide endless hours of entertainment. I still play games like Skyrim after all these years! For me, it’s a great way to unwind, and I’m slowly building a small collection. It doesn’t even have to be electrical, board games and card games are just as fun to play and challenging to learn.
It’s fun and something different to do if you find that nature is becoming a little overwhelming for you sometimes.
Yukon remote living isn’t easy. With practice, it becomes easier to make the most of your free time. When living in big cities, it’s easy to go out and find something to entertain you – pubs, cinemas, shopping, etc. When you live in places like remote Yukon you have to provide entertainment for yourself. This can involve some planning and takes effort! But the reward is there waiting for you. You will learn not to waste your time, and I guarantee that you will love it.
Let me know what activities you like to do to keep yourself entertained. I’d love to hear them.
