The end of the semester is quickly approaching, so that means finals, heading back home for the holidays, and also the winter blues. As you relax and unwind in preparation for a new semester, you obviously want to make the most of winter break. Give the following tips a try if you don’t want the winter blues to bring you down!
BuzzFeed offers some of the best ways to keep your spirits up, even on the gloomiest, coldest, and darkest of days. One of the first things is to go outside within the first hour or two that you wake up.
It is safe to say that nobody wants to leave the comfort and warmth of their bed to venture out into the cold, but it is still important to get some fresh air and sunshine. You can do something as simple as walking your dog or taking a stroll around the neighborhood.
Not only should you get some sunshine yourself, but let natural light into your home or apartment by opening the blinds and curtains. You can even brighten up your home by getting light colored pillows and blankets. Just because winter has its cold and gloomy days doesn’t mean your home has to be gloomy too.
Senior communication student Elliot McPherson has experienced the winter blues before as the cold weather keeps us trapped inside. “While some people can deal with the isolation, it drains you not being able to enjoy the weather as much and having to constantly battle the cold. Also, the shorter days can really hinder what can be completed during the day,” he said.
While McPherson doesn’t have a surefire way to beat the winter blues, staying social with a good attitude does help.
“Sometimes for me, all that’s needed is the extra effort to go and meet with friends and hang out. That extra effort can be hard to muster, but it is definitely worthwhile. But keeping a good attitude is most important though,” he continued.
On the other hand, if you truly detest going out in the cold, there are ways to combat the winter blues by staying inside. Light a fire in the fireplace, get cozy, and use the cold winter months to relax, reflect, and spend some quality time with friends and family. Sometimes there is just nothing better than sitting in front of the fire wearing warm, fuzzy socks with a cup of hot chocolate in hand.
If you begin the winter season with a preconceived notion that it will be terrible, you will not have the chance to embrace the good it brings.
Senior communication student Kayla Cardona, is not a fan of winter since she is originally from Florida, so she has definitely experienced the winter blues. She said, “I try to get through the season by focusing on the positives, such as getting excited about the upcoming holidays and spending time with family.
Also, of course, by finding any excuse to keep warm by buying extra fuzzy socks or making hot chocolate.” While some prefer staying in and cozying up, adjunct professor of computer science and software engineering, Tracy Hill, believes staying active and energized is the way to go. “When the weather gets colder and it becomes darker earlier, many of us tend to hibernate and turn to comfort foods and sit around watching too much TV. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, it’s important to do so in moderation,” she said.
Hill added that it is important to open the blinds and let light in, venture outdoors to enjoy nature, and visit family and friends. “It’s perfectly normal to have the ‘winter blues’ at times, but remember to be grateful for all the beauty the season brings!”
Just because it snows and it’s cold out, doesn’t mean that winter can’t be enjoyed.
