Enduring the Winter Blues
By Ursula Vollmer
Picture this. It’s the middle of November and you just got up. It’s already 7:30 and the sun is just barely peeking out over the clouds. You check the temperature and the high is 40 today. How could it get any worse? As the weather starts to get colder, it can be hard to find joy in getting up in the morning, to go to class or do normal activities that are much easier to do in the sunshine. One could feel sad or endure a more extreme sense of despair and inability to feel motivated. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, many individuals deal with a type of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or better known as SAD. With shorter days and less daylight, many people go through a chemical change in their brains that leads to the symptoms of feeling depressed. More common in women, Johns Hopkins Medicine says that symptoms include withdrawal, increased sleep, drowsiness, trouble thinking clearly and more. Dealing with these symptoms, it is crucial to seek help, therapy or a professional opinion if you recognize that you have been feeling this way for a while.
Yet even if an individual does not have diagnosed Seasonal Affective Disorder, these symptoms are common to many during this season of change. In these hardships it is important to find ways to turn it around and seek normalcy. Taking the time to set realistic goals, prioritize what matters and slow down may be exactly the way to embrace this cold season. Remind yourself that there are things to look forward to. Holiday season is approaching, so time with family and friends and snow will all be here soon. If you don’t enjoy this season whatsoever, distract yourself with warm inside activities and plan a time to escape to the sun. Notice the beauty in the changing seasons. Take time to appreciate the transition in nature as you watch your own life transition. Allow yourself to slow down, to get outside and enjoy the sunlight while it is there and find little ways to treat yourself on the hardest of mornings. Find a friend to confide in; I know one way in particular that I am able to fight through the cold is to do it with friends. Get through this time together and know that a season of Bah Humbug does not need to happen unless you allow it to happen. I’ve found the winter to be a way to really refine caring for myself than in any other season. This is the season of remembering that you are valid and are allowed to take whatever time you need to care for yourself. Remember that negative thoughts will come and go, but there are little things to make even the darkest moments a little brighter. Below are listed some of my favorite things to do to ensure the coziest winter time to treat yourself and remember that self care is self love.
Simple Ways to Practice Self Care in Winter
Skincare
Moisturizing is the key way to making sure your skin does not break down when the winds pick up. I recommend finding a thick high quality moisturizer like The Glossier Priming Mosteruizer Rich to use at night after showering. This will ensure your skin is not drying up after being in the water. Carrying around chapstick is also super important to keep your lips from being chapped between classes. I love Burts Bees Lip Balm and Sun Bum for the nice flavors and quality balm.
Clothing
Starting to layer up is necessary as the temperatures begin to drop. While it may be crisp and cool in the morning, classrooms could still be warm and the temperatures are always fluctuating here in the northeast. I recommend breaking out those layers as you can always take stuff off but never add something if you haven’t brought it with you. A puffer is the perfect thing to throw over a light sweater and you will never not be cold. Target has perfect cheap ones to pair with any outfit.
Warm Drinks
While I know plenty of people will continue to drink their iced coffees well into the snowy months of December and January, finding a warm drink is a good way to spice things up and warm you from the inside out. I recommend buying tea bags, apple cider or even hot cocoa and keeping it in the dorm with you. I love keeping cinnamon to add on top of mine. It can be annoying to wake up in the morning and head out the door, so keeping these on hand will help in making a cozy beverage that much easier to make and bring along to class rather than go empty handed. With the comfort of a microwave or kettle almost anything to your heart's desire can be heated up to assist on the coldest of mornings.
Home
I recommend piling up the blankets on your bed as that will ensure the warmest sleep possible. I also recommend layering up when in the dorm and wearing socks or slippers when moving from room to room. After having sat in one place for a long time it can be hard to motivate yourself to move, but if you have the proper clothing on within the dorm it will make it more desirable to get up and get after it. While sometimes pricey, a cherry and cozy LL Bean Blanket will make it that much more enjoyable to spend winter nights in the dorm relaxing, reading or watching your favorite show.
