If you're anything like me, you get seriously depressed post-holiday fun. After experimenting around for a year or two, I've come up with my personal top 7 ways to beat holiday blues. You're welcome.

1. Get Cozy

Instead of hiding from the misery of winter, embrace it with some warm socks and frequent mugs of cocoa! Thinking of winter as a cool opportunity to get cozy and warm will make these last months much more bearable.

2. Organize your Time

It's hard to feel like doing anything when you've got the winter blahs. Using a large calendar/planner to determine your top 3 tasks that need to be accomplished daily helps me sort out what I really need to do and what can wait. Head to Amazon.com for a crazy variety of cheap yearly planners.

3. Invest in a Happy Lamp

If you've got the blues particularly bad, it could be because you're not getting the sunlight that you need. This lamp is super cheap and portable, claiming that it helps season depression with just 30 minutes of exposure daily!

4. Get Moving

Exercise releases endorphins that'll instantly put you in a better mood. It'll also curb your cravings for carbs and give your immune system a much needed boost! For a huge variety of in and out of the gym workouts, try FreeLetics on the Appstore or the Google Play Store!

5. Take a Mental Break Daily

While there are many podcasts and free apps for meditation, Headspace is my personal favorite. They have a huge library of guided meditations, and you can filter them for your specific needs; whether it's help going to sleep, help with feeling overwhelmed, or just a daily check in with your body(in-app purchases required for more than basic guided meditations).

6. Take Vitamin D Supplements

Most Midwesterners have a slight Vitamin D deficiency during the winter due to the lack of natural sunlight. Taking a Vitamin D supplement isn't a sufficient substitute for natural sunlight, but if you're feeling fatigued or are always cold, 1000 IU of Vitamin D daily may help you out! Remember that it's important to ask your doctor before you start taking any new supplement so you don't take too much.

7. Limit Caffeine Intake

I know as college students even reading that one is terrifying, but it turns out there are a lot of downfalls to excess caffeine consumption. Not only can caffeine dry out your skin, The Mayo Clinic states that consuming more than 600mg of caffeine a day can increase the likelihood of or worsen insomnia, anxiety, and irritability. Instead, try drinking green tea, which has enough caffeine to give you a kick but less than a cup of coffee. Check out 15 other creative alternatives to caffeine here!

*Disclaimer*

If your symptoms feel severe and/or last more than six weeks, make an appointment with your primary care doctor to rule out vitamin deficiencies or other more serious conditions.