If you're like me, the winter months may tend to get you down. Especially if you're a college student that is home for still a few more weeks and is now struggling through the post-holiday season. You may be missing your friends from school, finding that all of your newfound free time is not so much a blessing, or maybe you have just found yourself in a bit of an early-winter slump. But don't worry- you are not alone.
I've written about feeling down, or even more serious feelings of anxiety or seasonal depression, and the last thing I want to do is dwell on the negativity that is boredom. However, if you are finding yourself in a less than stellar mood, here are a few self-care solutions and sources of entertainment that just might put a smile back on your face.
1. Eat a good breakfast.
Sounds almost too simple right? But hear me out- "good" in this case doesn't necessarily have to mean your breakfast is super healthy. Obviously, it's all about moderation. but if you're excited to get out of bed in the morning because that means you'll get to eat chocolate chip pancakes or Lucky Charms as opposed to yogurt and avocado toast, then do it! You're on break and while it's still important to eat healthy, a few days of a little added sugar are worth it if it makes you happier.
2. Take a shower.
Again, very simple and almost simplistic, but please hear me out. Think of some of your favorite scents; do you prefer coconut? Strawberry? Old Spice Amber? Do these scents relax you or maybe you associate these scents with positive memories? Then why not wash your body and hair with, just bathing yourself in this wonderful aroma to your heart's content, so that you smell like your favorite fragrance all day.
3. Read a book.
It doesn't matter if you've read it a hundred times already or it's a new book that you got as a present this holiday season. Take some quiet time, curl up with a blanket, and crack open that portal into a new world.
4. Write a story.
You don't even have to write a "story" per say. You could just write out a journal entry, rant, write a script, hell, you could even draw! The possibilities are literally endless and even if you're not writing the next bestseller or award winning screenplay, you'll still feel productive (case and point, me writing this Odyssey article)!
5. Watch your favorite YouTube channels.
I could go on and on about my favorite YouTubers, but for the sake of the length of this article, I'll try to restrain myself. There are a lot of great comedy channels and even just channels where the host is an expert at making you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Some of my personal favorites are; ItsWayPastMyBedtime, albinwonderland, danisnotonfire, AmazingPhil, emmablackery, and AnnaAkana.
6. Interact with animals.
It could be a dog, cat, spider, homosapien, hamster, lizard, whatever floats your boat! As living, breathing creatures of this earth (much like yourself), interacting with other animals has been proven to boost serotonin levels in the brain. Essentially, animals = happy feels!
7. Take a nap.
As an avid fan of naps, I cannot recommend this enough. Just like with the sweets, it's all about moderation, but if you find yourself yawning, snuggling into your bed for an hour or two might not be such a bad idea.
But whatever you do, no matter how you stay happy, always make sure to take care of you. You are important and your body is a temple, so make sure to treat it right!
