Christmas is long gone and summer seems too far away. It’s the middle of second semester, it's freezing outside, and I’ll probably have the remnants of a cold until May. It’s not hard to get a little down around this time of the year. When you’re tired, a little bit sick, and indoors 99% of the time, it's too easy to slip into a bit of a winter funk. But sometimes a little pick-me-up is all you need to get back on track and these are my favorite ways to beat the winter blues!

1. I firmly believe in the saying look good, feel good. Even though we’d all love to go to class in our PJs every day of the week, sometimes throwing on a pair of jeans, and a little bit of makeup can give you the confidence boost you need to have a great day.

2. Go outside! I know its really really cold out. You’ll still feel better after a little fresh air.

3. Plan a summer camping trip with friends, or start working on study abroad plans. Planning trips is half the fun and it will keep you motivated and excited for future adventures!

4. Drink some really good coffee. Or even try out all of the coffee shops on campus and find your favorite. Coffee is basically the definition of the perfect winter energy-booster.

5. After you drink all that coffee drink some water. Its easy to become dehydrated in the winter without really noticing it. But I guarantee you’ll notice an extra water-bottle a day.

6. Find some new music that makes you smile. Or listen to old favorites that never fail to warm your heart.

7. Cry a little bit, sometimes it's better to get the sadness out of your system altogether. Think of it as a cleansing cry.

8. Dance, color, make a friendship bracelet, get those creative juices flowing.

9. Sleep. But sleep during the nighttime. Staying up all night and sleeping into the late afternoon is never quite as satisfying.

And I promise, even as the wind numbs your ears and the snow blinds your eyes, spring is just around the corner!