A white blanket of irritability, depression, and helplessness coats Michigan around the same time every year. It creeps up on you… sometimes meets you in your sleep, and before you know it, you’re skipping class because “you just can’t.” But, it get’s worse. You feel absolute disgust at how you just slipped on ice in front of the main lib. There is no shame in wanting to scream at the ground below your feet for how it just embarrassed you. Maybe even give the slush a little kick like you used to do to the dandelions in your front yard as a kid.
Cabin-fever. This is the doom of every college student second semester. Sometimes it hits you hard because you can’t tell if you’re chronically crying over your class schedule or the snow that just never seems to stop falling. Whatever the situation may be, here are some helpful tips on how to kick snow-induced depression to the curb.
1. Phone Home.
Better yet, go home (speaking for in-state students). As simple— and almost stupid— as it sounds, sometimes just being cooped up inside with your dog is better than being cooped up alone.
2. Think Warmth.
Listen to music that reminds you of coasting downtown with the windows down and the sun shining in the heart of July. You know, anything by The Kooks, Bad Suns, or Day Wave. The stuff that makes you stick your hand out the window and blow your speakers out because all your windows are down and you can’t hear over the warm air flowing through the car.
3. Invest in a heating blanket.
Because snuggling your space heater at night is a little less than comfortable.
(Pro tip: leave your heating blanket on while you’re at class so when you get back, and you’re numb from head to toe, slip under the covers of your bed and blanket and forget about everything on your to-do list for awhile.)
(Warning: Number of naps my increase drastically with a heated blanket.)
4. Join a sports league.
The best part about winter IM sports is that it’s basically like working out in a sauna. And the minute you finish and step outside, the bitter cold air feels more refreshing than repulsive. Score!
5. Relish in any winter weather over 30ºF.
We don’t get many days like that – especially in Michigan. So, maybe take a drive with your window cracked and your heat on high (because it’s not that warm yet.)
6. Create a summer bucket list.
This gives you things to look forward to the minute the weather warms up. It can be a simple as planning a cookout with some friends. Or, start planning a tropical vacation. Then, count down the days till your plane takes off to anywhere that’s not a white covered tundra.
7. Play board games.
Play a not-so-quick game of monopoly with your roommates. Whatever keeps you from looking out the window. And I know what you’re thinking: “This is college. I barely have time to eat let alone play board games.” But it’s winter, and what else are you doing on a Saturday now that tailgate szn is over?
8. Take more showers (warm ones).
If you’re used to showering every other day, try a nightly warm shower before bed. No, water isn’t free, but sometimes it just takes a shower a day to keep cabin fever away.
9. Expand your grocery shopping trips.
Try spreading out your weekly grocery shopping trip in increments. Instead of one trip Sunday night, plan a trip Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This helps you get out of the house more than once a week and gives you something to do for at least 30 minutes.
Last but not least, if all of the above fails--
10. Succumb to the cold.
Bask in the minimal amount of sunlight reflecting off the snow. Go skiing, snowboarding or sledding. Sometimes winter gets the best of us and there is just no way to escape it. So, why not try to have a little fun?
Winter is like that one family member who always gets invited to Thanksgiving and Christmas, but you really don’t know how to interact with them. And everyone secretly hates them like you’re supposed to hate your in-laws. Whatever winter is to you, it’s repulsive at best. It strips us of our happiness and Vitamin C for 4+ months and then has the audacity to come back the next year. And the year after that. And so on.
Oh, and in case you were wondering - 130 days until Summer! Cheers!
