Because of the cold temperatures of winter, in the midwest at least, college students are more likely to stay in than they are when the weather is nice, to avoid the blustery winds and arctic temperatures of the season. This could mean more time spent binge-watching Netflix or hanging out with roommates. Regardless of your current habits, I'm proposing that you give a little more time to yourself during this season.
At this time of year, people have New Year's Resolutions and maybe Lenten promises. If you're late to the game on one of these practices or are looking for new things to try, commit yourself to one of the practices I've come up with below to have the best winter yet.
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1. Read.
A practice I recently picked up is setting aside a few minutes each night to read a book, even if it’s only 10 minutes, instead of watching Netflix.
2. Practice mindfulness.
This includes meditation, yoga and journaling. According to the American Psychological Association, mindfulness practices reduce stress, boost working memory, improves relationship satisfaction and increases focus. An easy way to track your meditation and mindfulness is the app Stop, Breathe & Think. This app provides guided meditation based on what emotions you are feeling. Also be sure to check out this inspiring blog post on a unique journaling practice--bullet journaling.
3. Purge some of your stuff.
With the extra time spent indoors, first organize and clean your room. Get rid of things you don't use or clothes you don't wear. I recommend checking out the book "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing" by Marie Kondo for inspiration. She provides excellent suggestions and easy tips for decluttering and staying organized.
You can also move around furniture in your room or living room for a change of scenery.
4. Cross something off your bucket list.
Have you been meaning to swim in your college's fountain or pond? Do you want to go to a concert or go ice skating? Take this opportunity to give time to things you want to do.
5. Try a new food.
Did you know that you get new tastebuds every 7 years? Odds are, something you think you don't like could be one of your new favorite foods.
6. Get a pen pal.
Snail mail will always bring joy. You can sign up for one online or write a letter to your family members at home. Your younger siblings, parents and grandparents would love to hear from you in a thoughtful way.
7. Say yes to spontaneity.
College is a time for exploring and adventures and trying new things. Be spontaneous and see where you end up. The other night I was driving home with my housemate, and we saw an ambulance. We decided to follow it to see where it went, and even though we lost it, we had a great time together driving around and listening to music.
8. Cook dinner with or for your friends.
Fresh food will make you feel better than fast food or deep-fried food ever will. Find a recipe on Pinterest and get started! (Maybe even break open a bottle of wine if you want to feel extra classy.)
9. Build a snowman!
If you live in a part of the country where it snows, take advantage of it. Let your inner child out.
10. Volunteer.
If you love working with kids, volunteer with an after school program. If you have a soft spot for keeping elderly company, spend time volunteering in a nursing home. If you love animals, volunteer at a local animal shelter. Whatever you enjoy doing in terms of helping and interacting with others, take some time out of your week to do so.
Whatever you decide to do with your extra time indoors this winter, make sure you're doing something fulfilling that adds happiness to your life. It can be hard with the cold temperatures and bleak surroundings outdoors, but with these tips, you can beat the winter blues.
