Mid-winter at Boston College is here. It’s the time of year when you wish there were underground tunnels running from building to building to avoid the miserable trudge through the snow to class. When it’s so cold you can barely feel your face, there’s no time to stop to talk to friends or admire the beauty of the BC campus. From the minute you step out of one building, it’s a race to see how fast you can get to the next. Needless to say, the Boston winter is capable of making even the most light-hearted person feel grumpy, stressed, and exhausted. With the temperature in the single digits (let’s not even mention the wind-chill), it’s tempting to only leave the warmth of your bed for class, and sometimes not even then. However, there’s no need to let the Boston winter get you down. With a few helpful tips you can avoid the winter blues and feel happy, energized, and lively.
Exercise
I know, I know… When it’s blizzarding outside the last thing you want to do is walk to the Plex. However, just a half hour of exercise a few days a week naturally makes you feel happier and more energized. If you really don’t want to brave the outdoors, try walking or running up the stairs of your dorm a few times. Anything you can do to release some endorphins will help lift your winter blues.
Treat yourself!
Ever wonder why you crave carbs and chocolate? That’s because these types of food increase your serotonin levels. Serotonin is a chemical manufactured in the brain that produces feelings of happiness and well-being. So don’t be afraid to indulge in some pasta or candy when you’re feeling particularly low. The best cold-weather chocolate fix? A delicious hot chocolate from the Chocolate Bar!
Eat Fish
With today’s health craze all over the media, it’s pretty impossible not to know about the benefits of “Omega-3 fatty acids” found in fish. However, something you may not know is that Omega-3’s also have been proven to increase serotonin levels. If you’re not a big fish person, eating protein-rich foods like turkey can also help increase serotonin. When it’s cold out, try to eat protein with lunch and/or dinner to stop you from feeling lethargic and downcast.
Get your butt out of bed!
Even when you wake up and Weather.com makes you want to cry, staying in bed all day will only make you feel groggy and bad-tempered. If you can bear it, get up and get organized and you’re bound to feel more energized and clear-headed. Clean your room, do your laundry, and go to class. It may not seem like it, but being productive and staying on top of things is the best way to fight the winter blues.
Socialize
It sounds cliché, but laughter really is the best medicine. During the bitter winter season, it’s easy to neglect your social life when you’re running back to bed every chance you get. Especially when the temperature drops even lower at night, the prospect of getting dressed up and going out can seem less than appealing. However, isolating yourself from friends will only make you feel more depressed and irritable. Meeting your friends for meals in between classes, going to the movies, and even just having a night-in with the girls will alleviate stress and help bring you out of your cold-weather slump.
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