I didn’t know false hope until it slapped me in the face— 60 degrees and sunny one day, SNOWING the next. If someone had told me 2 years ago that I would go to college in a city where it SNOWS in APRIL I would thought they were crazy, but here I am. I have noticeable increases in mood and energy during a warm, sunny day, so I have been struggling with the endless anticipation of warmer days. I wanted to share some tips and tricks I have discovered work for me when I am feeling down during the gloomy spring (more like swinter) days.
Embrace the gloom.
Recall the miserable feeling of sweaty humidity and accept that living in a place that actually has season is cool. Find a show to binge watch this season, cozy up in bed, and relax. It feels good to have lazy, gloomy weather, but be sure that you have a study space that will always remind your brain that is it time to concentrated and study. It is easy to feel unmotivated when it is binge-watching weather.
Although there is nothing quite like dining on a patio or going to outdoor concerts, there are still plenty of fun things you can do during the cold days.
Here are a few ideas:
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Visit a museum
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Game night at home or out at an arcade
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Cooking night in
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Movie night
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Picnic in your living room
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Visit a conservatory to be around nature when the weather hasn’t allowed the flowers to grow back yet.
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Indoor trampoline park. This is just as fun for adults AND it’s exercise!
Surround yourself with mood-boosters and do things that make you happy. A huge help for me is to add pictures of the beach and warm summer days to my wall and desk. Sometimes looking at a picture of the ocean and taking a deeper breath is just what I need. There are a lot of things you can add to your home in order to make you feel happier during the gloom.
Himalayan Salt Lamps release positive energy, reduce allergies, improve moods and concentration, and treat Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder. There is nothing negative about having one of these in your room. I love mine because not only does it have so many mood and energy related benefits, it also looks very trendy in my room.
$19.99 on Amazon / Photo Attribution
Essential oils soothe the body and mind. Lavender is calming, balancing, and promotes a sense of well-being, while Chamomile calms nerves, relaxes, and eases frustrations. I keep an essential oil roller in my backpack so whenever I am feeling overwhelmed during a busy day, I put some wrists to make me feel more calm.
Photo Attribution / Essential Oil Set for $15.95 on Amazon / Essential Oil Diffuser $20.99 on Amazon
Light Therapy Lamps, also called Happy Lamps, are designed to help with Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as seasonal depression. When you are feeling low in the colder months, being exposed to this light daily can help a great amount.
More expensive option: $114.95 on Amazon / Smaller option: $89.95 on Amazon
Plan ahead and look forward to the warmth.
It is only a matter of time until the weather warms up again. Although you may feel sad that it isn’t warm yet, use it as something to look forward to and be excited about. Write a summer bucket list and begin planning your summer girls trip. I don’t know about yo, but nothing makes me feel better than an aesthetically pleasing list of fun things I want to do. This will get you so excited for summer and make you feel productive when you are crossing things off your bucket list. Before you know it, the summer will be here and you will be ready to do all that you have been waiting for.