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Girl In The Road Winter
Girl In The Road Winter
Anna Thetard / Her Campus
Wellness > Mental Health

5 Activities to Combat the Winter Blues

The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at PSU chapter.

As the fall weather is starting to put a chill in the air and cover the warm sun with gloom and rain, it’s easy to become stuck in a rut. For a lot of people, this is called the winter blues or seasonal depression. Everything seems sad and cold until the warmth of Spring rolls around again.

New Decorations

There are a lot of holidays during the cold months. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and Diwali are all great examples of holidays to decorate your space for.

Bringing in new decorations can bring life back into a room that feels dull and boring during the winter. It gives you something fun to go shopping for, and re-decorating is always fun. Once your new decorations are up, it gives you a daily reminder of the fun holiday to come.

For me, adding Christmas decorations to my room reminds me that a long break from school is coming, and I get to go home and be with people I love. This reminder keeps me going through hard days.

A lot of these decorations will create a warm and cozy space for you to enjoy during these cold days.

Picking up a new book

Reading a good book is a great way to pass the time. It can take the winter blues out of your head and replace them with a fun new reality. Not only is getting lost in a book a great way to redirect your thoughts, but you can also make it a fun activity.

Reading can sometimes seem like a chore, but if you get yourself a nice snack, drink and cuddle up somewhere warm, it is a great way to decompress.

Bringing a book with you to read on campus is also a good way to spend time outside your dorm or apartment so you don’t feel cooped up during the cold months.

Warm baths

I know after a long day of classes and walking outside in the cold (with possible snow or rain at times), I dream about taking a nice, long bath when I get home. Especially during the winter, I love having fun bath products on hand such as bath bombs, bath salts and bubble bath.

Baths are a great way to decompress from the day and warm up during this dreary winter weather. After baths, I love jumping into a freshly made bed and putting on a good show or movie to top it off.

Cooking and baking

The holiday season is a great way to show off your skills in the kitchen. Baking is a fun activity you can do alone, with a significant other or with friends.

There are so many yummy treats to make during this time of year, so if you’re feeling down, why not make yourself a delicious treat?

You can even make some extra to give to friends or family to spread the cheer.

Cooking your favorite meals is also an amazing way to warm up and enjoy this season a bit more.

let in the light

Literally! We all know winter is the time for clouds and snow, but when we do get sunny days, don’t take them for granted.

Open up your blinds and maybe even crack the window open to let some fresh air into your space. Use these sunny days to be productive. Go run those dreaded errands, go see some friends or go for a walk.

It’s important not to bask in the sadness that may come during the winter months.

No matter what you may be feeling during this time, just know that you are not alone. Make the most of the season and reach out to the people around you.

Caroline is a third-year student at Penn State studying digital and print journalism with a minor in digital media trends and analytics. When she is not doing school work or writing for HER Campus @ PSU, she is at the gym, watching YouTube, cooking/ baking, or hanging out with friends.