It is so cold. It gets dark so early. It is so dull outside. Even though I have lived in Indiana my entire life, every single winter catches me by surprise. I’m also one to name winter as my favorite season, although I think that’s something about having a December birthday. But something about having to experience winter on a college campus is making it a little more difficult for me this season. Here are some distractions I have found in prioritizing my own mental health while balancing classwork and keeping warm.
Coloring:
Last semester I often found myself standing in front of my RA’s bullet board coloring in pictures while I was walking through the hall. I found that by taking a small second out of my day, coloring relaxed my thoughts and gave me time to process my day. This semester I was prepared and bought myself a large coloring book and it has been great. When my class work becomes overwhelming or I feel overstimulated, it is so relaxing to open my book and color a Victorian English garden party.
Journaling:
During my last year of high school, many of my friends gifted journals to me to use in college. I have never been one for journaling and almost every diary from my youth was left very much unfinished. But, recently in the stress of finals week, I found myself writing down all of my worries and fears I had for the upcoming semester and it was very helpful. Even just writing down song lyrics and movie titles proved to be very helpful for stepping away and getting a break.
Reading:
One of my all time favorite activities is reading. I usually prefer sweet romantic stories but do read some fantasy and the occasional memoir. I love reading and always use reading as a way to relax from my day. I find it to be the best way to step away from my worries. I always find comfort within these stories and of course some Taylor Swift is just what I need to calm myself of any fears.