Recently, I’ve been feeling kind of gloomy—maybe it’s the sporadic New Orleans rainstorms, or the fact that everyone is in the library all the time preparing for finals, but something has me in a serious funk. And, I know I’m not the only one who is experiencing this bout of major “blah-ness”. After trying what I would normally do to cheer myself up, including watching countless hours of Netflix (right now I’m on “Criminal Minds” and it’s un.real.), eating comfort food, taking a nap, and just relaxing, I decided to try something new. As probably the palest girl I know (I’ve been told my skin is practically translucent), going outside and sitting in the sun never seemed like something I wanted to do. I’ve always been ok sitting in the shade, avoiding burns and sweat stains on my favorite gray t-shirt. But, since it’s been unbelievably nice out over the past week or so, I decided to step outside my comfort zone.
I know it doesn’t sound particularly groundbreaking or earth-shattering, but sometimes all you need to get yourself up and out is to go towards the light. No, I don’t mean this in a metaphorical sense. I actually mean this in the most literal sense possible…just go out into the sun and catch some serious vitamin D! The sun has been proven to improve peoples’ moods, increase happiness, and, of course, make you the tan goddess you always wished you could be without trying. For me, going into the sun seems like a chore: I never really have the energy or interest in baking outside for a couple of hours. But, to change the way I feel, I’m almost always ready to test out a new mood improver.
What I love most about going outside and just being in the sun is the fact that it’s so easy. All you have to do is step outside your front door and embrace nature. Take the time you have outdoors to think, meditate, draw, journal (my current favorite activity), or even do some outdoor yoga on the quad. You can even bring a blanket, a good snack, and your favorite book to keep you busy for hours. I guarantee that just getting a little extra vitamin D will brighten your day faster than you can say sunshine!