Feel the Winter Blues no more!

Winter at MSU is full of snow, clouds and cold. It’s easy to let the season get you down and feel the winter blues kicking in. If you just follow a few tips during this dreary season you can avoid feeling tired, sad, and defeated by Jack Frost from January to March.

• Exercise
  
  • Exercise is a great way to get your energy up and provide a distraction from the cold outside. Not only will you feel great after a solid workout, the cool of winter will feel welcome against your hot skin on the walk home.
• Eat healthy
  
  • Diet is very important in keeping the energy level up and getting all the necessary vitamins. Make sure to drink orange juice, eat fish and eggs. These foods are high in Vitamin D, which is the nutrient the sun gives us; this level is lower during the winter when gloomy clouds enclose the sun. Also, try to avoid overeating. After a binge session, it’s so easy to climb into bed and sleep the food off and the day away. With a healthy diet, you won’t feel the pull of your bed as strongly and you’ll feel better knowing you put good food into your body.
• Relax!
  
  • It’s very easy to let classes, tests and homework overwhelm you and when you add on the automatic gloominess from the winter season, it’s no wonder people aren’t as happy and excited as the summer. Take a deep breath and relax! Focus on one day at a time and avoid dwelling on all the things you have to do. Often times being this overwhelmed causes people to skip class, stay in bed all day and feel unproductive. Do something for yourself: get a massage, retail therapy or go see a movie. Take time to appreciate yourself and not think about school for a few hours.
• Find activities to do in the season
  
  • You will appreciate winter instead of dread it if you pick up a seasonal hobby such as ice-skating, sledding, hockey or skiing. Not only will you look forward to winter so you can participate, but the winter blues won’t affect you and make you want to stay in a cave all season! Go with a group of friends and have a great time when you all need to have some fun.
• Sleep
  
  • Getting the appropriate amount of sleep each night is extremely important in keeping your energy level and productivity up. Even though college is so demanding when it comes to our time, aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night to assure you’re at your best the next day. Sleeping for a good amount of time reenergizes your body and prepares you for all you have to do the next day. When your body is fully rested, it will be easier to get out of bed and go to that early class you used to skip.