It feels as though this cold weather has been as endless as the drama on Peter’s season of The Bachelor. Despite the bitterness, however, it appears that spring is upon us and warmer days are just around the corner! Here are a few simple ways to spring into the new season and tackle that seasonal depression with a fresh mind and positive attitude that will leave you as radiant as the sun that’s headed our way.
- Don’t slack on your schoolwork!
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Girl, trust me, I know it’s tough. The weather these past few months have left me wanting to sink into my bed and avoid all responsibilities, but I promise it’s not worth it. Focus on your studies and remember to always give it 100%. We’re almost done with this school year, just keep pushing through! Grab some friends and head to your local coffee shop for some study time, or grind at your desk for an hour before bed with a cup of tea and get shit done!
- Although it’s important to stay ahead, enjoy your time off
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Enjoy your Sundays if you don’t have any pressing school or work assignments. Whether it’s deep cleaning your house or taking a quick (or not-so-quick) trip to Target, do whatever makes you feel good on the inside. Spend your Saturday night (responsibly) drinking vodka sodas out at the bar with your friends or throw on a face mask and catch up on your favorite Netflix series. Those tedious tasks will still be there in the morning.
- Prioritize budgeting
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This one is especially tough for a girl like me who acts like she’s got hundreds of dollars to spend when in reality she’s a full-time college student living off of part-time job pay. It’s so easy for me to run through the Chick-fil-A drive-thru when I get off of work, but I promise you’ll feel so much better if you just make something at home. Your body will thank you, and so will your wallet! This season prioritize budgeting. Not just as it pertains to eating out, but even refraining from getting that iced coffee or using all your self-control to order only one item instead of seven off of Amazon will make a huge difference. Start allocating where you should save and where you have the room to spend a little more.
- Find a new hobby
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We’re only a few months into 2020, and, quite frankly, it’s never too late nor too wrong to try something new! Go to a spin class or try cooking some new recipes for dinner with your roommates. Take up yoga, or journaling, or volunteering. Try that one thing that you’ve always wanted to do but never found the time to get around to trying; you never know what new opportunities or relationships those hobbies will lead to.
- Take care of yourself
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Mental health is key. Whether that’s improving on any of the things listed above or finding your own way to take care of yourself, it’s SO necessary for you to prioritize what’s going on in your head. How can you expect to be your best possible self if your mind is unhappy? Treat yourself with the same love and compassion that you’d show your Mom or best friend. Access your school’s counseling services or outside resources or confide in a trusted friend. Know that whatever you’re dealing with, you are NOT alone.
These college years can be some of the hardest of our lives. It’s a time full of growth and adversity. It’s some of the best moments we’ll ever experience, yet also some of the hardest we’ll endure. Cherish the good times, and work through the really-f*&^%#@-hard times. These simple steps may sound like common sense, but you’d be surprised at how much we actually forget to practice them on a daily basis.
Changing your actions, and your outlook, will only lead to greatness. The dark times are rounding the corner, let’s look forward to this new season of light by taking it one day at a time.