This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at OSU chapter.
We’ve had a pretty mild, Ohio winter so far this year, with unprecedented 50 degree January days. However, it’s now back to the chilly winds and snow that usually accompany this time of year, and with midterms, cold temperatures and shorter days there is a good chance that you may feel a bit down in the dumps.
Don’t fret! Here are some tips to help you get through the season:
- Get enough sleep! You’ve heard thousands of times that it’s important for your body to get a good night’s rest. Besides keeping you awake during your classes, it helps keep your mental and physical health in shape. While lack of sleep alone does not cause depression, it can certainly make it worse. So if you are feeling depressed, running on only a few hours of shut-eye won’t help.
- Exercise! Obviously getting a good workout helps you to lose weight, strengthen your muscles and improve your cardio, but it is also essential to keeping you mentally fit. Research was done at Duke University where they studied individuals suffering from depression for four months. The results showed that that 60% of the participants who exercised for at least 30 minutes, three times a week overcame their depression without using antidepressant medication. Exercise releases endorphins that can lead to an increase in happiness. Consistent exercise can help you sleep better too.
- Eat healthy snacks! When you are stuck inside with nothing to do but eat, it’s tempting to munch on potato chips, brownies and other junk food. While there’s nothing wrong with a treat here and there, too many unhealthy snacks can make you feel sluggish and gain unwanted winter weight. Try eating more foods like pretzels, low-fat yogurt, fruit and nuts to help you stay more energized throughout the day.
- Skype! If you are like me and only get to go home on breaks, Skyping your family and friends is a great way to lift your mood. Facebook messaging and texting is a good for quick, easy communication, but it’s not quite the same as seeing a familiar face. Even if you aren’t homesick this quarter, a Skype date can still make your day a little bit better.
- Get Creative! Take a study break and put the right side of your brain to good use. You can make cupcakes, write a poem, color or paint your nails with an interesting pattern. It will help you take your mind off of school for a bit and have something to show for it when you are done.
- Explore a new place! It’s winter in Ohio, so yes, it is usually cold. You probably don’t have much energy to go out or feel like spending much money, but it can be exciting to visit somewhere unfamiliar. Take the COTA bus to downtown Columbus and (safely) explore, look around the Short North and eat at a new restaurant with a friend. Don’t feel like leaving campus? There are always new buildings, sites and elements to be discovered on campus too.
- Switch up your schedule! While we’re at the mid-way point of the quarter, you are probably experiencing serious monotony in your day-to-day activities. There’s an easy fix for that: change it up! Take a different route to your classes, eat at a dining hall other than the closest one or try something new with your hair. Making adjustments to even the smallest things in your daily schedule will keep you from feeling like you are in a rut.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-sleep-disorder
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=47548
http://www.findcounseling.com/journal/health-fitness/
Image source:
http://fashion-for-beauty.blogspot.com/2011/06/style-of-painting-nail.html