The New Year brings in a clean slate and so many opportunities. To quote my last Instagram caption: “More laughs, more hard work, more self-love, and more adventures. This year is about more.” As motivating as it was at the time, I have yet to feel that spark. These first two weeks of Winter Quarter have been far from any of these things. Every day I wake up, go to class, come home, and do homework. At the end of each day I am left unfulfilled, with a feeling in the pit of my stomach I can’t quite describe. But I’ve decided enough is enough. I want to take control of the situation and find not only my motivation, but myself again. This past weekend, my roommates were both out of town, leaving just me alone in my apartment. However, instead of dwelling in my loneliness I took this opportunity to take care of myself and rediscover my love for life.
- Thrifting
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If you know me, I am a thrift fanatic. I love finding sustainable clothes on a good deal and I love the feel of worn-in clothes. This past Monday, the Goodwill in Capitol Hill was having a Winter Sale with some great deals. Although my bank account wasn’t too happy about my purchases, I definitely was. Whenever I’m feeling in a funk, I like to get out of the house and invest my time and energy into things I love. Thrifting is something that really does take it out of you. Lugging bunches of clothes around, moving each piece of item on the racks–it takes a strong arm. My arms were one hundred percent sore afterwards, but I was rewarded with clothes that really pushed the boundaries to my style. I’m one who loves to try new fashion trends and clothing pieces, so this was a great experimental pick-me-up and self-care day for myself.
- Cleaning/Reorganizing
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Let me tell you, nothing is more satisfying than coming back home to a well-made bed and a clean apartment. Sitting in a clean space not only leaves me with a clean environment, but it simultaneously declutters my mind . I spent most of my Sunday washing the dishes in the sink while jamming out to some “old school” One Direction music, taking out the trash, organizing my closet, and most importantly, clearing the hundreds of items off my desk. I felt so satisfied afterwards that even though I avoided the homework I should have been doing (do your homework first, guys), I felt like a brand new me.
- Going to the Gym or Getting Some Exercise
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Fall Quarter me was thriving. I went to the gym 4-5 times a week. I had a routine. I felt good. However, ever since Winter Break, this rut hasn’t allowed me to find the motivation to get back into it. I did decide to give it another go, though, and on Tuesday morning, I woke up at 7 AM and got my booty to the gym, and it felt wonderful. Well, as wonderful as it can feel when you haven’t gone to the gym in over a month and haven’t been eating the healthiest foods. However, I give myself props because baby steps are still progress in the right direction. Whenever I work out, afterwards my mind and body both feel a lot lighter and I’m more prepared for my days. Releasing stress in a gym setting is probably one of my biggest tips when you’re feeling anxious or nervous. Even if that means just 30 minutes on the treadmill, do whatever works for you.
- Self-Care
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This is one of the most crucial things to do when you’re feeling low. Sometimes we have moments when we don’t feel good enough or valuable or our self-esteem is just really low. These moments are when you need to be for yourself the most. There are going to be many people in your life who come and go, but the one constant you have is yourself, and to be happy with yourself is one of the biggest achievements you can have. Everyone’s self-care is a little different. Mine usually consists of taking a long hot shower and washing my hair. Maybe if I really feel like it I’ll even shave my legs. After that, I will make sure to moisturize. This leads to my favorite part: on the weekends I really enjoy putting on a facemask, pouring myself a glass of rose and watching one of my favorite shows or movies. Occasionally I’ll swap a show for a really good book. Basically do what makes you feel the most relaxed and like yourself.
- Feeling Your Emotions Out
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As much as I like to cover up my emotions, sometimes the best way to deal with them is head on. A good cry can be both therapeutic and necessary at times. I know that I pretend not to let people see that things bother me, which leads to me bottling up my emotions. Even though I know it’s unhealthy, it happens. So, sometimes after a long day I’ll lie in bed and allow myself to feel sad for a bit. These moments aren’t meant to dwell in the sadness, but just to remind yourself that it’s okay to be sad. We are all human beings and all our emotions are valid, even the ones we may not enjoy feeling.
I hope at least one of these suggestions can help you guys get out of a rut you might be in. Although these helped me for the time being, handling emotions in a healthy way isn’t something done overnight. It’s something that I struggle with every day. Sometimes those overwhelming thoughts and feelings don’t go away. If that’s the case, I would recommend you reach out and talk to someone you trust. Talking can really help lift the burden off your chest, or at least indicate to someone else that you’re struggling so they can be there for you.
Keep chugging along. I believe in all of you.