Somewhere around mid-February, everything starts to feel MUCH heavier. I swear my alarm is somehow louder and earlier, my motivation is shot, assignments appear out of thin air, and even the things I normally love feel like they require a lot of effort. Sadness isn’t really the feeling that encapsulates this; it’s more a mix of tired, unenthused, and counting down the days until something shifts. I know this sounds (and is) super upsetting, but that’s okay!
Winter fatigue is real, it’s no joke, and it’s coming in hot with full force. SOOO, if you’re feeling stuck right now, I hope this brings you the slightest bit of comfort because you aren’t alone in your February blues.
Every month has its thing. November is full of fall energy and excitement around Thanksgiving break, December brings rest and the holidays, and January carries that brief motivation of “new year, new me.” February, though, it just kind of exists in the darkness. You wake up in the dark, go to bed in the dark, midterms start creeping in, and spring break feels light-years away. As a college student, it’s the month that feels the most isolating, like we are all collectively just trying to push through the storm.
So, what are we supposed to do about it?
Obviously, I’m no expert, but I will share what my very wise therapist told me (and what I tell myself0>
First: reframe the narrative. Negativity is your enemy right now; don’t let her win. Next: lower the bar. Then grab that bar and lower it even more. Doing the minimum is still doing something! Checking off a few things on your full to-do? Something is better than nothing; everything counts. Going to class but sitting in the back and saying nothing? Attendance is attendance, and you’re still getting the credit! Skipping the gym but walking to grab coffee instead? Hey, movement is movement! Reframe the narrative that lowering the bar means giving up, because that is not only false, but simply bad vibes. Lowering the bar means adjusting your expectations to match the reality we are living in.Â
Let yourself feel feelings that you might not even know you are experiencing. Journal, vent to friends, cry it out. Letting these feelings come out is the only way to get through it. You’ll start to see a sliver of hope.
My biggest piece of advice is to make a tangible list of things to look forward to. Keep said list in eye-sight. Maybe even add an inspiring quote at the top! It can serve as a reminder to keep going! So please go grab colorful pens, markers, and highlighters, and get creating a bright masterpiece that will serve as your mantra in these gloomy days. March brings a lot of hope on its back. Longer days, more sunlight, and spring break are coming! On that train with them, there is a little more energy and hope to keep you trudging through the second semester. Make plans with friends, create time to go shopping, maybe even build in time to FaceTime your family (they always make things better).
This February feeling is temporary, even though it doesn’t feel like that way right now. Remember, people are good at making it look like they are thriving, but I swear most of us are just trying to survive right now! Spring is coming, and with that, a lighter version of you!