Here we are! We have returned back from the holiday break, back from home and still remembering what we forget every September: it will get busy and we will get exhausted if we do not stay on top of every little thing this semester. What is this going to lead to, you ask? Well, beyond exhaustion, there will be boredom. If you’re anything like me, you will experience feelings of anxiety, boredom and stickiness. This time of year always makes me feel absolutely stuck in my routine, and I hate it. Fortunately, I’ve learned a few ways to get past it, or at the very least through it.
1. Work out
Whether it’s hitting the gym for a traditional work-out, or taking up Zumba or pole-dancing, just start working out. It adds something new to your boring routine and is known to make people feel better and more energized. In this gloomy time of year, it’s important to find ways to keep healthy! For many people, including myself, healthy = happy.
2. Keep up with friends
This time of year can be extremely busy and exhausting. Having a break from class and getting back to school after the madness of the holidays often means losing touch with your pals for a little while, and it can be hard to get back into the groove of spending time with friends. Even if it’s just a text, or maybe a coffee, keep up with your friends. They could be feeling the same way as you, and supporting one another could help both of you! Also having some fun with a friend will take your mind off of any negative feelings you’ve been having, get you out of your normal day to day routine and help add some pep back into your step.
3. Plan an adventurous reading week
By doing something new and interesting for the break, you give yourself a chance to blow off some steam and TRULY break up your routine a little bit. Whether you book a trip to Cuba or just try to do one new thing each day of the break in your hometown, do something that is a breath of fresh air. Get out of your comfort zone, and explore a little bit. This has always allowed me to clear my head and be able to really centre myself once I return back to reality after the break.
4. TRY to be endlessly fascinated by at least one class
This isn’t news: most of the time, classes get boring and you end up dreading having to go. If you can pick one class to be constantly excited for and interested in, you always have something to look forward to during your mundane week and it doesn’t feel SO bad.
5. Have fun planning!
Get a bullet journal! Get some fun coloured pens! Make your own calendar! Planning your life only puts how much you loathe your routine on paper right in front of you, for you to now completely take in. If you can turn that into a relaxing and fun way to unwind and get organized, it quickly turns into something you’re excited to do and keep track of. My bullet journal has become a way for me to take control of my day-to-day life in a colourful and doodle-filled way, and I am excited to complete tasks so that I can play with it some more.
6. Take some you time
Staying on top of everything you HAVE to do takes so much energy, and I don’t think everyone realizes this. It is completely possible to wear yourself out by focusing only on chores, school and work. You HAVE to remember to take “you” time, to breathe and unwind. It is so important for your mental health to turn it off for a little while. It also keeps your mind fresh and eager to move along to the next thing, which is necessary to do well in school. Put down the phone, put on a movie and do a face-mask. You not only need it—you deserve it.
7. Be open about your mental health
Be open and honest with yourself and those you trust around you about how you are feeling. It is so important to constantly recognize what you are going through and how you are feeling, so that if it gets serious, you can identify it and address it. Your friends love you, and they will want to help however they can.
8. Treat yourself
Rewards work better than discipline, my friend! I know you’ve been working hard, and YOU know you have been working hard, so don’t be afraid to treat yourself! Having a little self-love to look forward to makes all the hard, boring stuff you’re going through a little easier. Do you deserve to get your nails done because you completed all your readings by Friday? Hell yes! Do you deserve a venti instead of a grande because you began a project the day you got it? You betcha!
9. Make an effort for yourself
It can be so, so easy to fall into the deep hole of sweatpants and messy buns for days and days. You are anxious, tired and bored. What’s the point, amirite? NO. Make an effort for yourself! Spending a little extra time on your face and wearing jeans for once is not as much of a hassle as you may believe. You will feel better for it, because you’re putting whatever you consider to be your best self forward. Do that for you, and the rest of your best self, like doing schoolwork or going to that work-out class you REALLY don’t want to attend will follow. There is nothing wrong with a few lazy days, but let’s not turn it into our lifetime.
10. Try to stay clean and tidy
I don’t know about you, but I am awful at keeping my space clean. It is far too easy for me to destroy my room and walk through a mess of clothes and random stuff all over, but it makes me incredibly anxious. Taking care of your things and your space allows you to also take care of yourself and your mind. Not only is it one less thing to worry about, but it also makes you feel that much more calm and settled. Plus it leaves some more time to get out of that pesky routine and worry about things like what to do this weekend. Tidy room, tidy mind.
The January blues get a LOT of people, so believe me when I say you’re not alone. With these ten handy tips, you will not only survive until April, but THRIVE into April. Get unstuck, and you will do just fine.
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