Blue Monday, which just passed on Jan. 20, is said to be the most depressing day of the entire year. And for good reason; the warm joy from the holidays has run out, everyone has settled back into their jobs, schoolwork is beginning to pile on and the weather is relentlessly cold and miserable. It can feel difficult to stay afloat at this time of year, especially since everyone is radiating the same lethargic energy onto each other. Luckily, there are a number of uplifting habits and practices that you can adopt into your routine to improve your mood. Here is a list of tips to stay happy and keep your chin up during the winter semester!
1. Make a Vision Board
A great way to kickstart your year and visualize your goals is to make a vision board. Get a group of friends together, grab a stack of magazines with content that inspires you and cut out any images or quotes that embody your aspirations. If you don’t have any set goals in mind, it’s just as fun to simply cut and paste pictures that spark joy. Feel free to look up some boards on Pinterest to get inspiration; there’s plenty. The best part about this activity is that you need zero artistic skill to do it – there’s no wrong way to make a vision board. Here’s an example:
Image courtesy of author
2. Hang Out with Animals
At Laurier, we have a program called “Chilling With Dogs” that runs every Thursday afternoon. It’s pretty self-explanatory: friendly pups are brought in and students can come play and hang out with them to destress. If you don’t go to Laurier, you can check your school’s event calendar or local wellness centre to see if therapy dogs are utilized in your area. If your school doesn’t offer anything similar, look into volunteering at a local animal shelter for a day – you’ll get to spend time helping cute pets and will leave feeling fulfilled after donating your time to a good cause.
3. Cake!
Treat yo’self.
4. Find Your Mantra
My yogi mom defines a personal mantra as “an idea that you want to reinforce in yourself.” The belief behind a mantra is that by voicing words of affirmation into the universe, you are speaking it into existence. I have found it helpful to create positive and uplifting phrases to counter personal difficulties when going through a hard time. For example, a mantra could be “I am complete and at peace within myself.” Repeat your mantra to yourself whenever you need words of affirmation.
5. Exercise
Although this may not seem like the most fun option to some, exercise releases endorphins in the brain which can make you happy. Try a dance class with friends, hit the gym or go for runs around the neighborhood to get some fresh air (if it’s not too cold out). If heavy exercise just isn’t your thing, look up some guided yoga videos on YouTube like this one that you can do for free in the comfort of your home.
6. Every Experience is Positive
This is my personal motto for the year; it is a reminder to count your blessings. Even if something happens that seems inherently negative, it is almost always an opportunity to learn. Therefore it is either outright positive or it is a learning experience. This mindset will help you to see the bright side of everything; use it to seek out the positives in every situation.
7. Make Time for the People You Love
Make a point to block time out of your calendar for friends and loved ones – people that you enjoy being around and that inspire and energize you. Organize a weekly viewing party for your favourite show, go out for a night or even just get together to study on weeks when you’re especially pressed for time. It is easy to get caught up in work and school, so finding a consistent time to meet with friends every week gives you something to look forward to. It also keeps you close to and connected with the most important people in your life!
8. Get Outside
Don’t forget to go outdoors and get some fresh air and sunshine whenever you can. The thought of venturing out into what feels like the arctic tundra can be daunting, so pick a mild and sunny day to take a walk outside or commit a day to winter activities like skating or sledding. The lack of sunshine in the winter leads to a depletion of vitamin D in the body, which can cause feelings of depression. So be sure to make it outside for a few minutes every day to counter any sad feelings!
9. Gratitude Journaling
Invest in a pretty journal or notebook to keep by your bed and reflect on your day every evening before you go to sleep. Try and think of at least one fortunate, happy or positive event that you are grateful to have experienced that day and jot it down. It can be as small as “treated myself to coffee” or as big as “got the promotion” or “aced my final.” Taking the time to reflect and be grateful for the little things is crucial to sustaining personal stability; after all, it is easy to get hung up on inconveniences and focus only on the negatives. Having a record of things to be grateful for is especially uplifting and great to look back on during tough days.
It’s easy to get bogged down by all of the mundane influences that accompany the winter semester. Whether you’re struggling with mountains of readings or just inexplicable seasonal depression, always keep in mind that you’re not alone! By incorporating these little shifts in habits and attitude into your day-to-day routine, you can make massive changes toward your overall mood throughout the winter.