Taking control of the "winter scaries"

As the days get shorter, darker, and colder, they inadvertently seem longer. In company with the winter months often comes an increase in procrastination and cosy bed-rotting. Suddenly, getting up on a morning requires significantly more motivation than simply the peak of sun through the blinds in the summer. To avoid the “winter scaries”, it is more important than ever to take time for yourself and make the effort to practice forms of self-care. Whatever form this might appear to you in, these chilling months are the most perfect time than any other to take extra care for your health.  

As a university student, it is so easy to be caught in the temptation of a cosy morning. Skipping a lecture and refusing to face the rainy, dreary exterior and promising yourself to catch up on ReCap. Unlike the welcoming summer months, trekking to and from university in the dark and damp, admittedly, does not manifest itself as particularly appealing. However, with impending mid-module assignments and the dreaded looming of deadlines in the autumn months, there is sadly no room to fall into the trap of the effect of the “winter scaries”. Therefore, self-motivated actions must be taken in order to survive the winter slog and make it through to the Christmas break. 

A simple cure for tackling lethargic feelings, derived from a seasonally affected mood, can be found in an attempt to romanticise winter. From wearing cosy clothes and making cute outfits to treating yourself to festive drinks and wholesome, homemade food, small activities can provide the little burst of happiness missing from the dreary, mundane winter day. The winter months can be enjoyed, rather the dreaded, by embracing the season's activities. Trips to the Christmas markets or cold, refreshing walks at the beach offer some of the many aspects to look forward to in this season. Surrounding yourself with friends and family, who may also be experiencing feelings of seasonal melancholy, provides company to make the most of what the winter period has to offer. 

The emphasis on moving your body, in the context of mental and physical well-being, is more important than ever. The proof that daily exercise and movement can benefit you so significantly cannot be ignored. Mood improvement, better brain function, and reduced anxiety are some of the many advantages that exercise can offer. Not only will this have improvements to mental health, but it will additionally help provide the positive mental motivation and engagement to tackle the forthcoming assignments. Plus, it can often be an immersive experience to embrace the beauty of the autumnal and winter seasons. Appreciating the beauty that this time of year brings with it, the abundance of crisp, amber leaves or the breathtaking blankets of snow, allows you to view the season through a somewhat rose-tinted lens.

Perhaps most importantly, it is crucial to take time to relax and have a time out from focusing on formal work and assignments. Considering alone time as sacred and precious transforms potentially lonesome feelings into a cherished, peaceful, relaxed downtime. Spending all day and every day on one task is not a productive use of time and energy. In fact, taking breaks and focusing your mind elsewhere leads to better results in a more relaxed mental environment. For me, having a hot bath, a face mask, and watching a cheesy rom-com is the essential checklist for remedying the winter blues.

Rather than dreading the winter day that awaits, acknowledging the aspects of beauty in it and what the cold seasons bring with them, creates a new perspective. To tackle the “winter scaries”, a call for a push of self-motivation is first and foremost asked for. Following this, an abundance of opportunities for forms of self-care and seasonal activities are revealed. As a consequence, the only feelings brought with the colder months should be those of relaxation and festivity.