5 Tips to Help With the Winter Blues

Wintertime, thought by some to be the most magical time of the year. But is it? For a lot of people, this is simply not the case. Though many of us can get excited and full of life for the Christmas period, the freezing-lack of sun during these months can be really challenging for some. Not to mention the massive come down after the Christmas hype, followed by heavy amounts of revision and January exams.

Happy New Year to us all! The winter blues is no joke - when the entire country is covered in cold, damp rain spells with some spouts of snow, it can be extremely challenging to stay on top of your day-to-day life. Tis the season when mental health often suffers for many of us, so it’s important that you are not only taking care of your immune system with all the colds flying about, but also taking care of your mental well-being and introducing self-care into your daily routine. Here are a few tips to help keep your head above water until Spring.

Embrace the Winter Wonderland

Though there might not be snow on the roads yet, fresh air and exercise are extremely important for our mental health. Even though it might feel like the last thing you want to do, if you can try your best to put on your heavy coat; don your scarf, hat and gloves; grab some friends and head out the front door, you’ll find it can make a huge difference to your brain chemistry.

Not only is it a nice way to sneak in some exercise, but a change of environment can give your brain a sense of liberation and relief, rather than hiding away at home. Try taking a hot mug of something nice with you as you walk to make the walk feel more leisurely and relaxed.

Source Your Own Light

Yet another difficult part of winter is the lack of sunshine. Unfortunately, there is no way to pull the sun out of the clouds to make winter days full of sunshine. But the good thing to remember is that the shortest day of the year (21st December) is now behind us, meaning that things can only look up from here. Days will be getting lighter and brighter and little by little things will get better.

One thing you can do in the interim, is make your home feel as warm, sunny and cosy as possible. Having a good light source in your living space can really help brighten your mood during the darker month. Try putting up some fairy lights, buy a table lamp or even try using therapy lamps in your space to make it feel light and full of life. The lighter your living area is, the more your concentration will improve, helping you with your revising, day-to-day chores and generally feeling more inspired.

Get a Move On

This time of the year is truly one of the hardest when it comes to motivation. It can be extremely difficult to start or get back into exercise routines, particularly if you are struggling mentally with the season. However, it is still a crucial part of getting through these next couple of months.

Exercise is proven to help improve your mental well-being and decrease your stress and anxiety levels. As hard as it is to get yourself out into the world, you’ll much likely feel better for it afterwards. Try exercising with friends, whether that’s going to the gym, having a run through a park, taking up a sport or even finding cool independent classes to try out locally.

Having someone else there with you can help to ensure you get out of the house. It’s harder to be accountable to yourself, but it’s significantly easier when you and your friends can keep each other accountable and enthusiastic. Don’t forget that you can also stick on a YouTube video, roll out a yoga mat or put your dancing shoes on for an easy and quick exercise fix.

Eat Hearty, but Healthy Food

With the Christmas food starting to wear out of your system, it’s important to keep to a healthy diet, giving yourself plenty of energy throughout the days and weeks. Winter can take so much more out of us mentally than at other times of the year, so it’s important that you are eating good, healthy food and plenty of it. Try to avoid the temptation to eat only feel-good foods that give you comfort, but don’t supply you with the long-lasting nutrients that you’ll need to really thrive and feel the best.

It’s cold, which means it’s easy to eat carb-rich foods, like endless amounts of pasta, bread and rice with little greens. But sadly, consuming larger amounts of these foods will leave you feeling bloated and lethargic, which can affect your mood in a negative way. Try to slot in as much fresh food and veggies as you can into your diet, focusing on things which are highly nutritious which can supply you with the energy to keep yourself afloat throughout the day.

But, if You’re Really Blue…

It’s important to remember that the ‘winter blues’ are real and can strongly impact a person’s life. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is an NHS-recognised type of depression that is very real and does require attention. If you are feeling low, it’s OK to ask for help and to seek support in whatever ways are best for you.

Always remember, don’t give up on yourself. As hard as this may seem in the really low points, you are not alone. Let the people around you know what they can do or not do to help you through the hard months. Remember to talk to your help channels at university, whether it’s your tutor, or the student support services.

Unihousing – Here to Help

One of the causes of stress that many students experience at university is student accommodation. However, Unihousing are here to help make the student living experience as stress-free as we can. Not having your accommodation sorted for next year can make your exams and revision more stressful, but by contacting us and sorting your living situation for the next academic year now, this can eliminate this source of stress.

We have a wide selection of accommodation still available for the 2020/2021 academic year, including modern student studios available in Selly Oak. These spacious studios are ideal for students at the University of Birmingham, so make sure you book your viewing today.

Book your viewing for student accommodation today!