5 Ways to Beat the February Blues

I don’t know about y’all, but February is one of the hardest months for me. The holidays are long since over and the combination of midterms and long, dark days leaves me feeling languid and unmotivated. Winter has been here for several months and it’s just not leaving (see: the blizzard we didn’t expect ).

Blessedly, it’s almost over. March is just around the corner, which means sunshine and daisies, iced tea in the backyard – right? Nope! There’s still another month of classes and then exams to get through. If you’ve been going strong since September (or more likely for the last two or three years), another month of school is, well, torture.

So yeah, it sucks that it’s not done yet, but there are tons of things you can do to get yourself through the next month. Try something you haven’t done before; sit in silence and notice your thoughts; teach yourself a new skill; run headlong through a frozen forest. And if those don’t lift your spirits, Mac (UFV’s very own good boy/therapy dog) is having his retirement party on Tuesday, March 5. This, of all things, will light up your life enough to get you through to the end of the semester.

Think you’ll lose your marbles if classes don’t end soon? Don’t worry: these tips will keep your marbles firmly in place (until next semester, at least).

1. Sign up for something fun

This could be anything from cooking to photography to fire dancing. As long as it gets you out of your house, out of your routine, and doing something interesting, it’ll work. Or, if you don’t have the time or funds to take on another class, watch tutorials on YouTube and try it out at home. (Note: please don’t attempt fire dancing inside your home.)

2. Attend a meditation session

I’m an avid believer that meditation is a fantastic way to help yourself feel better. There are countless studies providing the benefits, ranging from lowering stress levels to improving focus and memory to boosting our immune systems . That, and it can even restructure the brain through something called neuroplasticity. As students, what more can we ask for?

3. Peruse the library

When was the last time you read something for fun? I know from personal experience that, during the semester, you hardly have time to read your textbooks and articles, let alone read something you want to read. So walk around the public library and pick something out – the weirder, the better.

4. Paint something

Even if you’re not “artistic,” do it. It’ll take about an hour from your day where you not only give yourself a brain break and deviate from the rigorous routine of a student, but you come out of it with something pretty. Plus, creating art reduces stress, gives you a sense of accomplishment , and is a great way to get through dark evenings.

5. Go hiking

I know it’s cold, and that trails are potentially slippery, but have you ever run through the forest when the trees are blanketed in snow and there’s no one else around? It’s restorative in a way I can’t begin to describe.