Winter blues?

In wake of the longer darker nights and the arrival of cold frosty mornings, we can appreciate that the idea of being buried under your bed covers is an appealing one. But, at some point, you will need to carry on with life at university regardless. So, how can you boost your mood on those dark wintery days?

Fancy a coffee?

What do lower temperatures mean? Warmer beverages of course! I know we’ve mentioned coffee here, but those of you who don’t drink it needn’t feel left out because there are plenty of alternatives.

Nothing beats wrapping your chilly hands round a nice warm cup that’s filled with your favourite drink, whether that be a hot chocolate, caramel latté, or a mocha. What’s more, the kits you can use to make them are available in most supermarkets at reasonable prices. Or, if you’re after a more authentic experience, pop down to your local coffee shop and treat yourself to your ideal brew.

Have a laugh

If the weather’s getting you down, there’s no point continuing to frown. Why not boot up YouTube and find a clip of your favourite comedian, sketch or panel show to watch?
There’s nothing like a good laugh to take your mind off the horrible weather, especially when you and your friends get together.

Eat well

The saying, ‘you are what you eat’, is very apt, especially during the winter months. Keeping on top of your fruit and vegetable intake has been proven to be a natural mood boosting technique as well as a sure fire way to keep your immune system in check.

It stands to reason that the healthier the food you eat, the more likely you are to feel good and perform well at university. This doesn’t mean that you can’t have the odd treat here and there, though – everything in moderation is the key!

Create a journal 

Writing your thoughts down every day, or every other day, isn’t a bad idea if you don’t feel like you’re achieving anything.

Starting a journal doesn’t have to be a complicated endeavour. You don’t even have to buy a proper hardback journal! All you need is a simple notepad and a pen. Once you have these, you can start jotting down what you’re grateful for, what you’ve achieved over the week, and where you can improve next week.

Not only does this make you feel like you’re accomplishing something every day, but it also makes you realise that, despite the chilly temperatures and bleak weather, that you’ve got a lot to be thankful for.

Get physical 

Even though the weather outside is frightful, it doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate some form of exercise into your daily winter routine. Whether that’s a five-minute yoga workout on a mat in your dorm room, or heading down to the gym inside your accommodation. Just make sure you get moving!

Exercising has been proven to keep negative feelings at bay, such as depression, anxiety, and stress, while helping you to get in shape and feel good about yourself. This releases the feel-good and mood boosting hormones, endorphins, which can only be a good thing, right?

At Collegiate, we are passionate about looking out for our resident’s mental and physical well-being and, hopefully, these tips will help to boost your mood this winter.