How to Fight the Winter Blues
Written by Rachel Pope
Photography by Noah Laoria-Nguyen
It’s March; they’re saying that the worst of winter is already over. But, this is Wisconsin, and the weather is cruel and unpredictable. We all know we’re bound for another snow storm or two, and if we’re lucky maybe the ground will freeze over and we’ll get to skate to class again! If the winter months are taking a toll on your optimism and overall positive mental state, here’s my (perhaps unqualified, definitely unsolicited) advice to help you survive the last of the winter blues. Go to the Movies Engulf yourself in a movie to escape the cold outside. With online streaming services, it’s easy to stay inside and watch something, but that really does detract from the overall experience of watching a movie (ie, not being distracted and looking at your phone). Getting out and going to the movies allows you to become submerged in the fictional worlds they create on screen and you can pretend you’re where the characters are. From Wakanda in Black Panther to the magical sci-fi lands in A Wrinkle in Time, the movies are a great way to escape. Plan for a Vacation Spring Break is just a few weeks away, and if you’re lucky, you’re planning for a fun-filled week to someplace tropical. Looking up and deciding what you’re going to do once you’re there means that you’re both excited for the future and thinking about the warmer weather! Even if it’s planning for a day trip to the Dells in the summer, thinking about hotter days will take your mind off of the frigid weather outside. Pet a Pet The residence halls and colleges have dogs that come during stressful times of the year, allowing students to pet them and relax. With this logic, petting animals should help relieve some of the stress you’re feeling about not seeing the sun. Find (or make) a friend that has a pet, volunteer at an animal shelter, go home and see your cuddly creature, or just stop someone on the street; regardless of how you get contact, as long as you have permission, pet away. Feel the negativity slide off of your fingers with every stroke on fur/scales/feathers. Crank Up the Tunes It’s impossible for me to feel any blues when cheery songs are playing. Whether it’s grabbing a group of friends, taking a shower in an empty apartment, or going for a long drive in a car, turn your music up, and just have fun. Even though it’s miserable to layer up and protect every inch of your body to walk outside, feeling positivity and joy from other aspects of your life will help counteract it.