Long time no see everyone!
I, like many of you, am trying to adjust to the long nights and cold weather that's slowly creeping in. Even though it happens every year, I still find myself at the end of November feeling shocked that it's pitch black at 4pm. The only thing I want to do when it gets like that is not leave the house- which I know is so relatable- and any motivation I once had seems to have disappeared. Life as a student can feel quite lonely and the winter blues don't make it any easier. With deadlines and exams getting closer, this time of year can feel so stressful and like there's nothing to look forward to. I just want to remind you that this is so normal and so common! Especially when living in Ireland, the lack of vitamin D massively contributes to that low mood we can all feel during these months.
I wanted to share some things I like to do that make the cold nights and dark mornings feel a little easier to get through. Hopefully, these will give you some inspiration and comfort to get through another winter- like you have done for so many years before!
1. Move your body
We all hear of the scientific benefits linking exercising and happy hormones, and it is all true. Recently, I've been loving Pilates. I had never tried pilates before, only yoga, but I am so glad I did. Pilates feels so rewarding, and it really sets you up for your day. I prefer going to the sunrise pilates at 07:30, and it makes you feel amazing- I would absolutely recommend it to anyone and their granny. I also really want to start swimming again and try a sauna/steam room afterwards, unfortunately, there's none in the centre of Belfast.
2. Headspace
I love Headspace, and I was first introduced to the app through my Dad who uses Headspace for meditation. For the last month, I have been really struggling with sleeping. I can't sleep at night, end up staring at the ceiling, and then feel shattered for the rest of the day. This cycle is just repeating and repeating, and then I tried Headspace again. I didn't realise what they actually offered, but you can listen to podcasts, guided meditation, white noise and advice videos. I love the videos that help me wind down and fall asleep, and I think anything who's struggling with their sleep schedule should definitely give that free trial a go.
3. Everything shower
My favourite time of the week. I am obsessed with the idea of an everything shower I won't lie. I even love watching TikTok videos about other people's everything showers, to get inspiration for my own. Self-care is so important, especially during the winter when your skin needs that extra bit of love. I recently started incorporating candles into my shower routine, and it is a game changer I promise. There are loads of different products I love to use too, so don't worry, they'll be in a separate post coming soon! If there's anything you should do before the end of the month, treat yourself to a new face mask or a new moisturiser and you'll feel amazing.
4. Cosy and festive evenings
Living in Belfast makes me a bit homesick during the winter for very specific things. I miss having homemade dinners and watching TV programs on like Bake Off or Im a Celeb. During the winter months, I always make sure to have dinners that remind me of being a child and living at home. It could be the stupidest meal, like chicken goujons, mash and gravy, but it makes me feel so cosy and really helps me survive winter. On the run-up to Christmas, we've been watching loads of festive movies and listening to all the Christmas songs and carols. Even though it is still November, the festivities really lift your spirits and make you feel so happy. Normally, I can be a bit of a Grinch, but this year I'm really giving in to the Christmas spirit, and I hope you do too. It gives you something to look forward to, even if you hate the holiday, you can still look forward to all the dressing up and yummy food.
5. Journaling and making lists
I actually can't survive without having lists and plans written out. I've been using the platform Notion on my laptop, and it feels like an online journal. I always like to have lists with Christmas present ideas, upcoming plans and deadlines and I feel like this really helps me with that. If you're feeling overwhelmed with having so much to do around this time of year and want to feel productive, I would definitely look into Notion. Plus, I find it so aesthetically pleasing, which is the reason I can't keep physical diaries, I get too obsessed with my messy handwriting!
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