Around the October-November cusp, after midterms are over and the semester is traveling at high speed towards the finish line, your mood may begin to match the weather outside: cold and dark. Whether you’re feeling homesick, you’re stressed about school work, or you’re just over school in general, the middle of the semester can get pretty bleak. Here are a few things you can do to brighten your spirits:
I’m convinced that music has magical powers. Listening to music always seems to put me in a better mood. However, if you listen to the wrong music, you could worsen your situation. I’ve made the mistake numerous times of listening to sad songs when I am just that, sad. Find songs that pump you up, that make you want to dance around, that make you happy. Spotify has plenty of playlists that you can listen to if you don’t have specific songs of your own. A personal favorite playlist of mine on Spotify is Throwback Jams. It’s filled with all of the songs I used to boogie to as a kid, and always puts me in a better mood.
While the temperature is still above thirty degrees, get outside and take a walk! After being cooped up in your bedroom all day, swamped with assignments, some fresh air can do you some good. Also, think of the fall foliage! The trees are so pretty this time of year, take some time to soak it all in! It’s a great opportunity to spruce up your Instagram feed. Take a walk in the park, or even run a quick errand. Whatever gets you outside.
A for sure way to lift your spirits is to write everything in a journal. You can write about anything: your feelings, what you did throughout the week, dreams, aspirations. What they say about writing your feelings down is true, it feels like a weight being lifted off your shoulders. If you’re not much of a writer, you can also draw little doodles (or big doodles, I’m not gonna tell you what to draw). Writing, drawing, and even coloring are great ways to relieve your stress and to make you feel ten times better. I personally love the coloring books with swear words. It really does the trick when trying to get rid of stress.
Last but not least, the most important thing you should do to cheer yourself up is to make sure you’re watching your health. Making sure you’re hydrated and getting enough sleep is super important when it comes to regulating your mood. If you’re feeling overly irritable, that probably means you need more sleep. Also, a healthy diet is something that is important when it comes to feeling happier. Eating too much junk can put you in a worse mood.
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