Reflect and Nourish

As the air gets chillier and the days get shorter, it’s normal to not feel your best.

I mean, who could blame you? Little sunlight, heavy homework assignments, and, potentially, a lack of social time are a mixed recipe for a languishing feeling of blah.

While it is important to acknowledge this feeling, you shouldn’t let it overpower you. Here are five tips to help you maintain your energy and keep going, even when you don’t really feel like it. 

1. Stay busy. 

This might sound counterintuitive because, most likely, the only thing you feel like doing is staying in bed. 

It’s perfectly ok to take a lazy day every now and then, but if you remain inactive, you’ll dig yourself into a deep hole of lethargy that’s really hard to get out of. 

So, make sure you’re keeping up with your activities— stay on top of your work, participate in extracurriculars, do hobbies, etc. This will help take your focus off of your own problems and apply your energy to productive matters. 

2. Get outside during the daytime.

We all need some sunlight to get that much-needed Vitamin D, so make sure you go outside for at least a few minutes every day, even if it’s cold.

You can take a walk, ride a bike, skate, or even just sit outside for a few minutes. 

Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather, and don’t forget to put on sunscreen.

3. Stay in touch with friends. 

Staying socially connected is an important part of your overall well-being. Plan hangouts with friends, and text and/or call them every now and then. Both you and your friends will likely benefit from connecting with each other and will appreciate each other’s support.

4. Get moving. 

Physical activity is proven to improve your mood, and there are plenty of ways to stay active. You can go to the gym, do workouts at home, dance, play sports, swim — your options are endless. 

You could even combine this tip with tip #3 and exercise with a friend. Sometimes, it’s easier to exercise when you have a friend with you to motivate you, cheer you on, and be by your side. 

5. Make to-do lists.

This will help you stay on track when you feel like doing nothing. Oftentimes, the hardest part of completing work is starting because we aren’t sure exactly what we’re doing or where to start. 

By forcing yourself to figure out what you want to do by writing tasks on a to-do list, you save yourself from the hassle of trying to figure everything out last minute.

I hope this post gave you some helpful tips on how to boost your energy during the fall and winter seasons. 

This time of year can be hard, but if you continue to take care of yourself, you can make it through.