Avoiding Winter Depression And Making The Most Of The Cold: 5 Things You Can Do To Stay Productive

Winter is a magical season. With the holidays and snow-white ambience, the season truly is magical and most of us can only feel our best. However, this magic and zeal is short-lived for many. As the new year begins, so does a new semester and another routine to adjust to. The gloom and bone-shivering cold of winter sets in, and for some like myself, getting up from bed and leaving the warmth of my blanket is an everyday challenge. It’s easy to fall behind on your studies and you might even succumb to seasonal depression. But winter isn’t all about gloom and sleet. With a little planning and effort, winter can be one of your most productive seasons. By productivity, I don’t mean staying indoors and studying 24/7. A big part of making sure you take advantage of winter entails taking care of yourself and your mental health. Some of these habits might sound tedious and might even take you time to get used to, but if you can stick to them, it certainly makes life easier and it’ll make you a valiant warrior against winter depression.

Here’s what you can do to take advantage of this winter and implement in your daily routine:

Less distractions, more productivity

Unlike summer, the winter gloom doesn’t always tempt you to be out and about. People may choose to stay inside during the winter months because of lower temperatures and shorter days. This may result in fewer social gatherings and outdoor activities that could divert attention from studying, creating a more favorable atmosphere. It sounds a bit robotic and depressing, but not worrying about all the fun you might be missing out on to meet deadlines, is a good motivator to help you study. It’s also the perfect time to have group study sessions in the comfort of your own home.

My roommate and I realized quickly that winter makes it very difficult for us to be focused on whatever work we might have, especially when we’re isolated in our rooms and refuse to get out of bed. Having a specific time set every day, which we called ‘writing session’, helped us pull ourselves out of bed and get into the mindset to study. In a way, we felt committed to our collective wiring session. This kind of group study is particularly useful because you’re able to bounce ideas off of each other, complain a little about your work, laugh and take short breaks in between. As we followed this routine for a week, we were both able to get a lot of work done and it was a fun time. It might be worth considering that a group larger than 2–3 people might end up creating more distractions.

Improved sleep quality

Compared to the potential drowsiness that may come with higher temperatures, a cooler temperature can benefit your sleep. We know that getting sound sleep is crucial to productivity. Elevated body temperature, particularly during the night, has been linked to improved sleep quality. Good sleep is necessary for memory consolidation and cognitive function, both of which are critical for successful study. Keeping this in mind, you might even consider having a nighttime routine i.e. have a screen cut off time, meditate or journal about your day, plan what you want to do the following day, do some self-care and call it a day. Having such a routine might seem tedious at first, but remember, once you get into the habit, these routines will feel like second nature.

And let’s face it, sleeping under a warm blanket during winter is one of the dangers of winter. Preparing yourself to take advantage of this to ensure productivity makes the experience worthwhile.

Take advantage of breaks and snow days

Making your winter productive doesn’t mean you should skip on spending the holidays with your friends and family. But if your winter break goes into January, you might want to start thinking about how to make the most of it. It might be worth starting off with some journaling to help align your goals for the semester and/or season. Look into the syllabus of your courses and prepare yourself for what to expect, keep note of where you might face difficulties and try considering how to take care of yourself in these moments. Journaling is a good practice to build and taking this time when you have no overwhelming coursework to do, it’s a good step.

When you get snow days and all classes get canceled, it might be tempting to lay in bed with a hot mug of cocoa and watch your favorite show. While there’s nothing wrong in doing so, you should take such days to catch up on any work you have left or get some work done beforehand.

Look into a winter skincare routine

Having a skincare regime can sound a bit expensive, but that’s not always the case. A major part of making sure you’re at your best during winter is taking care of yourself and having a skincare routine — cleansing, toning, and moisturizing — doesn’t need to have ten steps that make you bankrupt. Starting your day with a simple skincare routine and ending your day with one, helps you balance yourself.

I myself have mixed skin, meaning my skin is oily and dry. In winter, my skin is as dry as the Sahara desert and I find that my summertime skincare isn’t as effective. For winter, I opt for using a gentle everyday cleanser followed by aloe gel, which is suitable for all skin types. At night, I opt to use a hydrating toner after cleansing, followed by aloe gel. If my skin is feeling extra bumpy and dried out, I sometimes use an acne mask. Having this skincare routine indicates the start and end of my day. It plays a part in promoting a positive mindset, boosting confidence, and feeling your best, which can sometimes be difficult during winter.

This isn’t your typical ‘5 steps to stay productive during winter as a student’ article. We tend to forget that with the lack of sun, social interactions and the gloom takes a toll on us mentally and we forget to take care of ourselves. Even if you were to take advantage of the fewer distractions and cooler weather, you might not be feeling your best mentally or physically. These aspects combine to keep you motivated and to enhance your academic performance and self-growth. Start by taking small steps to combat the cold and you’ll find yourself gradually getting into these habits. After all, there’s no limit on how you can improve.

Written by Puja Sarkar, Press & Written Media team

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