Ever heard of seasonal depression? Yes, we're all understanding the term better now. Maintaining physical fitness and routine can be extremely hard during the tough winter months. Many of us also come from countries that are not faced with such harsh winters and find ourselves feeling more lethargic. 'Bed rotting' and 'brain rotting' through reels and naps seems to be the most ideal thing to do. However, exercise and routine are the best ways to beat the winter blues! This blog aims to showcase how one can form a simple and easy routine, even with the tough academic demands LSE might have :') 

• Creating your unique personalised workout routine: Physical fitness is essential to one's mental and physical well-being. During a season like winter, where the outside may not be as tempting, the best way to keep oneself motivated is to have a personalised workout routine. That way your body and mind find a sense of purpose and achievement. Workouts can be very simple or with a trainer- that is your choice and all bodies are different! As long as you keep moving, you will see the benefit of having a personalised workout routine :')

• Joining a class with friends/to make friends: Classes which cater to your hobbies are a great way of keeping fit, active and socially motivated during winter. A class usually has other people joining in as well, so if you are feeling lonely or want to try something new with a friend, classes are the best way to keep yourself going! Physical fitness classes are especially fun as you will be motivated to workout after seeing your peers do the same. 
• Creating a physical/digital planner: Planners can be very useful to chart out the course of your day or week. You can write down mundane things as grocery shopping, or create a study timetable for yourself. Planners are also highly individual, so you can decorate and ideate on your planner as you'd like! They give you a sense of direction and can point towards all that needs to be done/can be done. 
• Journalling your thoughts: Writing your thoughts down is not a new concept. However, it is very helpful, especially in those moments where you might feel lost. Journalling gives a written narrative to your thoughts and helps you reflect. It can also help bring perspective to dilemmas you might be facing. It is a useful tool that can help you cope with your thoughts and help you gain insight into your needs. In a season like winter, where we can often feel lonely and out of touch with things, journalling can be an extremely helpful activity to add to your everyday tasks. 

• Meditation and Mindfulness Activities: Finally, one of the best ways to feel calm during winter is to learn some basic techniques of mindfulness and meditation. These activities can bring a sense of wholeness to your thoughts and help you stay focused and motivated. One of the easiest ways to engage in these activities would be to follow simple YouTube/podcast-recommended techniques that teach you the fundamentals.

Written by Archisha

Resident in High Holborn Residence