Keeping Spirits Up During Winter Closure
While often considered to be a joyous time filled with holiday cheer and magical moments, keeping spirits up during the winter can be an arduous task for many, and now more than ever as we try to celebrate a sense of normalcy during the pandemic. The semester has been a long and difficult one for many students, as we—being OHSers—continue on with our academic lives normally, a task already onerous, yet struggle to handle the additional stress from media coverage of the year, Covid-19, and a fear and anxiety for what is yet to come. I know that all of this seems completely overwhelming, as all of us share a common sense of longing for days pre-coronavirus. However, in this article, I want to share a list of tips and activities that will help spare us from burnout and allow us to enjoy the most wonderful time of the year!
Finals Are Over… Now What?
By the time this article has been published, most of us will probably have finished up all of our exams, projects, and papers. Although the workload can often feel staggering and frightening, keeping busy is often a major factor in being able to remain happy, productive, and motivated. When we throw ourselves into an activity we enjoy, we are able to thrive through this productivity.
Is there some activity you’ve been wanting to work on all semester? Some hobby that you simply didn’t have time for but were longing to continue working on? Before the break even begins, try making a checklist for what you do want to accomplish during the free weeks we have. By making a checklist, you create an organized mindset where you are already prepared to work on something specific. If you leave it to chance to decide when to work on any hobby, you might find yourself brushing it off once again in exchange for sleep, Netflix, social media, or other activities which can often leave us even more unsatisfied by the time the day is over. The following are a few activities to help you avoid a slump and feelings of hopelessness:
Although many of us dread it, exercise is a great way to improve not only physical, but also mental health. See if you can carve out some time every day (whether it’s ten minutes or an hour) and work on a regimen you’d like to follow. This could be stretching for a few minutes, then going on a run/walk or bicycling; perhaps you’re a dancer and want to find time to work on your turn-out and pointe; if you have a yoga mat, discover if you enjoy the calming practice of yoga! If you have a frisbee or any other sport equipment, playing a sport with family members is a great way to bond and boost your energy (as long as it’s not too cold outside)!
Using music as an outlet for when you’re feeling down is an incredible way to gain discipline through an instrument, learn and practice a useful skill, and to stay upbeat and feel supported. If you’re already a musician, now is a great time to implement a stricter practice regimen so you can work on technique or pieces that you haven’t dedicated as much time to. Or if you’re a beginner, it’s a great time to learn more about an instrument and discover if you have a love for it! Some other ways to experiment with music are to try your hand at composition or songwriting. If you’re a music lover and prefer to leave the performing to others, spend time exploring new music and genres so you’ll have the perfect playlists by the time school kicks back in!
Do you have a great idea for a novel that you desperately want to write but could never find time for? Like all great writers, find time every single day to sit undisturbed and to be left with your paper and pen, laptop, typewriter, or any other tool you use to write your masterpieces on! Set a goal for yourself on how much you want to write and watch that goal be met by the time the break is over, as long as you’re diligent in letting your creativity shine through this activity. An alternative to this is working on any paintings or visual arts projects you’ve been so excited to work on. Now is the time to pick up your pen/pencil, paintbrush, stylus, or any other materials you need to create beautiful pieces of artwork!
Maybe you want to be TikTok-famous or Instagram-famous and dream about being a major content creator. The break is a great way to work on gathering a following or to just create fun and exciting content for yourself and those close to you! Although we should be careful not to get too wrapped into social media, there is so much creativity on these platforms and it’s a great way to not only express yourself, but to also have the added benefit of the chance to gain millions of views.
Want a great way to bond with family and to bring a competitive edge to the holidays? Chess is back! Thanks to The Queen’s Gambit, Google searches for chess and sales of the game are absolutely booming (and I for one, am pleased to say that I had a chess set before the show came out). Get a chess set for Christmas and learn the basic rules for the game to begin with and voila: you’re ready to begin your adventures as an amateur chess player. If you don’t care to play though and prefer to watch, this is a plug for The Queen’s Gambit, which you can definitely binge watch in a week!
A more calming activity involves meditation and simply taking time to get prepared for next semester, both academically and emotionally. For some of us, standardized testing is coming up next semester, and personally, I’ve had hardly any time to study during the semester. Reluctantly, I’ll be setting aside some time to prepare myself for these exams and stay on top of my academics. If you don’t have to worry about this, think about your schedule for next semester and if there is anything you want to change about your time management skills. For those of us who dread the return to school, relax and meditate! This can allow you to clear your mind and relieve any tension or stress you’re feeling.
Although this is a general list designed to encourage a perfect amount of rest and productivity, there are plenty of other ways to keep spirits up during winter closure! Feel free to spend several lazy days lying around in blankets you’ve accumulated, watching YouTube videos, and eating any leftover holiday treats because you deserve it. Most importantly, we should all find time to spend quality time with family and friends, whether it’s virtually or with those who we are at home with during this tough time. Through this year, we have all learned the importance of small things but even more so, to be grateful for what we still have: each other.