Is the most wonderful time of the year not feeling so jolly? You’re not alone. Winter can be a difficult time for everyone – nights are getting darker, it’s colder, and if that wasn’t enough, it’s the height of exam season. To help ease the pain of Glasgow winter, we’ve made a list of tips and tricks to help dig yourself out of that winter rut.

Spend some time on your own

Get to know yourself better and take yourself on a date – one where you make all the plans! Spending time alone may seem like the exact thing you’re trying to escape, but this might be just what you need. Take yourself out for coffee, bring your favourite book, or listen to a new podcast! Maybe you’ll get to know yourself better and some time outside of the house could help break those unproductive, repetitive patterns that might be getting you down.

Revisit your comfort TV shows

Nothing says ‘comfort’ like cosying up in bed and sticking on an old episode of your favourite show. Give your brain a minute to switch off and press play on a childhood classic. When everything else in the world is feeling a bit unpredictable or you’re just feeling a wee bit anxious, watching something your brain is already familiar with can provide a much-needed escape.

Exercise regularly

This is maybe the most cliché answer, but it’s for good reason! Getting at least twenty minutes of exercise in a day is known to improve mental health, and although the thought alone can be daunting, once you’re done, you’ll be glad you did it! Why not join one of Strathclyde’s sports teams and make new friends in the process? Even taking yourself out for a walk can help make you feel more like yourself again, and Glasgow has plenty of places to explore! All it takes is lacing up your trainers and heading out!

Make a new playlist

Music can affect our moods in ways that we don’t give it enough credit for. Unfortunately, during winter, many of us default to more mellow feeling songs, often accompanied by wistful or even downright depressing lyrics. Instead of leaning into your inner sad-girl, why not try making a new playlist featuring all your favourite feel good tunes? Play it on your commute to uni and start your day off on the right note!

Talk it out

If you’re still feeling like nothing’s working and your mood just won’t shift, find someone you trust and tell them about it. Sometimes the only remedy is talking it out with a friend, and often saying your thoughts out loud can help make sense of them and what you’re going through. Similarly, if you aren’t quite ready to talk about it yet, keeping note of your mood in your journal is a great way of letting it all out without having to actually say it out loud. Good luck!