Winters in Sweden are known for their harsh cold, day-long darkness, and insufferable seasonal depression. Nevertheless, the winter break also brings about the holiday season, with lit-up cities, beautiful decorations, and aesthetic snow-filled scenery. It might be hard to focus on the positives while suffering from a potential vitamin D deficiency, so here are some tips to utilize the holiday season as your much-needed self-care break.
1. Decorate your space.
Nothing’s more discouraging than coming home to a messy, undecorated room after a tiring day at university. Take the opportunity to buy simple décor that lights up your space and brings about the motivation and proper holiday mood to feel cozy and at home.
2. Enjoy the outside – even if it’s cold.
The freezer-like temperatures during the wintertime might make it demotivating to go outside and enjoy nature, the snow, and the lit-up streets. Still, do not succumb to the pressure. Put on your thermal clothes and your thickest jacket and walk to the library to study or to your nearest café to take a sip of coffee. Yes, you could do these things at home, but taking the time to walk around will definitely make you feel more motivated and energetic than at home.
3. Organize everything.
Being organized makes you feel more at peace. Since you’re going to be staying in more often, take the time to put everything in place. Starting from your room all the way to your photo gallery, your playlists, and your computer files, organizing will make your future self happier and keep your present self occupied and productive, instead of melting away on TikTok all day.
4. If you can’t avoid work, romanticize it.
Tiring responsibilities are the last thing we want to deal with during the holiday season. Since you probably can’t skip your assignments or work, you can create the ideal, aesthetic environment that makes you feel cozy, warm, and productive. Whether it is buying a cheap candle from the thrift shop or simply making a cup of hot chocolate, do the things that would make you feel like you’re in a movie.
Do you have any winter-specific habits that make you feel better? Let us know!
Writer: Chris Ntonis
