Making Your Own Sunshine: Finding Motivation during the Winter
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The winter season has always had a chokehold on my motivational skills. I’m not sure if it’s the 6 p.m. sunset or the abundance of rain we’ve been having, but I just can’t seem to focus on absolutely anything. I try to give myself some grace, seeing as starting off a new semester is never an easy feat, but it’s hard to stay positive when I have a disgusting eight hours of work to scratch off my towering list of to-dos.
The cold weather has never been a friend of mine. Winter days carry less excitement, blurring together the lines of my repetitive schedule. Mornings start too early, evenings are spent studying and I go to sleep with zero positivity. I find that most times, I wake up from my post-lecture nap to the sun having set and the stars scattered across the sky. There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day to complete everything I need to.
The other morning, at a bright and early seven o’clock, my phone screamed out its regularly scheduled alarm. I ripped myself out of bed, threw on the cleanest outfit I could find, and made my way out the door. With my eyes half open and feet barely awake, I hopped onto the elevator and rode myself down to the first floor. To make the morning even better, I was greeted by a tsunami storm of rain and a wonderful 20-degree temperature. Just what I needed.
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My trudge to class was painful. Wet. Everything I didn’t need at seven in the morning. My socks squished in the depths of my converse and my backpack had absorbed a good half of what my umbrella was supposed to push away. This was my last straw. A big “F you” to the universe for making Georgia winters impossible to live in. I was miserable and I needed to make some changes.
Although the season was a huge reason for my dropped serotonin levels, I realized I wasn’t making it much easier for myself. I was holding my days to such a high standard, without realizing that my expectations were set a little too high. It was time to declutter my mind, stop being so self-critical – and make some room for the growth that truly mattered: myself.
Even if they were small, there were habits I could add to my daily routine to make me feel a little more motivated. Ways I could soothe my mind before my early classes and reorganize my time for the rest of the day.
I had to regain some patience for myself. Rest when I needed it, work when I had to, and pat myself on the back for all successes – big and small. Because the fact of the matter is, I do struggle more during the winter season. It’s natural to feel a little gloomier with the change of weather, but it’s important to show yourself some kindness despite the difficult days and appreciation for the wonderful things you are accomplishing.
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When you feel yourself slipping into the rainy-day mindset, remember that you don’t have to accept the energy you wake up with. You can influence it.
Screw winter, we can make our own sunshine. This is the season of productivity.
It’s time we nurture our souls, appreciate the small moments in the hard days and practice patience. Of course, there are moments when the cold weather glues me to my bed sheets and the lack of motivation outweighs my assignments, but that is okay. By starting my mornings with my head in the sun, despite the clouds, I am putting my best foot forward and regaining the inspiration to conquer my day.
Remember to think positively and love yourself a little extra during this winter season. You are a ray of sunshine.
Strike Out,
Ruby Gagnon
Editor: Caroline Kostuch
Athens