20 Mindfulness edited by Yugi Reyes
schulz © pnts
Featuring Madeline Helmer Yugi Reyes
By Yugi Reyes
I
t's that time of the year again… The days are shorter and the weeks longer. You feel tired all of a sudden, and there's nothing you want more than to lie in bed. The big SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is a type of seasonal depression that happens every year, usually during the winter. You might find yourself sleeping more and staying in: losing interest in things as everything around you begins to die. It's important not to lose hope. The sun will shine again, and when it does we should be there. Here are some things I recommend to students:
1. Take a walk Going outside is probably the last thing you want right now, but trust me. Put on a scarf and a pair of mittens, make sure you're insulated, and go outside. Take a walk in your neighbourhood, listen to the sound of snow crunching beneath your boots, feel the frigid air as you inhale. Check out the snowmen you come across. Draw a smiley face on the frosted window of a parked car. Remember how magical the winter was when you were a child? These simple things made you so happy.
2. Ice skating Grab some skates and hit the ice with some friends. Race each other, fall and get hurt. If you don’t know how to skate, it's never too late to learn!
3. Cozypilled Staying warm is one of the most fulfilling things you can do when you're struggling with the winter blues. Make yourself some hot chocolate or tea and snuggle up. Bury yourself under a heap of blankets and comforters until you're too comfy to move. Put on a video essay and hibernate.
4. Bake Invite a friend over and bake together, lose yourself in the pages of recipe books you don't understand. Make the worst cookies you've ever tasted and laugh about it because we all make mistakes.
5. Play in the snow "NOOOOOOO you can't just play in the snow!!! You're too old!!" When did we stop being kids? When was the joy of a snowball fight ever lost? In reality, we are still thrilled by these little games we play. Small pockets of happiness can be found in just about anything. We are surprisingly good at finding them, and all you have to do is have a look around. That’s the beauty of being human.
