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With the weather getting colder, and soon, it’ll be getting darker earlier, this can affect our mental and emotional health. Oftentimes, we can fall victim to seasonal depression, me included. It’s harder to remain motivated and to make sure that I’m taking care of myself. It’s important to find ways to make sure you are giving the attention and care you need, even when external stimuli make these things difficult. Here are a few ways you can include self-care in your daily routine.

Let the sun in

One of my favorite ways to start my morning is by opening the blinds, allowing the sun to seep through into my bedroom. I don’t particularly get a lot of sunlight, but the little that I do, I let it in. It brightens up my room and energizes me for the day, especially if it’s a sunny day. It also helps to wake me up. Getting sunlight in the first few minutes you wake up can help improve your mood and boost serotonin. Even if it’s cloudy, the sun is still there, so open your windows!

Read for a few minutes

I love spending my time reading, and I’m making a conscious effort this semester to read more. Even as an English major, I still desire to read more. Sometimes finding time to read recreationally can be difficult, but my best bets are in the morning and at night. Spending the first few minutes of my morning reading instead of doomscrolling has really set me up for a good day. It allows me to tend to my needs first before bombarding my nervous system with anxiety-inducing news that is circulating that morning.

Take a short (or long) walk

I find that even in the busiest of my days, I can spare a few minutes to take a walk. Whether this be walking around downtown Scranton, passing by the beautiful trees with their leaves changing from green to orange and red, or a quick walk around campus, I find that my mood lifts a bit. The fresh air helps, along with listening to either upbeat music or an audiobook. I enjoy people watching, so sitting down on a bench for a few moments and watching students pass by can be interesting. I wonder what’s going on in their lives and what classes they’re off to. It allows me to take my mind off my never-ending to-do list and gives me a chance to breathe. These simple walks won’t fix everything, but they will allow a small reprise from falling into the fall blues.

Try something new

Our days can be extremely busy, and we can fall into routines that repeat over and over. To add something different to your daily routine, try something new. Whether this be a fall drink from your favorite coffee shop, or a workshop where you learn pottery, something different can help with a boost to help get you through the following week. Even if this is something you do once a week or once a month, it’s something fun to look forward to. For example, I tried Maple Cinnamon Cold Foam from Target’s brand, and I love it. I hadn’t tried it before, and I was excited as it was a seasonal flavor. Now every morning, I look forward to my morning coffee because I know it’ll include my new cold foam.

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Whether these are suggestions you incorporate into your daily routines or things you manage to include at least a few times a month, the important thing is that you’re trying to give yourself the care you deserve. You are the most important person, and even with outside responsibilities, you cannot pour from an empty cup. Be kind and take care of yourselves as the weather gets colder and the fall blues seem more persistent.

This was written by our contributing writer, Nya Rowe.