November is gloomy. I notice this heaviness that is clouding over the campus. Midterm grades are coming back, essay season is nearly in full swing, and we are tired of the rotation of meals that we’ve been eating the last two months.
It’s easy, especially once you hit Week 8 or 9 of classes, to feel like the process of going to lectures, labs—of studying—can feel quite monotonous and tedious. To combat this weightiness, I have been mulling over a few things to help us, for lack of a cheesier phrase, get our sparkle back.
Life is more than cyclical experiences of feeling like there is everything to do and nothing to do at the same time. Here are some things I am metaphorically prescribing myself to change things up for the last part of the semester.
Rx 1: Add a new dish to your meal rotation.
I almost forgot about curries and soups until the weather forced me to dig out all my cozy fall sweaters. Suddenly, cooking is a bit more exciting because I am trying new curry recipes! (Here’s the one I tried most recently: https://minimalistbaker.com/cozy-curry-noodle-soup-thai-inspired/.) You do not need to become some fancy chef who specializes in the art of making perfect pasta, you can just try out one new recipe and add it to your weekly rotation. Learn from the people around you; ask them what they are baking and stirring up in their kitchens! (This is what made me want to buy cream cheese and crackers again because I 100% forgot they existed.) I have found having a hearty meal to look forward to at the end of the day makes a huge difference in my motivation.
Rx 2: Make a new playlist.
Sometimes when everything feels like it is both too much and monotonous, you need to change the soundtrack you use to move through those situations. Change up the genre of music you are listening to or make a new playlist of old songs that you forgot about. Autumn weather always reminds me of jazz, so sometimes I like to add a bit more jazz to my mix this time of year.
Rx 3: Make plans with your study buddies that don’t involve studying.
I am a huge proponent of this (I don’t know if you could tell, ha ha. I think I write about this every month!) because giving myself opportunities to talk about things beyond school with people that I am often studying with has deepened my friendships and made us more productive when we are actually trying to study together too.
Rx 4: Make a Pinterest board that romanticizes studying.
(Skip this if you do not care for Pinterest.) I love Pinterest so deeply. One of my dear friends says it’s like colouring. Whenever I am in a funk and feeling unmotivated about school, I suddenly have all the time in the world and the longest to-do list ever. What helps me get back on track is giving myself 20 minutes to curate a collage of Pinterest photos that remind me how beautiful it is to notice things. My perspective changes in a way I can’t quite describe.
Rx 5: Leave the house.
I heard once that if you are feeling a bit listless and stuck, you should try to get out of the house or, at the very least, go on a walk. Anytime I have done this, I have felt a little less in my head about life and more present in the world around me. It’s such a simple way (that I think we all loved in the pandemic but maybe forgot about?) to be grounded in life that is happening right now.
Rx 6: Change up your self-care routine.
If you don’t have a routine of regularly taking care of yourself, implement one! I remember in the summer when I was working long days, I would change my nail polish colour every week based on what colour I felt like most. Self-care can also be as simple as changing your pillowcase cover, making more of an effort to drink herbal tea before bed, trying a new monthly sweet treat. Taking care of yourself is crucial, and it is fun to spice up the way you care for yourself too!
Rx 7: Sit somewhere new to study.
This is not everyone’s cuppa tea (we all have our study spots that we love most), but what if there is a corner in Douglas that is perfect for you? Is there a nook in Mac-Corry that could help you feel motivated to flesh out that entire essay? What if there’s a set of windows and a desk in that one building on campus you always forget about that is perfect for you to use to review all your flashcards? I am not saying you need to forego studying at the places you love most right now, but sometimes stretching your comfort zone boosts your creativity!
I wonder if there are other helpful antidotes to grey Novembers. Perhaps you could try to implement one this week? Life can be fun and interesting and wholesome if we take the opportunity to make it so.
Hannah