Beating the Winter Blues: Small Things That Actually Help

Beating the Winter Blues: Small Things That Actually Help

Winter has a very specific energy. The Christmas break is over, the weather is permanently grey, your bank account is questionable, and suddenly the idea of doing anything feels ten times harder than it did in October. 

Everyone feels the seasonal changes differently, and if you’re feeling tired, unmotivated, low, or just generally off, you’re not imagining it. A lot of students struggle at this time of the year. The structure of term returns, deadlines creep closer, and the excitement of a new year wears off pretty quickly when it’s dark by 4pm.

The “Winter blues” aren’t exactly a medical diagnosis, but they’re definitely a real experience. And while there’s no magic fix, there are a few small things that can make this season feel a bit more manageable. 

You Don’t Need a Full Life Reset

There’s a lot of pressure at the start of new year to suddenly become a new person. New habits, new routines, new goals, new gym membership. But trying to overhaul your entire life in the middle of winter usually just leads to feeling worse when you inevitably can’t keep up.

Instead of aiming for a complete reset, it’s much more realistic to focus on one or two small changes, and then build some habits over time.

Things like:

• going to bed a bit earlier
• drinking more water
• tidying your room for ten minutes
• cooking one proper meal a day

They’re not dramatic, but they’re achievable. And small wins are easier to stick to than huge plans.

Daylight Helps More Than You Think

Spending most of your time indoors during winter doesn’t help your mood. Lack of sunlight affects energy levels, sleep, and motivation, even if you don’t consciously notice it.

You don’t need to start going on long scenic walks every day. Even small things help:

• walking to the shop instead of ordering
• sitting near a window while studying
• getting outside for five minutes between lectures

It sounds basic, but daylight genuinely makes a difference.

Sleep Does Matter!

After Christmas, most people’s sleep schedules are completely out of sync. Late nights, late mornings, scrolling in bed, naps at 6pm, and it all adds up.

You don’t need a perfect routine, but getting back into some kind of rhythm helps more than most people realise. Waking up at roughly the same time each day and avoiding your phone right before bed can already improve how you feel during the day.

Being tired all the time makes everything feel harder than it actually is.

Movement Doesn’t Have to Mean the Gym

January fitness culture can be intense. But moving your body doesn’t have to mean becoming a gym person overnight.

Movement can just be:

• a walk with a friend
• stretching in your room
• swimming, dancing, or playing a sport
• walking to campus instead of getting the bus

It’s not about getting “fit”. It’s about doing something physical that breaks up sitting, scrolling, and overthinking.

Isolation Makes the Blues Worse

When you’re feeling low, it’s really easy to disappear into your room and avoid people. But isolation tends to make things spiral.

Staying connected doesn’t have to mean big social plans. It can be:

• going to a Res Life event
• studying with someone instead of alone
• calling home
• replying to that message you’ve been ignoring

Just being around other people, even casually, helps more than you expect. You are never alone.

Productivity Is Overrated

Early year productivity is mostly a myth. The weather is bad, the term feels long, and motivation naturally dips.

Struggling to focus doesn’t mean you’re lazy or falling behind. It usually just means you’re tired and human.

Doing a little is better than doing nothing. A 30-minute study session is still a study session. Progress doesn’t have to look impressive to count.

And If It’s More Than Just “The Blues”

If you’re feeling low most days, not enjoying things you usually do, or feeling overwhelmed, it’s okay to get support.

That might be:

• health & wellbeing services
• Your Res Life Assistants
• your GP
• university counselling
• or just talking to someone you trust

You don’t need to wait until things are at crisis point to reach out.

The Bottom Line

The Winter blues don’t mean you’re failing at uni, life, or adulthood. They usually just mean you’re living through winter with deadlines and limited sunlight.

You don’t need to fix everything.You don’t need a new personality.You just need a few small habits, a bit of patience with yourself, and the reminder that these cold months doesn’t last forever.

Spring will come. Motivation usually follows 😊