The Canadian winter can be long, cold, and dark; it’s no wonder many college girls feel the need to hibernate and let certain things fall by the wayside. But, if this sounds like you, it’s time to do some spring-cleaning of your bad winter habits now that the snow is finally starting to melt.
Bad Habit #1: Not Working Out
With layers of woolly sweaters, parkas, and long pants, it’s easy to cover up any extra insulation you may have packed on after one-too-many peppermint hot chocolates. But, now that the warmer weather is approaching, it’s going to be a lot more difficult to disguise any areas you’re not as happy about; a bikini is not exactly the most concealing piece of clothing. Take advantage of the nice weather and get active: go for a run, a bike ride, or invite your friends to a game of ultimate Frisbee on campus. There’s lots of ways you can have fun and start moving again to get fit in time for summer. (For even more tips, check out my post on tips for staying motivated to work out)
Bad Habit #2: Not Studying
With Christmas exams over and Spring exams seemingly so far away, it is easy to want to curl up on a warm couch with a movie instead of hitting the books. If you’ve been slacking for a few weeks (or…months?) it’s never too late to get back on track. Start by getting yourself organized: make a calendar, either on your computer or a physical one to hang on your wall (whatever will be most visible to you). Mark down every assignment, quiz, and exam on the calendar. Now, mark when you think you should be starting each assignment or study session, and label those days appropriately. If you can stick to your schedule, you’ll be able to get everything done by the end of the semester with the least stress possible.
photo credits: 1,2, 3
Bad Habit #3: Not Going Out
On a snowy night when the temperatures drop to -20 (I’m talking Celsius, here, for you American readers, that’s about -4 Farenheit), going out to the club and standing in line in your mini skirt just doesn’t seem like an option. Luckily, now that the weather is finally taking a turn for the better, there’s nothing stopping you from getting social again (except, perhaps, bad habit #2). Invite your best girl friends over to make fancy cocktails for a pre-drink while you get ready for a night on the town. The fun doesn’t have to be limited to night time, either. Have an afternoon of shopping in downtown boutiques (or window-shopping, for the cash-strapped) or volunteer at a local animal shelter to walk some orphaned dogs while you catch up with your bff. Even if you’re swamped with work, an hour or so of you-time will help you in the long run by allowing you to de-stress and get your mind of work, if only for a moment.
As the ice melts away, so should your tired excuses. Take action to really enjoy the season and start making goal for the summer and the year ahead. The perfect time to start is now.
What Do You Think?
What are your bad winter habits? Are you feeling more pumped now that spring is arriving? Leave a comment and let me know!
Ah I’ve been thinking about this and you’re absolutely right. I consider myself to be a Summer type of person and during Winter I kind of hibernate. It’s horrible and I start all these bah habits. But hey, Spring’s here and this article was a good reminder ;)