Tips for surviving winter quarter
Written by Hailey Feller. Illustration by Reily Callus.
At the start of every winter quarter, I do well in weeks one through three. Once weeks four and five arrive, I feel my work and life spiraling.
In an attempt to help my fellow classmates survive winter quarter, I suggest google calendars, habit trackers and a comically large planner to put all of your due dates and schedule on. I’ve found that the combination of all three of these tools helps me feel like I have a handle on things, but is also overkill and doesn’t suit everyone’s needs.
Instead of suggesting my personal and complex scheduling system, I suggest taking a walk. I know, it sounds stupidly simple, but believe it or not, walks do actually improve mental health. If you don’t live in a walkable neighborhood, try walking through Daffin Park while the weather slowly becomes pleasant again. I personally enjoy Daffin Park because of the walking paths, each loop is about a mile and a half.
If you don’t enjoy walking, try throwing a picnic at Forsyth. I find going out in my chunky headphones and listening to an audiobook, podcast or my favorite music helps take my mind off the stress of school. Bring a book, sketchbook, journal or simply some delicious food as a treat and take a break from the endless homework. If you have trouble finding the time to take a breath of fresh air, I encourage you to work five minutes of being outside into your schedule every day. It will help more than you think. Sure, these suggestions may sound like something your mom or therapist would tell you, but don’t discount them.
Therapy is also a great way to relieve stress. Bee Well and YOU@SCAD are two resources available to students that offer counseling, advice and told to help you maintain your mental health while in school. Talking to a professional can greatly improve your ability to cope with stress, anxiety and depression. To learn more, visit Health and Wellness at SCAD.edu.
Beyond that, a simple scream may help relieve some stress. Have a screaming competition with your friends. But whether or not you choose a screaming contest, being with your friends definitely helps to survive the quarter. Do homework together, go to a nice dinner, take a drive, do something active and pet a cat or dog whenever you can.
