“I can’t even …” because winter is still plaguing the North Central College campus with gloomy, chilly weather. In an attempt to save students from losing their focus to the winter blues, here is the winter term edition to “even” your life.
Netflixing
A popular way among my fellow classmates is to watch TV shows where the characters are more insane than you are. During winter term, this is the time where everyone slowly starts losing his or her sanity. It’s too cold or too snowy to do anything other than sitting on the couch and stare at the TV screen until you’re doing absolutely nothing. So, if you are not able to move away from the TV, then the cure is to watch a show with characters that are actually insane. “Game of Thrones” is a great example because everyone is out to kill each other to own an iron chair. “Criminal Minds” is also another when you look into the motives behind each crime. Whatever show you pick, you will feel a lot better that your favorite characters have more problems than you.
Easy-to-make comfort food
Winter’s true best friend is comfort food. But what other option is there when students can’t make the walk to the Cage for chicken tenders and fries? Start using the oven or stove instead of the microwave to cook your Mac n’ Cheese or soup. You can find a lot of recipes to bake macaroni and cheese with breadcrumbs or a copycat soup from Olive Garden. The Facebook page “Tasty” has enough 3-5-step recipes that can help you cook gourmet meals without having to spend a lot of money on ingredients. Who agrees that oven-cooked dinners have better quality than the microwave?
‘Like’ no more
Another way to “even” is a simple one: get rid of words such as “like.” No ones truly, like, realizes that we all, like, say the world “like” three times in, like, one sentence. The word has grown on us that we aren’t bothered by professors using “like” throughout their lectures. We all hear it and we all find it annoying when it takes more than a minute to finish a statement. The simple thing to do is practice not using “like” after every word.
Hit the shops
One of my favorite ways to remain “even” my winterized sanity is retail therapy or going out to eat. Shopping and generally spending money always makes everything better. Get in your car, take a few friends and go to the mall, Target or your favorite athletic store. Splurge on new jeans, Beats headphones or treat your friends to drinks at the bar. A few hours of window shopping or buying a few small things will keep the energy going throughout the rest of winter.
Get healthy
The last way to truly “even” is to start a detox. I don’t mean to purchase an expensive gym membership. But winter is the perfect time to start a small 15-30 day cleanse. Look online at simple fruit-infused water or organic food cleanses. Are you feeling extra motivated? Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton initiated a detox cleanse by nutritionist Dustin Dillberg. For 20 days, you eat vegetables, nuts, organic proteins and a couple of Xymogen OptiCleanse shakes. One of these cleanses will help rid of toxins of your body, clear up your skin and strengthen your inner body.
