LEAD
3 Steps to Surviving the Winter Blues
By Andria Kadell
February 8, 2010
The holidays are over, but winter's still here. It's that dreaded time of year when you feel yourself become a hermit in your room, not bothering to open the shades or get out of bed. You wear those same pajamas for three days straight, eat the only food left in the cupboard-that canned, processed stuff that never goes bad-and convince yourself that homework is all you've got time for. Well throw back the sheets and let the sun shine in! Here are three tips to get you out of that seasonal slump we all know as The Winter Blues:
Though it's hard to get out of bed when class doesn't start until 2:00, the grogginess that lingers for the rest of the day once you finally stop hitting snooze can't be worth it! Getting into a pattern of a healthy eight-hours-per-night will recharge your battery and keep the sluggishness away as long as you're hitting the hay at about the same time each night. Don't forget to stop sipping your Starbucks or cans of Monster a few hours before lying down to avoid tossing and turning and the familiar case of red, tired eyes the next day. Also, get a change of scenery by getting out of your cave to taste Ann Arbor's large selection of diverse dinning opportunities around campus. When the cafeterias stop serving on Saturday nights and your wallet is feeling light try Sushi.com, MiaZa's, or Backroom Pizza for a deal-meal of delicious value!
Fight the urge to keep putting off that trip to the CCRB, NCRB or IMSB and go already! Honor your New Year's resolution to workout at least three days a week, lift the extra 30lbs, or go the 45mins on the Elliptical. See umich.edu/~umove/ for details on drop-in and semester passes, a complete list of classes offered, and employment opportunities for fitness instructors to earn some extra cash while having a blast. Plus, U-Move Fitness is currently offering a "Register for Three, Get One Free" bargain for students who sign up for three classes at once in the U-Move Fitness Office. For other ways to get your blood pumping check out recsports.umich.edu for more info on intramural and club sports, starting a new club, running maps, and facility hours.
It's not always blustery and below-freezing in Ann Arbor! In fact, when the sun comes out the Nichol's Arboretum just off Geddes can be a great place to take an afternoon stroll or a much-needed study break. If your toes get too cold walking around in the Arb, bundle up and affordably rent skis, snowshoes, backpacking equipment, and more at the CCRB (call or stop by to make a reservation Monday through Friday: 10-6 or Tuesday-Thursday: 12-6). Always wanted to try some outdoor things but never learned how? No problem! The Michigan Outdoor Leadership Semester offers instruction on outdoor activities at the Outdoor Adventures Center at 336 Hill Street (Elbel Fields). Go to http://www.recsports.umich.edu/OutdoorAdv/Instruction/mols.htm to sign up for a class which is normally $10. No worries though, they hold a couple free classes too on February 4th (Backpacking101) and March 11th (Climbing Basics). If you're looking to get out of Ann Arbor for a while, try day-tripping it to Campus Martius in downtown Detroit for some old-fashioned, outdoor ice skating! They rent skates and sharpen them or offer a shoe-check for those that bring their own. With Valentine's Day just around the corner who can resist a chance to get out of town and skate with their sweetheart? (See campusmartiuspark.org/amen_cafe.htm for rink hours and admission prices)