I tend to consider myself as a productive person, but usually during the warmer months. I remember over the summer and fall, I had a consistent gym schedule and would still find time to do homework, take my classes, and go to work. 

When the weather starts to break is when I find my motivation to start slipping. I often push things off until “tomorrow” which becomes a never-ending cycle for me.

Here are a few ways I’ve attempted to stop procrastinating during the winter months:

1. Run errands and get out of my apartment. This is probably the last seemingly strong piece of advice for anyone in colder climate cities like Chicago (really, walking around outside and waiting for the bus or train are the last thing anyone wants to do during Chicago winters). When I’m in my apartment, it’s easier to lie down and take a nap.

1. Making lists. It’s a common strategy, but I feel more accomplished when I physically write a list and can cross things off of it. I think this is better than using something on my phone like an app.

1. Small rewards. Even the smallest rewards like letting myself get a coffee (I use this one too much and it’s starting to cost me) or a new album on vinyl I want to help me reward myself to keep going.

My Favorite Ways to Cope with a Cold or the Flu

Although my winter quarter at college just started, I tried my hardest to not get sick. Washing my hands whenever I was near a sink, using hand sanitizer, remembering not to touch my eyes, you name it. I prepared myself as much as I could for this cold and flu season. 

Unfortunately, I caught a bug this early on. We’re about one week into school and I’ve already had a 100-degree fever and have had a cough that lasted throughout the course of a few days. 

I feel like there’s only so much we can do to prevent ourselves from getting sick. There are hundreds of natural remedies online, but who’s to say that they all work?

Here are a few ways that I am coping with my current cold/cough/fever, whatever we should call it.

1. Starbucks Medicine Ball – This tea is a mixture of two teabags and some lemonade. I think they have some honey in there too. It basically tastes like hot lemonade, but I had two of these at work last week to try and soothe my throat from the amount of coughing I was doing. It definitely helps, but the sweetness dries out your mouth a bit.
2. Elderberry Syrup – This was recommended to me by my boss. I was a bit hesitant because this natural syrup could ring up to $40 a bottle. However, it apparently stops the cold in its tracks. Also, it tastes pretty good.
3. Water – I remember my pediatrician telling me to load up on water to stay hydrated, but also to try and flush the illness out. It’s hard to drink a lot of water while sick sometimes because it’ll hurt my throat. 

Vitamins are always a must, whether you’re sick or not, you should be taking them every day. Check out Standard Process on Natural Healthy Concepts for some vitamins to ward off your winter illness!

I’ve talked about this plenty of times, but I am someone with anxiety. Not social anxiety, but more of a generalized kind where random things can just set off how I feel or how much I worry. I’m naturally a conscientious person and I used to hate being that way, but over the years I’ve learned to just go with it.

I’m not dissing medication because I have several friends on some for their anxiety, but it’s something that I didn’t want to turn to as an option. Personally, I don’t like taking medication or doing anything to my body unless I have to (don’t worry, I have my vaccines). 

One thing that has actually helped me with my anxiety are essential oils. There are so many benefits to using them. Some of those benefits are promoting digestion, improving memory, improving sleep, and improving mood. For me, essential oils help with my anxiety.

I started off using a lavender essential oil spray that I got at my local grocery store. The lavender scent claimed to promote calmness and peace of mind. I did more research and came across CBD essential oil and started using that one too. Other essential oils that claim to help with anxiety are ylang ylang, valerian, chamomile, and peppermint 

The reason I like using essential oils is because they help in a pinch. I only use them when I’m very anxious or feeling like I’m on the edge of a panic attack. I’ll even use them during a panic attack. I feel like the scent helps me focus on something else that’s not my ongoing panic. 

I’d recommend that everyone dabbles around in essential oils. Whether they want to try it for anxiety or something else, I think everything natural is worth giving a shot.