Overcoming my first winter blues in the UK

Born and raised in a tropical country, I had never learnt to appreciate the sun until my first winter in the UK. Though Bristol is not among the top coldest cities, I struggled quite a lot when suddenly the day was shortened and sunshine was rarely available for weeks. Having low energy and oversleeping often occur and given the context of being an international student without family and friends nearby, those symptoms can become more serious.??

To all the soon-to-be students at the University of Bristol, especially those coming from tropical areas, you may have a look at some tips I used to beat this winter blues:??

1. Meet my new best friend: vitamin D?

Get yourself some vitamin D - this is a national recommendation, and one you can find easily on NHS website as well as several other medical web pages. Personally, I often visit this friend at Holland & Barrett - there are many stores around Bristol and they sell every vitamin you need.?

During the winter, it is likely that you will find a good price as they offer something like a 3 for 2 deal (buy 3 items for the price of 2). Don't ever forget your privilege as a student - lots of discount codes are always available on student apps like UNiDAYS and Student Beans.??

2. My sunbathing schedule?

Difficult yet not impossible - sunny days still exist during the winter in Bristol. I have made a habit of checking the weather forecast for the coming week every weekend to see whether there will be any sunny days. Sometimes just one day is enough - I then definitely highlight that day and schedule all of my outdoor plans on it. Seriously it does not need to be something big, just simply like going to the library (sunbathing along my 30-minute walk to the library) and then buying groceries around the city centre.

Then for the other (rainy and gloomy) days, try...?

4. Do exercise??

In the gym or in your room, anything is better than lying in bed all day. Luckily my student accommodation has enough space for me to do some basic workouts, just search up a video on YouTube and set a self-challenge to complete the 30-minute exercise every day. It is not just about physical improvement but I always feel a bit proud of myself whenever I finish the exercise.??

5. Cook something good?

Good food puts you in a good mood - show your parents that international students can cook (well)! I really enjoy rainy days with home-cooked food, especially when I can call my parents and boyfriend during the cooking time to ask for their recipes. Most of the time during winter you can only see grey in the sky, so why not add more colours to your daily life via colourful ingredients?

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Finally, don't be afraid - keep calm and wait for the spring.??

Bristol is a lovely city and you will find flowers after the rain ?????

This article was written by Hien Mai Nguyen , who is a Postgraduate student at the University of Bristol studying Education (Neuroscience and Education).