Winter at MX - What Can I Do?

As winter arrives at Middlesex, many people will feel lost and stressed. Check out some cool things you can do to help.

As the summer days leave us behind and the gloomy, stress-filled winter era begins at Middlesex, many people may subconsciously find themselves going down a dangerous rabbit hole. With a 3 week span of school, new sports starting up, and exams inching closer and closer, many students will start to feel more and more isolated, choosing to study, sleep, or engage in independent activities outside the Middlesex experience. With that being said, here's a couple of ways that students can entertain themselves if they are feeling down heading into exams. 

School spirit during the winter athletic season is unquestionably the highest of the year at Middlesex. With both hockey and basketball being indoors and predicted to be strong contenders in the ISL, the atmosphere in the cage and the rink should be electric. If you're struggling for something to do in the late afternoon, stopping by a sports game is a great idea. Another very underrated winter activity is skating either on the indoor rink or Batemans Pond. The Pratt rink has open ice during the class days and even on Sunday, and once the Bateman Pond freezes, it is a great spot to have some fun with friends. You can even get your skates sharpened just by signing up in the Athletic Center. 

Learning a new skill can also relieve stress heading into a stressful period of time. If you have a couple hours to spare and are sick of studying, check out the lower floors of the RCC. Sign out a room and learn a catchy song on the piano so you can flex on your family members during winter break. I have managed to learn over 30 of my favorite songs on my own by doing this.

As people hunker down in their rooms or their selected study spots, they often shut out the outside world. One minor thing that everyone on campus can do is to get some sunlight. Numerous studies have shown that exposure to sunlight boosts productivity and mood. Study with your shades open, or find a study space with abundant natural lighting (The Library, RCC, Terry Room). You can also catch some rays by taking walks around campus and the Estabrook Woods. Middlesex is much bigger and much more beautiful than you may have expected.

The biggest thing I’ve learned from 3 tedious and exhausting winters here at Middlesex is… don’t be so hard on yourself. Sometimes, when you try to push yourself to the brink, you end up actually hurting yourself. Everybody needs some time to relax, reflect, and recollect themselves. While this winter period may seem like a long, nonstop home stretch before the pure relaxation of winter break, if you put a little effort, there are plenty of ways to make a seemingly grim and ruthless time so much more gratifying. 

Danny Cai