Even here in sunny California, the winter months can seem a little long. With shorter days and cooler temperatures, it’s important to take some time for self-care. From one PUCite to another, here are some pro-tips and products to help you make it to spring!

• Surround yourself with photos of friends and family.
• Use less harsh lighting. Swap out your light bulbs for these indoor sunshine bulbs from Amazon.
• Decorate your dorm room with candles. Target has a great battery operated option.
• Get yourself a desk plant. Succulents are very popular and don’t take a lot of upkeep.
• Make your room comfortable with extra pillows and blankets. Grab a plush toy even!
• Invest in blackout curtains or a sleep mask to make sure you get some real rest.
• Hang some Christmas lights up. Don’t bother undecorating after the holidays either, just leave them up for a little ambiance!
• Use a diffuser with different essential oils. My personal favorites are lavender and rose.
• Make sure to have hot cocoa mix and throw in a festive mug or two. My personal favorite is this Star Wars porg mug.
• Stock up on Airborne, Zicam, and Emergen-C to fight off any bugs.
• Pick one show you can watch weekly (or nightly) for a much-needed break.
• Pack your cupboard full of microwaveable popcorn for a healthy-ish late night snack.
• Chamomile tea helps with sleep and improves cognitive functions during the day, so have some on hand.
• For a little extra quiet, have earphones for your study music and earplugs to help you sleep. There are cheap versions of each at places like Target, but Flare Audio ones have some outstanding reviews.
• Remember even in the most stressful times, there is always a friend, resident assistant, dean, chaplain, or a professor who would be happy to take a few minutes to talk and pray with and for you, so don’t hesitate to reach out to someone when you need some extra support.

These are just 15 simple ideas and products I personally find helpful. But don’t just take my word for it, ask friends and family and start your own list.