Friends and Family<\/h2>I\u2019ve already written a lot on THE FIZZ blog about friendships: how to make new friends<\/a>, why friendships matter<\/a>, and how to stay connected over long distances.<\/a><\/p>\nThe reason is simple: friendships are good for us!<\/p>\n
Especially when we\u2019re feeling down, talking with and spending time with friends can work wonders. Whether it\u2019s a quiet moment to share what\u2019s going on or a spontaneous adventure to take your mind off things, friendships and shared time strengthen us. Of course, if you have a close bond with your family, they can be just as valuable.<\/p>\n
Make a conscious effort to connect with friends or family\u2014ideally in person, but a call or video chat can also brighten your day and chase away some of the winter gloom.<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \n \n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/the-fizz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025-FIZZ-Ludwigshafen-GamingArea-Image-42-768x512.jpg\")
<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\n \n \n Exercise and Fresh Air<\/h2>Both exercise and time in nature benefit the body and mind simultaneously. Whether you sign up for a sports class at university, take walks, do a short workout at home, or bike to campus, small active habits can make daily life feel more balanced and joyful.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be afraid to try new things: Is a yoga session at home right for you? Or maybe strength training at the gym? Perhaps it\u2019s hard for you to exercise regularly, but on weekends you enjoy long walks in the countryside. Or you grab your friends and go swimming, climbing, or play soccer. Find something you enjoy and can stick with.<\/p>\n
Exercise can look different for everyone, but it\u2019s beneficial in every case!<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \n \n ![\"Man](\"https:\/\/the-fizz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024-the-FIZZ-Frankfurt-Gym-21-768x512.jpg\")
<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n \n \n\n \n \n Breaks and Small Joys<\/h2>Exercise and social time aren\u2019t the only things that can lift your mood. Some days, there simply isn\u2019t time for activities, or you don\u2019t have the energy. These are the moments when it\u2019s perfectly fine to treat yourself to a small joy. Take a moment to find something that makes you smile.<\/p>\n
For me, that means taking enough time for a nice breakfast. When I get up and make myself a bowl of porridge with apples and cinnamon, I feel a little lighter all day because I know I\u2019ve done something good for myself.<\/p>\n
When the sun peeks through the clouds, I take a minute to look outside and enjoy it.<\/p>\n
These little joys can look different for everyone. Maybe it\u2019s nice study materials for university, an hour in the evening to play a video game, leaving the house a bit earlier to take a nicer route, or listening to your favorite songs in the morning.<\/p>\n
Take the time to enjoy the small things that brighten your day, and don\u2019t forget to give yourself both small and larger breaks.<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \n \n ![\"group](\"https:\/\/the-fizz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/v2-WebResolution-The-FIZZ-Brigittenau-16.10.2024-65-768x513.jpg\")
<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n \n \n\n \n \n Listen to Yourself<\/h2>At the end of the day, it\u2019s especially important to listen to yourself. Take time to reflect: What makes you feel good? What worries you? And how could you work on it?<\/p>\n
Many people find it helpful to keep a journal, whether digital, handwritten, creatively designed, or even as a voice memo. Putting your thoughts into words helps organize the chaos in your head.<\/p>\n
Even though it can be hard to embrace the winter mood, it\u2019s very helpful to discover which habits make you feel good. Only you can decide what\u2019s right, so take the time to figure that out.<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \n \n ![\"girl](\"https:\/\/the-fizz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025-FIZZ-Ludwigshafen-Community-Studyroom-Image-18-768x1151.jpg\")
<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWith the right mix of friendship, exercise, and self-care, even gray days can be beautiful\u2014and your semester a success!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAll photo rights by International Campus GmbH<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Gray days don\u2019t have to feel gloomy. With friends, movement, and little self-care rituals, you can stay balanced and make the most of your semester.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":170833,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[125,89,102,95],"city":[53,69,70,71,72,73,74,75,209,210,76,79,78,77],"custom-author":[191],"class_list":["post-170810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pause-en","tag-accommodation","tag-living","tag-student","tag-thefizz","city-aachen","city-berlin","city-bremen","city-darmstadt","city-frankfurt","city-freiburg","city-hamburg","city-hanover","city-leiden","city-ludwigshafen","city-munich","city-prague","city-utrecht","city-vienna","custom-author-hannah"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170810","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=170810"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170810\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":170859,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170810\/revisions\/170859"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/170833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=170810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=170810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=170810"},{"taxonomy":"city","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/city?post=170810"},{"taxonomy":"custom-author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/custom-author?post=170810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
I\u2019ve already written a lot on THE FIZZ blog about friendships: how to make new friends<\/a>, why friendships matter<\/a>, and how to stay connected over long distances.<\/a><\/p>\n The reason is simple: friendships are good for us!<\/p>\n Especially when we\u2019re feeling down, talking with and spending time with friends can work wonders. Whether it\u2019s a quiet moment to share what\u2019s going on or a spontaneous adventure to take your mind off things, friendships and shared time strengthen us. Of course, if you have a close bond with your family, they can be just as valuable.<\/p>\n Make a conscious effort to connect with friends or family\u2014ideally in person, but a call or video chat can also brighten your day and chase away some of the winter gloom.<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Both exercise and time in nature benefit the body and mind simultaneously. Whether you sign up for a sports class at university, take walks, do a short workout at home, or bike to campus, small active habits can make daily life feel more balanced and joyful.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be afraid to try new things: Is a yoga session at home right for you? Or maybe strength training at the gym? Perhaps it\u2019s hard for you to exercise regularly, but on weekends you enjoy long walks in the countryside. Or you grab your friends and go swimming, climbing, or play soccer. Find something you enjoy and can stick with.<\/p>\n Exercise can look different for everyone, but it\u2019s beneficial in every case!<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Exercise and social time aren\u2019t the only things that can lift your mood. Some days, there simply isn\u2019t time for activities, or you don\u2019t have the energy. These are the moments when it\u2019s perfectly fine to treat yourself to a small joy. Take a moment to find something that makes you smile.<\/p>\n For me, that means taking enough time for a nice breakfast. When I get up and make myself a bowl of porridge with apples and cinnamon, I feel a little lighter all day because I know I\u2019ve done something good for myself.<\/p>\n When the sun peeks through the clouds, I take a minute to look outside and enjoy it.<\/p>\n These little joys can look different for everyone. Maybe it\u2019s nice study materials for university, an hour in the evening to play a video game, leaving the house a bit earlier to take a nicer route, or listening to your favorite songs in the morning.<\/p>\n Take the time to enjoy the small things that brighten your day, and don\u2019t forget to give yourself both small and larger breaks.<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n\n At the end of the day, it\u2019s especially important to listen to yourself. Take time to reflect: What makes you feel good? What worries you? And how could you work on it?<\/p>\n Many people find it helpful to keep a journal, whether digital, handwritten, creatively designed, or even as a voice memo. Putting your thoughts into words helps organize the chaos in your head.<\/p>\n Even though it can be hard to embrace the winter mood, it\u2019s very helpful to discover which habits make you feel good. Only you can decide what\u2019s right, so take the time to figure that out.<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n\n With the right mix of friendship, exercise, and self-care, even gray days can be beautiful\u2014and your semester a success!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n All photo rights by International Campus GmbH<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Gray days don\u2019t have to feel gloomy. With friends, movement, and little self-care rituals, you can stay balanced and make the most of your semester.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":170833,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[63],"tags":[125,89,102,95],"city":[53,69,70,71,72,73,74,75,209,210,76,79,78,77],"custom-author":[191],"class_list":["post-170810","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pause-en","tag-accommodation","tag-living","tag-student","tag-thefizz","city-aachen","city-berlin","city-bremen","city-darmstadt","city-frankfurt","city-freiburg","city-hamburg","city-hanover","city-leiden","city-ludwigshafen","city-munich","city-prague","city-utrecht","city-vienna","custom-author-hannah"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170810","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=170810"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170810\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":170859,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170810\/revisions\/170859"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/170833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=170810"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=170810"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=170810"},{"taxonomy":"city","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/city?post=170810"},{"taxonomy":"custom-author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/the-fizz-old.testpage.click\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/custom-author?post=170810"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n Exercise and Fresh Air<\/h2>
<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n Breaks and Small Joys<\/h2>
<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n Listen to Yourself<\/h2>
<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n