Tag Archives: Mood

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Avoid the “Winter Blues”

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Since it is Winter, there are less hours of sunlight  in the day and most of the time it is gloomy outside. During this time, it is common for many people to  suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that occurs during the cold and darker months of the year, mainly fall and winter. This disorder makes people feel moody and it takes away their energy levels.

Here at Millersville you do not need to brush off that yearly feeling as simply as a case of the “winter blues”. This feeling is very common, so the Counseling Center offers relief to those experiencing this during the winter months. The Counseling Center , located in Lyle Hall,  have launched Light Box Therapy which has been available since October and will be available until March.

Light Box Therapy involves sitting down in front of light boxes. During this time , students can sit there and relax or they can complete their work while in front of the light. The light that is projected mimics sunlight which can lift your mood. The science behind it is that when you are in the presence of the light there is a chemical change in your brain and more levels of serotonin are produced. Serotonin is a brain chemical that affects your mood. 

Light Box Therapy sessions may be scheduled on Mondays through Fridays  from 8 am to 11:30 am. The Counseling Center has found the best results when students make an appointment in the morning. Completing a session in the morning helps to create better regulation of the body’s sleep cycles. So if you have 20-30 mins in the day , why not try out Light Box Therapy to increase your mood.

Information was provided by Erin Haggard, the Graduate Assistant at the Center for Counseling and Human Developemnt here at Millersville University.

To make an appointment or get more information you can go to the Counseling Center’s website or call them.

Cover photo courtesy of Canva.

Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Hall Life

How To Decorate Your Room To Improve Your Mood

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The environment you live in can affect your mood and emotions in many ways. While you are in college and stressed by many classes and assignments, the last thing you want to worry about is a cluttered or stressful room. At the end of the day, you want to make sure that your room is relaxing to you and creates an environment where you feel safe. Throughout the years I have lived in the residence halls, I have discovered what types of things or decorations make me feel relaxed in my own room. Here are a list of helpful tips I learned about decorating a dorm room.

 

  1. Think about how colors change your mood.

Colors can be associated with different emotions and feelings. If you decorate your room to how you want to feel, it can create the type of environment you desire. For example, blues, greys and greens are naturally soothing colors and can create a relaxing environment. While on the other hand, rooms decorated in bright colors like pink, yellow and orange can lift your energy and your spirits. Try not to choose overly dark colors because they can translate into feeling gloomy and it also makes it hard to feel cheerful. I add bright colors to keep me energized and happy.

2. Clean up clutter.

If you have a cluttered desk or dresser, this can make you feel overwhelmed and stressed within your own room. By taking the time everyday to put items away, you can reduce the number of things that pile up over the course of the day. If you leave your items to pile up, this can also affect your sleep schedule and can lead to not getting a peaceful night of sleep.

 

3. Make your bed everyday.

I know that a lot of people say they do not have the time to do this, or think this is stupid, but doing this everyday can make you feel better. Along with making your room look nice and well kept, this can also prevent you from crawling back into bed after coming back from class. By doing this simple task every morning, you will feel more organized and keep you going all day long.

4. Decorate with items or pictures you love.

Create an environment with familiar faces and items . You will feel happy and more refreshed if you wake up to the sight of things you really love, like pictures of your loved ones or a poster of your favorite band or movie. I like to personalize my space by adding family photos and posters of my favorite bands.  

5. Decorate your mirror with inspirational quotes on post-it notes.

By displaying a few of your favorite inspirational quotes on your mirror, you will feel more confident and actually look forward to looking into the mirror. This is a simple trick to train your mind to experience more happiness and success.

These few little changes can affect your mood in the long run and help you stay more focused. If you follow any of these tips, let us know by tagging us on Instagram or Twitter. Our username on both of these sites is @villehousing .