Claire Hopple

First, if you’re bored, congratulations are in order.

The year’s not over yet and already its bizarre occurrences and oddities are innumerable.

California tooks its post-election protests to a very intense, very new level recently.

Nostalgia is actually considered a valuable copoing mechanism for depression, anxiety, and especially grief. Plus, not only does it counteract anxious feelings, it can actually make you more hopeful about the future. No wonder a higher occurrence of nostalgic feelings are found in the most resilient people.

Perhaps the following scenario describes you. You’re at a party and you remember that you detest small talk. You have a tinge of social anxiety.

You don’t need to be diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder to experience the negative effects of the colder, darker days. Every year, it’s like we’re all shocked about just how early it can get dark, wondering where the sun went as if we’ve never gone through winter before. To ease into this time of year and not get wiped out by the crueler side of Mother Nature, here are a few tactics to try.

If you’re unsure of your favorite, take a look at the shades dominating your closet, the common color found in your accent pillows and decor, the paint on your walls, perhaps the car in your driveway. These can be helpful hints, but your favorite color could also just be what you’re generally drawn to out in the world.

Let’s face it, people love to throw around the word “healthy” as much as they love to sit on the couch in workout clothes.

Wait a sec, is consuming dairy good or bad for you? Do you cut it out when you want to get healthy, or add more in?

Just don’t do it. In fact, reading this is in direct opposition to the titular admonition above.