Winter 2024 Press Statement
my notes on this cold season
We are so back! I haven’t written on Substack in a while because I’ve been super busy with various other aspects of my life but it felt like it was time for a refreshed press statement for the new season. Fall went by quickly and I was grateful for every second of it. It was a period of change and growth and learning that can sometimes be uncomfortable because of its newness. I know that people say the winter months are for slowing down, but I feel like I’m just getting started. I was writing about this in my journal the other day, about how the winter months can be particularly hard, and it can feel like the easiest option is to just rot from late November to February and let life pass me by instead of persisting and still going out there and doing things.
There is beauty in these cold, dark months too. And whatever that may look like for you, I hope this press statement finds you well and wherever you are.
Hot chocolate > coffee
I saw a tweet the other day about how people who drink coffee as soon as they wake up haven’t even tried to see if their body can manage to be awake on its own and it made my coworkers and I laugh. I’ve been on a “spending less” journey, with tried and failed attempts at trying to spend less on coffee, limiting my purchases to only twice a week which should, in theory, be more than enough but it never feels that way. Making coffee at home just doesn’t hit the same but I’ve been forcing myself to drink it regardless because my future self will thank me later when I can actually use that saved money for other things. I’ve also discovered my love for hot chocolate after I went to No Chewing Allowed in Bryant Park with my friend after work one night. I’m here to tell you that drinking hot chocolate with your friends will heal you and you should do it more often!
Sign up for a 5K with your friends
Never say that I don’t follow my own advice because I have in fact signed up for a 5K with two of my best friends! This is especially for those of us who have been inspired by the NYC marathon content and want to run/walk at an event but don’t know where to start. My university hosts a charity 5K in December every year so I will be attending that and getting hot chocolate with my friends after ! (see what I did there?). Whether you run or walk, you’ll feel accomplished that you got out of bed and tried something new.
Brown mascara & earrings
I am not a fashion influencer by any means, but as someone who always has to be up early, I rarely have time to do the makeup that I actually want to do. I find that earrings make a big difference in my outfit and brown mascara feels perfect for winter! It’s soft and different and makes your eyes pop. This could go for anything - try a new makeup/skincare item that becomes a staple in your rotation during these winter months. That + earrings will make you feel so much more confident about yourself.
Bed rotting is not real to me and its unproductive
This might be a hot take but I don’t believe in bed rotting, not anymore at least. I used to spend hours ruminating on legitimately everything that’s ever happened to me EVER and I wish that I spent that time at least consuming art - reading books, watching movies, etc. I wish I spent that time talking to my family more instead of locking my bedroom door and staring at the ceiling. I wish I went for more runs and walks so that even if I was ruminating, I was at least being active. You cannot bed-rot your life away. That doesn’t mean that you have to be productive all the time, it just means that there needs to be a balance between making space for doing “nothing” and also doing “something” everyday. How you spend your days is how you spend your life!!!! Remember that.
Journaling
I might be biased towards this one because I’m a writer after all, but journaling has seriously changed my life. It helps me make sense of the world, keep track of my experiences, work through difficult times, and in general, is a daily practice that keeps me sane. You don’t have to journal about your life if you don’t want to. You can write movie reviews, follow prompts online, make a to do list tracker, or do weekly recaps. It doesn’t need to be an obsessive, meticulous thing, it can just be a thing that you do when you feel like you need to. Me personally? I need to do it everyday. But that is me and you are you so figure out what works best for your life!
These are all things that I’m carrying with me this winter, and I hope that you take something away from this as well. Winter does not have to be depressing or boring, it can be exciting in its own way!
Talk to you soon,
Umme