Blue skies and flowers in bloom do not mean everyone is happy at Brigham Young University. Sad moments are an inevitable part of life. Whether you have recently experienced a breakup or did not do as well as you would have liked during finals, BYU students can find everyday remedies to cure a case of the blues.
1. Find something to occupy your thoughts
Students say one of the most effective ways to get over sadness is to stop thinking about the source of your heartache.
“The best thing to do is keep yourself busy,” said Tysen Nickle, a physiology and developmental biology major from Logan. “Get involved with something else, and fill up your time.”
2. Get out of your apartment
Warmer weather and a lively world leave no excuses to stay cooped up in your apartment.
Erin Greenwood, an accounting major from San Diego, Calif., shared her thoughts on how to find happiness outside of your apartment.
“The best thing is being in the sun and doing fun, outdoor things to get your mind off of other things,” Greenwood said. “Be in the outdoors and nature. Take naps in the sun. Go on a hike. Be in water. There’s no way you can be sad in water. Anything with sun or water. You can’t be sad in either of those.”
Sarah Darby, a social science education major from San Clemente, Calif., also believes in the value of being outside.
“Go on a run,” Darby said. “Running gives you endorphins. It makes you happy. It’s science. It’s a fact.”
3. Surround yourself with people you love
According to several students, being around other people is one of the most effective ways to start feeling happier. This can help take your mind off of the root of your distress.
4. Try to escape reality
Several students agreed that the best way to mend a broken heart is to get away from your current situation. Not everybody can take a weekend getaway, but Mark Berardi, an economics major from Marquette Heights, Ill., has a viable alternative.
“I try to distract myself,” Berardi said. “I watch a lot more movies when I’m sad. A lot more TV shows that are surreal and ridiculous — kind of escape a little. I escape reality until it blows over.”
With TV shows, movies and music easily accessible to students, temporarily escaping reality is a feasible option.
5. Treat yourself
When you are sad, it is easy to think about yourself. Tara Smith from Layton, believes in the value of giving yourself a little attention.
“I love ice cream,” Smith said. “I eat ice cream half the time. Or I go shopping.”
