How I protect my mood, productivity, and mental health during winter as a Thai student
When I moved from Bangkok to Durham, I knew I was trading year-round sunshine for cosy winters and cool breezes. What I didn’t expect was how deeply the weather would affect my mood, energy, and daily routines.
Back home, the sun is everywhere — warm mornings, bright afternoons, and sunlight that sometimes feels too intense. Here in the UK, especially during winter, the days slip by in muted shades of grey. The sun rises late, sets before I’ve even finished class, and sometimes it feels like the sky never fully wakes up at all.
As an international student, this shift was one of the hardest parts of adjusting to life here. But over time, I found routines and habits that helped me survive — and eventually enjoy — the colder, darker months.
Here’s my personal journey and what helped me stay balanced, productive, and mentally healthy.
When the grey skies hit hard
The first winter shock was the darkness. I woke up in the morning feeling like it was still midnight. My productivity dipped. I felt tired even after sleeping well. Motivation faded faster.
It took me a while to realise: It wasn’t that I was lazy — my body simply wasn’t used to a lack of sunlight. In Thailand, the sun is my natural alarm clock. In the UK, winter feels like being wrapped in a soft, permanent twilight.
Vitamin D: A tiny capsule that made a big difference
One of the first pieces of advice I received was: “Take Vitamin D.”
At first, I laughed — as someone from Thailand, I’ve never needed extra sunlight! But after two weeks of feeling unusually low energy, I tried it. The difference was real. Vitamin D helped stabilise my mood, gave me more energy, and stopped that heavy “winter fatigue” feeling that made everything seem more difficult. It became part of my routine — one small habit that protects my physical and mental wellbeing.
Finding light
I learned to chase whatever sunlight there was. Even a 15-minute walk between classes, sitting by my window, or going for a quick stroll by the River Wear helps so much. In winter, sunlight becomes precious, and learning to appreciate the small moments of brightness changes your whole mindset.
I also keep my room well-lit at night with warm lights — it makes the darkness outside feel less heavy.
Warm drinks, warm layers, warm mindset
One thing I began to love about the UK winter is the coziness. Hot chocolate after class. Warm scarves and big coats. Stepping into a café while the wind howls outside.
Layering became a skill I never knew I needed — and one that made me feel more in control of the weather rather than at the mercy of it. The more comfortable I felt physically, the less the cold bothered me emotionally.
Winter slump
Winter made me want to curl up in bed and never leave — but staying active became one of the best ways to manage the low moods.
My aerial arts sessions helped keep my body moving and my mind energized. Yoga at the Castle also helped me stretch, breathe, and stay grounded. Moving my body kept my emotions from getting stuck in that grey winter heaviness.
Creating sunshine indoors: routines that lift my mood
To keep my productivity and mental health steady, I started building small routines that gave each day structure and comfort:
- Morning hot shower to wake up when the sun refuses to rise
- Studying in bright spaces, like the Bill Bryson Library and the new Business School
- Journaling or meditation on cold evenings
- Planning fun weekend activities so I had something to look forward to
- Cooking warm meals, especially Thai comfort food
- Calling my family back home, hearing familiar voices when I miss the warmth
These small habits act like emotional heaters — they keep your spirit warm when the outside world isn’t.
Accepting that it’s okay to slow down
Winter in the UK taught me one thing I never learned in Thailand: It’s okay to take things slow. The calmer days, the quieter evenings, the early sunsets — they all create a different rhythm of life. I learned not to fight it.
Some days are less productive, some mornings are harder, and some moments feel lonelier. And that’s okay. Once I accepted that winter comes with its own pace, everything became easier.
Looking back
Winter tested me in ways I didn’t expect. But it also helped me grow — emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually. Learning to live in a colder, darker climate taught me how to create my own warmth, build stronger habits, and take better care of myself.
As a Thai student, I still miss the sunshine sometimes — okay, a lot. But now, when winter arrives, I don’t feel afraid of it anymore. I know how to protect my mood, my energy, and my sense of self.
And there’s something beautiful about that.
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