Don’t let the winter blues get you down.

This week kicked off the start of the spring semester. Though we have new classes and new professors, it’s difficult to feel excited with Baltimore’s cold and gray winter weather hanging over campus. Our surroundings may be bleak, but it doesn’t mean our days should be, too.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when students were stuck at home, it seemed like everyone was picking up a new hobby. Instagram and Snapchat stories revealed ventures into breadmaking, crocheting, jigsaw puzzles and podcasting. Now that we’re back in-person and have largely returned to normal life, most of us have abandoned our socially-distanced pastimes. Our cookbooks and balls of yarns sit abandoned on shelves, collecting dust.

It shouldn’t take a pandemic for us to pursue our passions. It’s true that we don’t have nearly as much free time now after the transition back to in-person life — think of all the time spent traveling between home, classes and office hours and putting on real pants every morning.

On top of that, most of us Blue Jays pack our schedules with academic and professional activities. Between classes and extracurriculars, it can be difficult to find time to eat and sleep, let alone have fun. However, we should still prioritize dedicating time to our own enjoyment. It may come as a shock to some, but not every activity has to be a resume booster.

With the Spring Student Involvement Fair approaching, students should consider joining special interest or arts groups on campus. If you find it difficult to pencil in time for your passions, signing up for a club with a set schedule could be beneficial.

Attending campus events is another great way to shake up a routine. Lacrosse season is right around the corner, and with winter sports like men’s and women’s basketball wrapping up, now is the perfect time to attend a sporting event. What’s more, showing some school spirit has its perks — The Flock gives out free food and memorabilia at many Hopkins games.

Of course, if sitting in the bleachers isn’t your thing, there are still plenty of other indoor and outdoor activities to partake in. You don’t have to venture far if you want some winter fun with friends. The Hopkins Ice Rink has returned to Homewood Campus once again and will be open through Feb. 19. Students can register for a 90-minute skate session online, free of charge. 

Visits to museums close to campus, like the Evergreen Museum and Library, are another way to spice up the undergraduate experience. The National Aquarium, located in the Inner Harbor, is half-price on Friday nights.

If you want to stay inside, starting a new show is an easy way to give yourself something to look forward to at the end of the day. 

Until spring gives us back sunlight, warm days and green trees, we have to find a way to cope with the dreariness around us. Having a hobby can prevent the days from blurring together. Dedicating a few hours in your week to plan something fulfilling and fun is a great way to decompress and find inspiration in the mundane routine of another semester.