Written by Abigail Marble
Art by Lute Campbell
Picture this: It’s a warm and wet day out. It’s cloudy; you can hear the drips of the melting snow and ice, and there are puddles everywhere. You think that spring has finally arrived until you realize that it’s only the end of February and that stupid rodent from Pennsylvania said there would be six more weeks of winter. Now you somberly trudge through slushy sidewalks listening to some depressing indie-wannabe playlist you made thinking you were so edgy and different—has your mentality changed at all since middle school? You can’t believe that False Spring has tricked you again and that your Dr. Marten oxfords are getting wet from all of the ocean-deep puddles on the sidewalks of Burlington, Vermont.
Here’s where I step in—I’ll watch out for puddles. I have some tips on how to survive the waiting game for spring. Or summer. Or whatever you’re really waiting for. A text back?
Make a Playlist, or Two, or a Thousand!
As I mentioned before, making a playlist that represents your current mood can help a lot with meandering through the rain and slippery streets of Burlington. My current mood is a mix of melancholy and hopeful wishing, in a state of a longing daydream. Whenever Spotify makes my ‘daylist,’ it’s pretty cheesy but a pretty spot on representation of my current mood. Some artists I would add to my playlist would be TV Girl, Jeff Buckley, The Last Dinner Party, Phoebe Bridgers, Clairo, Radiohead, and Bon Iver. It can be very taxing wanting to be indie and underground with mainstream or popular artists, but it’s the cross we bear. This mix of artists creates the perfect blend of yearning and pining with a dreamy and funky sound. I like to call it SadLite; it’s kind of sad and depressing, but the songs are still sort of upbeat, soft, and misty. Life’s a spectrum, and at one end is Nothing Matters by The Last Dinner Party, and the other is Everything Is Embarrassing by Sky Ferreira.
On my happier days—usually the rainy and dreary days—I have been reverting to all the songs I enjoyed in middle school. So, all the quintessential Tumblr songs and artists, along with the popular EDM of the mid-2010s, and of course the Twilight Saga soundtrack compiled into one playlist: Middle School Sucked. I really am my middle school self with wisdom and a bank account.
So get to making playlists for your walk to class, your commute to work, a study session, or anything else you’d do while listening to music. And remember: Make the playlists based on your vibe, mood, or the weather’s vibe/mood. It makes for a more interesting time.
Staring in the Mirror
It’s been a long and tough winter, so I need to double-check that I am still alive. Staring in the mirror for at least 20 minutes until I question reality is a great thing to do to check in. Check-in with whom? Great question! Uh, I don’t know. The universe? The great divine? Your spirit guides? Dare I say yourself? Sometimes, I inspect every aspect of my face until I don’t look like myself or stare until I don’t look real. It’s really a great thing to do when you’re going through your yearly existential crisis. You can listen to one of the playlists I recommended you make to add some ambiance or just listen to your thoughts in silence. Whatever floats your boat! Look at yourself in the mirror to see all that has changed over one winter to learn and be more connected with yourself. Don’t knock it till you try it, or whatever the saying is.
Stay Inside and Get a Hobby!
The weather is doing its fun little dance of one day it’s snowing, the next it’s raining, and then a nice sunny spring day. So, on the days you have to stay inside, pick up a hobby because I know if you don’t, you will be lying in bed scrolling on your phone. Can’t pick just one hobby to focus on? Write them all down, number each one, and have your phone pick a random number. That’s your new hobby, then pick the one you secretly wanted. If you’re able to, try out every hobby you can. Honestly, if I had more time and money, I would have more hobbies.
Watch a Horror Movie/Show
If you’re stuck inside and still deciding on what hobby to pick up, stuck in decision paralysis, try watching a movie or picking up a new show. My favorite horror movies and shows are Normal People, Fleabag, One Day (2024), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), 500 Days of Summer (2009), The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), Call Me By Your Name (2017), Lady Bird (2017), and Blue Valentine (2010). Recently, I have never given my full attention to a movie or show. Usually, I am doing one of my many hobbies, but mostly crocheting.
Go Outside!
Now, I know I just told you to stay inside and get a hobby, BUT! that was during the rainy and cold days when you only go outside out of necessity. On the days when the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the high is around 50—maybe if you’re lucky it will get up to 65—go for a walk, lay in the sun, or look mysterious and read some feminist literature in a park to show that you’re better than everyone else. Just get out into the sun because I know your bottle of vitamin D has accumulated dust as you forgot to take it all winter long, and your system is craving it. This is my roundabout way of saying touch grass (if there’s any grass to touch).
Hopefully, all these tips will be useful for you to have a smooth and uneventful spring. Don’t rush into summer too quickly; that’s how you’ll disappoint yourself. Appreciate spring for what it is: a few months of unpredictable weather leading to unpredictable days, which may lead to mood swings. Please go outside, take a shower, clean your room, eat your veggies, discover a new hobby, drink water, and enjoy yourself!