Nysa's guide to finding magic in the mundane

Romanticizing university life in the autumn calls for slowing a bit to appreciate the beauty in fleeting moments, finding significance in everyday life, and making everything feel like your own snug coming-of-age film. Autumn at Queen Mary has a romantic appeal if you take the time to appreciate it. There is magic hidden away in mundane activities like lectures, library sessions, and canal walks.

Establish a morning routine.

Cold mornings can be difficult, start small by making your bed, opening the blinds, and letting some light in. To give yourself a boost, eat something healthy and nourishing for breakfast, like a granola bowl with berries. It is a small gesture of hope that says, "Today is going to be good."

Dress for the season.

Layer on thick sweaters, corduroy or suede items, and boots in warm fall tones such as burgundy, olive, or brown. Also, take care of yourself. To keep your skin fresh, try a simple honey and cinnamon face mask, and add tiny touches that make you happy, such as a new jacket, a favourite scarf, or a fresh set of nails. It is less about style and more about feeling comfortable and confident when the weather changes.

Make campus feel like your own little town.

Listen to your favourite playlist or podcast while you stroll to class, sipping a hot beverage (matcha, coffee, or hot chocolate) from one of the cafes on campus. You can hear the leaves crunching beneath your boots. Explore courtyards and hidden benches.

Make your study sessions cinematic.

Look for a special place on campus that you feel is your own. This might be a bench by a window, various study spaces, a peaceful area of the library, or any of the cafes on campus.

Make time for fall moments with your friends.

Set up a nice movie night with classics such as Dead Poets Society, When Harry Met Sally, The Vampire Diaries and Little Women. Do not forget the themed snacks such as cinnamon buns and spiced cookies. Consider something hands-on, such as a potluck meal, a baking session, or a quick "fall picnic" along the canal with hot chocolate and nibbles in between lectures. Join ResLife activities not simply to socialize, but also to soak in the little, cherished moments that make campus life seem like home.

Document your memories.

Take pictures of your friends, the campus, and the small, ordinary things that add charm to this season. Save them as a digital diary to look at later in life. And as a little memento of how autumn felt at the time, tuck a fallen leaf you like between the pages of a book. Come and find queenie at the reception and spend some time her.

Night wind-downs.

As the day comes to an end, take some time to yourself. Pick a cozy spot, get a blanket, and spend some time writing, reading, or simply sitting with your thoughts.

The autumn semester is a mix of comfort and tiredness. With midterms, chilly mornings, and early sunsets, it is easy to lose motivation. But instead of pressing ourselves to keep going, we might let fall be a cause to recharge, to find warmth in the slowness.