But IT’s Cold Outside…
When wintry weather rolls around students begin to feel the winter blues. Doing the fun activities of spring, summer and fall becomes harder. The skies are cloudy or deceivingly sunny and cold.
“I think I’m in a worse mood when it’s cold out than when it’s warm out,” Leah Berti, junior, said.
Sometimes, students feel “under-the-weather” during the winter, but they don’t know why. Researchers call this “seasonal effective disorder” or “SAD” which is an appropriate acronym.
“Many things, including brain chemicals, ions in the air, and genetics seem to be involved. But researchers agree that people who suffer from winter depression…have one thing in common. They’re particularly sensitive to light, or the lack of it,” according to WebMD.
Just because the winter blues are a medical phenomenon doesn’t mean people can’t fight them off. Keeping bright lights in your room and getting fresh air can help keep normality with summer. In the summer, people get more light because the sun is shining at a more direct angle. Stuffy air can also dampen your mood so getting outside, even if it is cold, can be a big boost.
“[During the winter,] I like to practice piano and I like to read a lot,” Mallory Tewell, freshman, said.
While it might be impossible to do all the things beloved about summer, like swimming outdoors, people don’t have to give up all typical activities. People could host a movie marathon, see a winter concert, or have a bonfire in a backyard grill. Plus, there is plenty of fun to be had when it snows, from snowmen to snowball fights.
“Sledding is pretty fun, but Urbana doesn’t have many good hills,” Berti said.
The most important thing to remember is that cold weather does not mean everyone needs to stay trapped inside for months. Get outside and enjoy the winter frost!
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