During the cold, drawn-out months of Winter, it’s essential to keep your mental health in line as Seasonal Affective Disorder, often referred to as the “Winter Blues,” is much more common than one would think.
Characterized by a cyclic lack of enjoyment and energy around the same time of year, Boston University estimates that nearly 10 million Americans are dealing with this, so in a school setting where attendance and grades are such a priority, it’s important to keep your mood and motivation from plummeting during the wearing Winter weather.
It’s important to note that these tips may benefit anyone struggling with depression or low moods this time of year, even if such issues are not to the degree of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
To start, a large reason as to why moods fall during the Winter is due to fewer daylight hours. The brain produces more serotonin in sunny weather, accounting for feelings of happiness, and more melatonin in the dark, leading to lower energy. Therefore, ensuring you spend enough time in the sunlight is crucial.
Bundling up and going for a walk or run is a great way to achieve this as staying active helps not only your physical health, but your mental health too as exercise further releases the serotonin you need. However, for those with such little energy, it’s understandable that this may appear too hefty a task at first.
Starting small and working your way up is a good way around such difficulties and this can be done by merely sitting outside for a bit and doing an activity you enjoy, such as watching videos on your phone or reading a book, whatever it may be.
During the school year, it’s also easy to fall into a rut of day-in and day-out, leading to feelings of boredom and dissatisfaction. You can combat this through switching up your routine, no matter how big or small those changes might be.
For example, starting a new television show to watch after school can give you something to look forward to throughout the day. Stopping by a cafe you’ve never visited before gives you the chance to take a different route on your way home from school and try something new.
While the comfort and warmth of your home might seem appealing this time of year, it’s also extremely important to get out of the house and stay connected with others. Prolonged social isolation is associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety, but it’s easy to fall into this trap when the weather outside is so dreary.
Rekindling old friendships, forming new ones, spending time with family, and planning or attending events with current friends are all good ways to do this.
There are even a variety of activities specifically pertaining to Winter, such as Christmas light viewing, ice skating, playing in the snow, and so on. The motivation to do such activities might not come naturally, but pushing yourself to go out and make the most of the season is key.
