As the days have grown shorter and the temperatures have dropped, many students are noticing changes in their mental health. For some, winter brings lower energy, decreased motivation, and feeling down. While it often goes unnoticed, seasonal depression affects a majority of students during the school year.
Several students say the winter months make everyday tasks more difficult. Getting out of bed in the morning, staying focused in class, and keeping up with homework can feel more challenging when sunlight is limited. Social activities may also decrease, which can lead to feeling isolated during a season that already feels long and exhausting. Junior Talia Zirin explains how dreadful the start and end of her school days are due to the weather change.
“Just waking up everyday and thinking about the hard walk to school makes me unmotivated and sad,” Zirin said.
Many also note that the academic year becomes increasingly difficult during this time of year, as it is the end of the first semester and the transition into the final one of the year.
“When fall transitions into winter the increased academic pressure results in lower energy, oversleeping, and feeling gloomy,” Junior Oliver Stonbely said.
Junior Mira Marusina agrees with Stonbely, saying the workload in school gets more intense which makes her unmotivated to go to school and focused on other activities instead.
Although seasonal depression can be difficult, students emphasize that small changes and new hobbies can make winter more manageable.
“This winter I started pilates, cooking more, and drinking hot chocolate. Shopping also helps me because retail stores have cute winter releases,” Marusina said.
Stonbely has different ways to cope, explaining that new hobbies do not help as much as making peace with the winter season.
“Winter forces me to adjust to a new routine, like changing my sleep quality and schedule. I make sure to stay socially connected and try to stay consistent with my sleep,” Stonbely said.
Others try not to get used to the season change because they are looking forward to the warm summer ahead of them instead of the side effects that come with the cold.
“I like to think of things I will do in the summer, like tanning and swimming, which makes me happier and excited,” Zirin said.
Students seem to find it difficult to balance academics and their social life with the dreadful weather they have to wake up to every morning. Yet, winter becomes a learning experience by forcing young adults to push through a difficult time in their lives and take up new hobbies.
Overall, the cold weather in New Jersey gives young adults the chance to step out of their comfort zones during seasonal depression and discover new interests while they wait for the pleasant summer days.
“The only thing I am looking forward to is leaving for a warm place this winter break,” Marusina said.
