As summer comes to a halt and winter begins, seasonal depression is upon us. It’s that magical time of the year when the sun sets too early and the temperature drops too low. These combinations of factors cause seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression.
You may be wondering what “seasonal depression” even looks like. Though it can look different for everyone, common symptoms include being more sluggish than a sloth (low energy), mastering the art of naps during inconvenient times (changes in sleep), and living in the emotional state of a waiting room (sadness).
With seasonal depression, you lack the energy to do anything and everything, which doesn’t exactly help when homework begins to pile up. Getting up at the same time you normally do in your day-to-day life is made harder with the dark sky and cold weather. Don’t let those tardies pile up!
You might also notice during these winter months that you lose interest in things you usually enjoy doing. This sometimes can be traced to the shortened days, which limit outdoor activities due to the early sunset.
With the harsh impact that seasonal depression has on students, teachers should consider being more lenient towards students with homework deadlines during these winter months. They should understand that the seasonal depression experienced among students can have a toll on their academic performance. Flexibility from teachers could prevent students from losing motivation and ensure that they give their best effort during class.
But fear not my fellow peers, I will list some (extremely hard) ways to combat your seasonal depression.
- Get yourself off the couch and outside! Try to go for a walk, maybe even a run—whatever it takes to get your body moving.
- Call a friend or a pet! It is a great way to socialize, get out of the bubble you are in, and express your feelings.
- If neither of these options works, you can always buy one of those expensive fancy lamps that supposedly exposes you to more light.
While seasonal depression is commonly undermined and dismissed, it is a real thing that many people will experience in their lifetime. If you are dealing with this, reach out to a trusted one.
Just remember, seasonal depression is seasonal for a reason! •
