Winter is the saddest time of the year. Post-Christmas depression is a real mental disease that affects 4-6% of Americans. However, its medical name is Seasonal Affective Disorder.
While 4-6% of Americans reported depression, 10-20% of Americans reported feeling some sort of particular sadness during winter months. This is often triggered by staying indoors, which can lead to a Vitamin-D deficiency, a vital nutrient in maintaining a stabilized mood.
But don’t worry! I’ve compiled some helpful coping mechanisms for these next few chilly months to assist you in staying happy and positive throughout the winter seasons.
1. Keep your schedule packed.
My first suggestion to anyone who faces wintertime sadness would be to keep yourself busy and occupied. Distractions are some of the easiest ways to avoid depression, while being inactive and dwelling on negative emotion is the quickest route to sadness. Over winter break, you could get a job, volunteer at your local animal shelter or teach yourself how to play an instrument. Just stay busy!
2. Carve out time for yourself.
While you should remain busy and occupied, you should always give yourself time to relax and reflect as well. Carve out time at least once a day to sit and watch an episode of your favorite Netflix show and drink some hot chocolate. Even if it’s right before you go to bed, have some time to yourself. I know that I cannot function regularly without my “me time.” My daily cup of coffee and episode of The Office keeps me sane, especially during the winter.
3. Avoid isolation.
Some of us are pretty anti-social people. Understandably, hibernation sounds pretty appealing after finals. However, this desire to be alone can quickly morph into an unhealthy loneliness. Human contact is key, regardless of how much we want to avoid it sometimes. Keep in touch with your college friends over break, spend as much time with your family as possible and hang out with your pals from home. Fill your life with as many people you care about as possible!
4. Make a list of things to look forward to.
This is my most-used strategy to keep myself positive and optimistic throughout the winter. Sometimes, those long months seem endless and hopeless. When I feel this way, I focus on all the good things I’ve got coming up. For example, right now, I would think about how excited I am for Christmas, or the excitement of New Year’s Eve. Looking forward to little things in the future sometimes just gives you that extra motivation to get out of bed in the morning.
5. Reach out if you need help.
Winter break is not all fun and games. It’s incredibly difficult to go from a college atmosphere, surrounded by your friends 24/7, and return home to a place where you actually have to go farther than a few floors up or down to find your buddies. If you are feeling sad or upset, reach out to someone for help. At school, there are constant resources to get the help you need; circumstances may not be the same at home.
Winter is long and hard, but that doesn’t mean it has to be miserable. Find the things that make you happy, and stick with them. Have a great winter break, Terps. Be safe, and happy holidays!