If there’s one thing about winters, it’s that they make the sun feel like a rare jewel. Suddenly, lawns and open spaces are buzzing with students dragging their comforters and bedsheets out into the sunlight. Yes, it might look like an impromptu campus-wide sleepover, but it’s actually an adorable survival strategy against the dreary, darker days of winter. And honestly? It’s just one of the many ways we’re trying to outsmart Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Because, like, yeah, we need the sun. What about it?
Seasonal Affective Disorder is that not-so-fun guest who crashes the winter party. It’s a subtype of depression that creeps in as the days get shorter and darker, often bringing fatigue, low energy, irritability, and an intense craving for carbs. Think of it as the emotional equivalent of wanting to hibernate. But while bears get to sleep it off, humans have to keep going, dragging themselves to classes, internships, and the million other things on the to-do list.
What causes this? The main culprit is the reduced sunlight, which messes with your body’s internal clock (circadian rhythm), serotonin levels (hello, mood regulator), and melatonin production (the hormone that controls sleep). Basically, it’s a triple whammy that makes you feel like you’re perpetually stuck in a gray filter.
Enter the sun, the unsung hero of winter. The sheer joy of feeling those golden rays on your face after days of gray skies? Priceless. Sunlight is nature’s antidepressant, triggering the release of serotonin and helping regulate your sleep-wake cycle. It’s like your body’s very own pep talk, delivered via UV rays.
And we’ve all seen it: the campus lawns turning into sunbathing arenas. Some people show up with books, laptops, and snacks; others bring entire picnic setups, complete with thermoses of chai and Bluetooth speakers. It’s a vibe. Blankets and bedsheets transform into makeshift beach towels, and groups of friends gather to bask in the warmth, laugh, and recharge their social batteries. It’s a small but heartwarming rebellion against the winter blues.
There’s something about winter sunbathing on campus lawns that feels like a collective act of rebellion against the cold. Blankets spread out, duvets dragged into the open, and people basking in the light—it’s less about scientific explanations and more about chasing joy. Winter’s gray skies might linger, but when the sun peeks out, everything changes. There’s laughter in the air and steaming cups of chai making rounds. The sunlight becomes a communal experience—a reason to pause, step away from screens, and just be. Even the most hurried individuals seem to slow down, their faces tilting toward the warmth like sunflowers in bloom.
When the sun sets and the chill takes over again, it’s not so much about longing for the warmth as it is about knowing we made the most of the brief moments we had. Winter can feel long, sure, but in those pockets of sunlight and shared time, we’ve found a way to push back against the darkness, even if just for a little while. It’s not about waiting for spring to fix things; it’s about embracing the little bursts of light when they show up and realizing that, for now, that’s enough.
When the sun sets and the cold creeps back in, what lingers is not just the memory of the warmth but the comfort of knowing that it will return. Winter might be long, but in those fleeting moments of sunlight and connection, it feels a little less daunting.