Once November hits, the school campus air shifts. The wind gets harsher, the sky darkens before 5 p.m. and College Park feels noticeably quieter. While some of the change can be attributed to finals stress, students say there are deeper effects that are hard to ignore.
Research shows that winter can have real psychological impact on thoughts and behavior; people can experience the “winter blues” — also known as seasonal affective disorder, a depression that is directly affected by seasonal changes.
“I am very heavily impacted by the effects of the colder months and the lack of vitamin D from sunlight and even artificial sources,” said sophomore psychology major Lexx Goldenberg-Donahue, who has been diagnosed with SAD.
Goldenberg-Donahue said both the psychological and physical stress from being cold can weigh on him throughout the season.
As temperatures drop across College Park, many students say they feel the shift in their mood, motivation and even confidence.
An informal Google Form survey, distributed to UMD students for this article, gathered nine responses. Over 50% of respondents rated winter’s effect on their mood as a four out of five, and the season was described with words such as ‘sluggish,’ ‘draining’ and ‘stressful.’ Nearly 90% said the colder months impact their motivation to study or socialize.
The cold also affects how students view themselves physically.
“I have eczema, and it’s quite severe,” said freshman psychology major Shannen Greene. “I take shots for it, but it does naturally get worse in colder months, which in turn also affects my skin and causes me to feel like my appearance is lessened.”
Other students reported lower confidence due to “laziness,” fewer outfit options, or holiday-related weight gain, all concerns that become more noticeable for them as daylight shortens and the semester becomes more demanding.
Still, students say there are ways to cope. Survey respondents said they take breaks, rely on skincare routines, participate in holiday activities and connect with others through community events to stay afloat.
“I’m a very social person, and during the winter seasons, that’s usually when you get a lot of fun activities,” said transfer junior psychology major Ryn Kim. “I [go] downtown, like to the D.C. holiday market.”
Others suggested taking time to recharge and avoiding long stretches of isolation.
“You can pretend all you want — you are sitting at your desk staring at the screen,” Goldenberg-Donahue said. “So if you’re not gonna do [work], get outside…sit with yourself and take a little mental assessment, and then find something on campus like a club you enjoy.”
With winter creeping up and routines shifting, students are still finding ways to stay grounded — proving that while the cold may be harsh, there are ways to appreciate everything else the season has to offer.