The days are getting shorter, and many students are knuckling down just to make it to the end of the semester. With less sunlight, deadlines looming, and exams around the corner, it’s normal for everyone to feel the strain this time of year. However, there are resources available and activities to take part in that can keep the mind and body sharp through the transition to winter.
“I think for all students, there’s always a little bit of an adjustment to the change in seasons, and it affects some people more than others,” says Sarah Woodruff, Assistant Director of Outreach for the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being. “So, you know, we do see quite a bit of students that come in October as that change is happening.”
That adjustment can be minimized with good habits focused on staying active and consistent. Specifically, Woodruff recommends “Getting outside during daylight hours, when possible, connecting with family and friends, exercising, eating a balanced diet, and keeping consistent routine, including for sleep…. That can be really important, trying not to sleep a lot more or a lot less.” Woodruff specifically called out how the shortened days and cold weather can make people more inclined to stay indoors and sleep in. Making a conscious effort to enforce a healthy routine and to participate in winter activities can help students cope with the changing seasons.
The Experience Tech fee allows students to participate in many winter activities. According to the Michigan Tech website, Experience Tech lets students hike, ski, and snowshoe on the Tech Trails behind the SDC, use the indoor courts at the Gates Tennis Center, and ride the lifts on Mont Ripley.
The SDC also has many facilities available to students during the school year. Hours for the SDC gym, pool, multipurpose room, and open skate times are posted on their website. Another option during the next semester is intramural sports. Students can participate in many different indoor sports with their friends, hall, house, or any other students. Check out the SDC website for more details.
Some students may be impacted more by the changing seasons than others. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), often referred to as seasonal depression, is a type of depression linked to the changing seasons. Mayo Clinic says that changes to the typical circadian rhythm and changes in both serotonin and melatonin levels from the shorter days and longer nights are thought to play a factor in the symptoms of SAD. Those symptoms are similar to typical depression and include oversleeping, overeating, or feeling low energy and sluggish.
If you are still having difficulties adjusting to the seasons after some time and effort, especially if you think your symptoms are more than adjusting to the shorter days and may be related to SAD, all Tech students can reach out to the Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being.
