As winter rolls in, days drag by and light is lost in the early evening, motivation for college students takes a plunge. The walk to class seems to become longer and dorm beds seem to be more enticing. There are methods to aid your journey through the winter months, and they may turn your winter around.
The dark and cold months of the year are referred to as cold and flu season for good reason. Sickness has already begun to spring up on campus, taking students out one by one. According to freshman Sophi Studebaker, “Being sick when you have classes and other obligations makes it extremely hard, especially with the doctor’s note rule in most classes.” Studebaker noted that with the campus clinic being closed and lost time being stuck in bed, “It made catching up on work extremely stressful, and I have been behind ever since.”
Studebaker’s case applies to many other Vandals facing sickness. While it may be unavoidable, it is necessary to keep your environment clean, provide nutrients for your body and dress appropriately. Take care of your health, get a good night’s sleep as frequently as possible and hopefully, you can surpass this winter without being taken down. Getting sick is a gateway to falling behind in class, and nobody wants to make up a week’s worth of work.
Another problem this time of year brings about is exhaustion and feeling as though the day has ended before the dining hall even opens for dinner. This lack of sunlight is not something to take lightly.
“It makes me want to sleep by three,” commented freshman Taylor Garland. Common symptoms of low vitamin D levels include fatigue, mood changes such as depression, a weakened immune system and muscle pain. It can be difficult to find the motivation to leave your room with these symptoms brewing, let alone focus energy on tedious academic tasks.
One way to combat this is taking vitamin D supplements, which can be found at any local grocery store. Also, allow yourself to bask in the days when the sun makes an appearance.
Unfortunately, snow can take over winter mornings and walks to 8 a.m. classes, leaving shoes drenched and causing slips onto icy pavement. This can lead to avoiding that lecture altogether, as the risk is not worth the reward. While there is not much that can be done about this, it is imperative to have the proper winter equipment on hand and a built routine.
For Studebaker, “The motivation really just came down to getting so far behind that I had no choice but to go.” The internal drive to attend class and other responsibilities is not always glamorous, especially with it being frigid outside, but discovering what presses you forward is not only useful but necessary.
The last aspect of the winter season is the reduction in social life. At the beginning of the semester, walking around campus meant seeing students playing spike ball on green lawns, enjoying the summer breeze and heading to events. This has taken a plunge with the temperature.
While it may feel like everyone is hibernating for the winter, there is still an opportunity to enjoy yourself. Clubs are in operation, the Student Recreation Center remains open and campus events, while less frequent, continue to occur.
Elise Simpson, a first-year student living off campus, makes time for herself by “buying cheap dollar-store canvases and painting,” going to the SRC to play volleyball and taking trips to the dog park. To avoid burnout, it is vital to find time in the day outside of schoolwork and responsibility.
With the right strategy, it is possible to avoid the feeling of emptiness and isolation. With a positive mindset and a plan, you can go into the second semester feeling stronger.
Macy Gilbert can be reached at [email protected]