If you ask most high school students their least favorite part of the year, they would most likely say the period from January to March. This time of year is statistically proven to have the highest rates of depression and fatigue. As the rush of the holiday season comes to an end and we ring in the New Year, we are left feeling tired and melancholy. 

The concept of New Year’s resolutions definitely doesn’t help; we put all of this stress on ourselves to change our lives, our habits, and our behaviors. In theory, New Year’s resolutions are a substantial idea to keep moving forward and pushing yourself to do better. However, people get caught up in the idea of being perfect and change the motivational perspective on resolutions, treating them more like requirements. We put way too much pressure on ourselves to change our whole lives, something that takes way more than the month of January to achieve. 

The climate doesn’t help with the overall feeling of lethargy; temperatures can range between 5 and 35 degrees Fahrenheit, making the idea of going outside less and less appealing. The lack of sunlight during the winter months lowers serotonin levels and affects the circadian rhythm, making it harder to sleep and stay motivated. For high school students specifically, the winter is also the season of mid-year exams, heightening stress levels right when we need to be slowing ourselves down. All of these things combined have brought about the popular term “seasonal depression,” which is honestly not far from the truth. 

I think we need to change our mindset about the winter months altogether by taking our time and being patient with ourselves. The amount of animals deep in hibernation during this time of year should serve as a clue that this is a time for rest. Instead of trying to completely change ourselves during the winter, we should focus on taking it slow, getting outside when we can, and holding on to the fact that spring will come. Resolutions should be made for the sake of enjoying who we are now. Here’s to staying warm over February break!