*This article was originally written for my school's newspaper, but, seeing as it pertains to this blog, I decided to share it with my faithful readers. Enjoy!
By Carly Hoilman
Ever gone to bed on a frigid winter night and wondered to yourself: What did I accomplish today?-- only to find that the answer was rather disappointing and even surprising?
It’s difficult to ignore the energy-zapping qualities of this blustery season; try as one might, the results always seem to lean towards an increased appetence for sleep, decreased desire to stay active, and an overall sense of defeat.
The withering mental endurance, combined with crabby classmates and the circulation of colds and viruses, is enough to make any sane person look upon June 7 with desperate longing. Is there any way to cope with the shorter, colder, darker days that accompany winter? Must one be forced to accept the mental and physical defeat? Certainly not.
For most students, the “winter blues” arrive before the end of the second marking period, shortly after winter break.
Indeed, seasonal depression is an apparent struggle for many. A recent study conducted by San Diego State University reported an increase in the amount of stress-related anxiety students of this generation face--with school and with life in general--compared to that of previous generations. The study attributes this increase to the proliferating pressure to strive and to succeed.
Depression can develop when these efforts to succeed are met with a weakened immune system, bitter weather, and lower energy levels.
Luckily, there are many ways to stay happy and healthy even when the odds are stacked against you.
For starters, as unappealing as it might now seem, energy-replenishing exercise is a proven way to strengthen one’s immune system; it can also be an effective method of stress-relief, as exercise releases positive endorphins. However, this does not have to mean going out in the cold, or even hitting the gym.
Try exercising indoors with a workout DVD or by playing active games on Xbox Kinect (there is a huge variety of dance and fitness games to keep you moving). If you’re willing to venture outside of your home, consider signing up for a “hot yoga” class--the combination of heat (the room temperature is raised to 100 degrees) and traditional stretching will get rid of the chills and lower stress levels.
Colds are hard to avoid this time of year, as people tend to be indoors for the majority of the time, resulting in the rapid spread of viruses and germs.
Fight colds with Vitamin C and electrolytes. Both of these can restore energy, and electrolytes are essential in helping cells in the heart, muscle, and brain transmit electrical nerve impulses to the body. Drinking a lot a fluids, such as warm tea, flushes out toxins and coats the throat (ginger tea with fresh lemon and honey is as delicious as it is salubrious). An obvious, yet fundamental method of cold-prevention is washing your hands; germs can live for days on virtually any surface, and one touch is enough to pick up a cold virus.
A universally favored remedy for the winter blues seems to be sleep. When the sun goes down at around 4:30p.m., it’s normal to feel tired earlier, leaving many with disappointing answers to the “What did I accomplish?” question.
When your body is too run-down to go to workout, and your brain is to tired to delve into your homework just yet, the best thing you can do is to listen to your body and rest. A recommended amount of sleep for teens is eight to ten hours each night. For some, this might mean sacrificing some Facebook time or beginning homework slightly earlier than normal, but the perks of a good night’s rest cannot be matched.
In order to reduce stress and stay healthy, it might be necessary to clear your schedule so that your body has time to unwind and recharge. It’s okay to tell yourself that you don’t have to be productive one hundred percent of the time; when you think about it, investing in your mental and physical health now will prove beneficial later on.
It is important to know which strategies work best for you. Everyone is different, and it may help to try out several tips before settling on a healthful method that suits you. Personally, I find it helpful to play some Bob Marley before beginning my homework; the relaxing music reminds me of summer and helps me clear my mind. It's safe to say that hot showers, fuzzy blankets, and Red Box movies are among preferred remedies as well.
The withering mental endurance, combined with crabby classmates and the circulation of colds and viruses, is enough to make any sane person look upon June 7 with desperate longing. Is there any way to cope with the shorter, colder, darker days that accompany winter? Must one be forced to accept the mental and physical defeat? Certainly not.
For most students, the “winter blues” arrive before the end of the second marking period, shortly after winter break.
Indeed, seasonal depression is an apparent struggle for many. A recent study conducted by San Diego State University reported an increase in the amount of stress-related anxiety students of this generation face--with school and with life in general--compared to that of previous generations. The study attributes this increase to the proliferating pressure to strive and to succeed.
Depression can develop when these efforts to succeed are met with a weakened immune system, bitter weather, and lower energy levels.
Luckily, there are many ways to stay happy and healthy even when the odds are stacked against you.
For starters, as unappealing as it might now seem, energy-replenishing exercise is a proven way to strengthen one’s immune system; it can also be an effective method of stress-relief, as exercise releases positive endorphins. However, this does not have to mean going out in the cold, or even hitting the gym.
Try exercising indoors with a workout DVD or by playing active games on Xbox Kinect (there is a huge variety of dance and fitness games to keep you moving). If you’re willing to venture outside of your home, consider signing up for a “hot yoga” class--the combination of heat (the room temperature is raised to 100 degrees) and traditional stretching will get rid of the chills and lower stress levels.
Colds are hard to avoid this time of year, as people tend to be indoors for the majority of the time, resulting in the rapid spread of viruses and germs.
Fight colds with Vitamin C and electrolytes. Both of these can restore energy, and electrolytes are essential in helping cells in the heart, muscle, and brain transmit electrical nerve impulses to the body. Drinking a lot a fluids, such as warm tea, flushes out toxins and coats the throat (ginger tea with fresh lemon and honey is as delicious as it is salubrious). An obvious, yet fundamental method of cold-prevention is washing your hands; germs can live for days on virtually any surface, and one touch is enough to pick up a cold virus.
A universally favored remedy for the winter blues seems to be sleep. When the sun goes down at around 4:30p.m., it’s normal to feel tired earlier, leaving many with disappointing answers to the “What did I accomplish?” question.
When your body is too run-down to go to workout, and your brain is to tired to delve into your homework just yet, the best thing you can do is to listen to your body and rest. A recommended amount of sleep for teens is eight to ten hours each night. For some, this might mean sacrificing some Facebook time or beginning homework slightly earlier than normal, but the perks of a good night’s rest cannot be matched.
In order to reduce stress and stay healthy, it might be necessary to clear your schedule so that your body has time to unwind and recharge. It’s okay to tell yourself that you don’t have to be productive one hundred percent of the time; when you think about it, investing in your mental and physical health now will prove beneficial later on.
It is important to know which strategies work best for you. Everyone is different, and it may help to try out several tips before settling on a healthful method that suits you. Personally, I find it helpful to play some Bob Marley before beginning my homework; the relaxing music reminds me of summer and helps me clear my mind. It's safe to say that hot showers, fuzzy blankets, and Red Box movies are among preferred remedies as well.
*quotes have been removed from this article for the use of this blog
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