Many students find it challenging to attend school during the cold and dreadful months in the winter. 

When the sun goes down at 4:00 PM, the days become shorter and it becomes harder to feel motivated throughout the day. 

For starters, the winter time may provide people with some perks, examples being skiing, seeing the snow, and the holidays. Although wintertime also results in school weeks that seem to never end and higher levels of stress.

Procrastination and Stress 

Waking up on a cold morning in January is probably the hardest aspect of attending school in the winter. 

As the winter slump approaches, work begins to pile up and we often lose track of our sleep schedule when we are under high levels of stress. 

 Most teenagers lose sleep because they are studying late into the night. Even though studying is important, so is sleep. 

So, what is the problem? Procrastination. Waiting until the last minute to complete an assignment, studying late for an upcoming test, or waiting until late at night to start homework. 

As students, we get home from long school days and do not want to shift our focus into more school work. 

Most students in this generation would state that homework is unnecessary and contributes to their high levels of anxiety. 

After seven continuous periods, we should be able to complete our work within those classes. It’s one thing to have to make up or finish an assignment after school, but to be assigned additional work, that’s where it becomes exhausting. 

Students would be far more prepared for the day with proper hours of sleep and without procrastinating through assignments in return for a few hours of relaxation.

 I think it’s important that each student has a study hall built into their day. Study halls are a peaceful block to work on any assignment and have time to make up any additional work. 

It’s important for students to have a period to get their work done during school hours. Going home to continue the work load. This can factor in lacking sleep due to the very little sunlight in the afternoon. 

Being allowed to complete most, if not all, of their work in school can decrease the levels of anxiety during the winter months and may increase hours of sleep students are receiving. 

Seasonal Depression 

Seasonal depression is a form of depression that affects people during certain seasons of the year, more often the colder months. 

Psychology has proven that shorter days and minimal daylight can set off a chemical change in the brain responsible for symptoms of depression. 

Some symptoms are a persistent low mood. Other symptoms include a loss of interest in everyday activities, like going to the gym, completing schoolwork, or seeing friends.

 In addition, feeling irritable, having a low sense of  self-esteem and feeling stressed or anxious are also symptoms that may occur with seasonal depression.

 Energy begins to lack and people feel as though they are more tired throughout the day. 

Serotonin 

It may sound strange, but many people’s moods can depend on the weather. 

Exposure to sunlight can increase the brain’s release of a hormone called serotonin. Serotonin contributes to boosting moods and helping people feel calm and relaxed. 

Most people prefer the sunlight because it makes them feel more motivated to do certain activities. 

The winter months provide very little sunlight, which can cause people to  need to sleep longer and show negative changes in their behaviors. 

Nevertheless, there are methods to cope with seasonal depression. 

A lamp dedicated to implementing sunlight into any space has reached the market titled, “The Sad Lamp.” The light therapy from the lamp helps soothe seasonal depression. 

There are a variety of models of light therapy, although each focuses on similar components. 

The strong, warm, and fluorescent UV light projects the space with a bright light encouraging the brain to reduce the production of melatonin in our systems. 

Melatonin is a hormone that our brains produce when it responds to darkness, meaning that bluelight can wear away melatonin. 

When the days begin to get darker earlier, it’s hard to stay alert for the hours of the day. That is why The Sad Lamp has helped improve feeling fatigued or tired. 

The light in the lamp prevents melatonin production. 

Sunlight really does have an effect on mental health, helping lessen the effects of seasonal depression and anxiety. 

Sunlight has a beneficial effect on our mental health thanks to effects like serotonin and vitamin D. 

In conclusion, everyone goes through a similar experience of the “winter slump” during the colder months. Yet, it’s a common cycle that can be coped with the right tools. 

 Light therapy and other inventions dedicated to seasonal depression are so valuable and helpful for people to have. 

It’s important for people to feel relaxed and in a calm state. As winter drags itself along, so do high school students, but there are ways for these months to be enjoyable.