WOODBURY — With clocks set to spring forward next weekend, many students still find themselves with depleted motivation, declining grades, and a longing for summer, caught in the “winter slump.”
Summer brings about warmth, something that is much anticipated this far into the depths of winter. Sophomore Elliana Obolewicz believes that February’s plummeting temperatures have had a bigger impact than we recognized.
“Every morning when I walk into school it’s like 20 degrees outside,” said Obolewicz. “When you start every day off cold and miserable it starts to become a habit.”
I tend to agree. I mean don’t get me wrong, I love my sweaters, and my leggings, but most days even multiple layers can’t keep out the cold. Especially when Nonnnewaug is constantly freezing.
The temperatures alone keep me indoors for the majority of winter, and at some point you start to wonder if that’s the healthiest thing in the world.
According to Baylor College of Medicine, “Getting Adequate Vitamin D in the Fall and Winter” by Homa Warren, people who spend more time indoors are more likely to develop a “vitamin D deficiency.”
While vitamin D does sound like just another vitamin, it can actually affect your serotonin and dopamine (happy hormone) levels. Thereby, tying vitamin D back to seasonal depression.
Common Spirit, “Vitamin D Deficiency and Seasonal Depression” by Kayla Jimerson states that the higher your vitamin D levels are the more serotonin and dopamine are produced.
As a result of these long cold days Jillian Bushka, an NHS freshman, experiences a drop in her grades every year.
“It’s a pattern,” says Bushka. “Every year during winter I become unmotivated and see my grades start to slip.”
Many NHS students echo Bushka’s statement.
“The lack of motivation always catches up with me and I end up with late assignments,” said Obolewicz.
As the days begin to grow longer, and the temperatures rise, we can only hope that unbeknownst to our beloved groundhog, spring will come sooner rather than later.
“I feel like all of the sunlight in the summer makes me happier,” said Bushka. “The Vitamin D that I get just ups my mood.”
This piece is an opinion piece by freshman reporter Bryce Gilbert.
