Tips for avoiding seasonal depression
Do you feel the air getting colder, the semester getting busier? As the days get shorter, can you feel yourself slipping into the dark void itself as it envelops all that makes you, you?
Well, get ready, because this Sunday marks the end of daylight savings time, which means it will be getting darker sooner and staying dark longer. Here are ten tips to avoiding this year’s bout of Seasonal Affective Disorder.
My first tip involves time management—how you spend your time is what defines you. So instead of spending it crying in bed, maximize your output by crying on the go! Cry in the shower, on the way to class, in the bathroom between lectures. Whatever you do, keep moving forward, tears or not.
Similarly, a dysfunctional routine is better than no routine. If you’re staying up to 3 a.m. in search of a day’s last morsels of dopamine but you’re still making it to class sometimes, why change? Keeping your “routine” is very important.
Feeling alone? Like you’ve become a burden to all those around you. Do you feel that by voicing your thoughts, not only are you pushing those you love away but, you’re actively bringing down their own quality of life too? Is it only in your power to isolate yourself so as to not cause the continuation of pain in the world? Joining a club may help you to find your place in the world—at least for a little while.
Science has proven that taking supplements can reduce pain, increase alertness, and lower the chances of having that recurring nightmare with your Dad and the birch tree. So why not try some good ol’ vitamin D? The best part is that the pills don’t even have to work—just pretend everything is fine and absolutely getting better and your brain will do the rest!
You should also go outside—cliché, I know, but fresh air can really work wonders. Whether it’s Main Street, South Street, or Lakeville Road there are plenty of adventures to be had. From Taco Bell to Goodwill and from Temple Hill Cemetery to The Wedding Dress and Tuxedo Shop. Remember, you’re not stuck in your dorm room—you’re stuck in Geneseo!
If the cold is too much, give your green thumb a chance. Hoarding house plants can increase mood, reduce stress levels, and act as a reminder to take the time for yourself or you’ll too end up yellow and withered.
Spice things up and find some excitement. Change that alarm sound, skip class, alienate yourself from your “normal.” You might just feel something!
Stay connected with your people. Isolation is the number one cause of depression. Try your best to stay up to date on all things social. A benefit of this generation is the ability to do so from the palm of our hands—after a long day’s work, you might try to stay up just a little longer to catch up on all of your social media news.
Pretend it’s summer—what is snow if not cold sand? It might be time to dig your toes in. If you’re going to stay in bed all day anyway, why not do so in that colorful bathing suit that still totally fits. Get your tan on at your local Uptown Tan. Tell them The Lamron sent you! Remember the happier warming days and try to sink into it until it feels real!
Are these tips not magically making the pain go away? Try getting advice from a professional and not just a writer with a platform. The Lauderdale Health Center has some resources, but you can go anywhere. We also have the Pathways program, an anonymous peer provided service for when you need immediate help.