Seasonal Depression: how does the bad weather affect student life? 

Although more extreme cases such as Seasonal Affective Disorder affect around 2 million people in the UK, it's clear that “winter blues” are set sail in Newcastle as the frosty air and early nights hit us like a damp, rainy and miserable truck.

Ice-skating down Northumberland Street was how my week began, an immediate reminder that winter is here and, with it, early dark nights, frosty air and that overall gloomy feeling. But why do we feel this way? Is it because it's now pitch black at 4:00pm, or that leaving bed in the morning requires summoning every ounce of strength as you're attacked by the cold air above your mattress? Perhaps it's because exam season is here coincidentally at the same time, we feel least productive, leading to a vicious cycle of procrastination and panic about said procrastination. Either way, it's clear that winter brings on a certain melancholic lull. 

While it may seem as though winter blues has hit us at full force, there lies a reasonable explanation as to why we’ve collectively turned so blue: little sunlight exposure lessens the serotonin we receive, leading to less productivity, low energy and consequently a lingering feeling of fatigue. However, as tempting as it is to set up permanent residence under your duvet till March, it's essential to stay positive and keep yourself proactive: perhaps making sure your schedule is constantly occupied- whether that be socialising with friends, exercising, or taking up a new hobby.  

As silly as it may sound, for less extreme cases, thinking positively truly can help shift your mindset. In fact, a study shows that “weather reactivity” explains how our attitudes towards the weather can affect our mood rather, than the weather itself. Sometimes, it is more psychological than weather related, think of it as a sort of self-inflicted mental spiral situation. That's not to say that when you're fingers have lost movement and you're getting pounded with rain, you just need to look up and smile. Firstly, smiling into the wind in the centre of the street might just raise a few eyelids. Secondly, I highly doubt that would make anyone feel better, but rather damper, colder, miserable, and soggy. That being said, trying to fight off this feeling of dread and impending doom might just be the best shot to end this frosty fiasco.