As high school students enter the dark and grey months of the school year, many feel a drastic decline in their mood. After finishing the first semester, a time filled with romanticized school events and exciting holidays, a widespread let down is felt throughout the school. With the combination of a lack of motivation and dreary weather, it is easy for students to start to feel depressed. This begs the question- are kids really stuck feeling sad and tired for the entirety of the third quarter? Or are there steps that can be taken to improve their mood?
One thing that can make or break a student’s mental health is their exercise habits. In an article titled The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise, the authors wrote, “Regular exercise can have a profoundly positive impact on depression, anxiety and ADHD. It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better and boosts your overall mood.” If students can access regular exercise, they have a much higher chance of maintaining low stress levels when faced with difficult school work. Second semester would be made infinitely more enjoyable for kids if they were intentional about getting their body moving, especially if they don’t have a winter sport built into their schedule. A gym membership at the YMCA for a person under 18 generally costs $33/monthly- a great resource available year round. Regular walks can also be an easyway to get moving when the temperature rises high enough.
Additionally, a balanced and full diet is a great way to keep a consistently good mood. An article titled Healthy eating can improve mental health explains how the food that humans eat has a clear correlation to their mental health and behavior. The authors noted that, “Food choices can affect your mood and even your future food choices. Eating enough of the right foods throughout the day supports energy, focus, thinking and sleep.” Eating a combination of foods high in protein, healthy fats and vitamins can be directly linked to a boost in mood. Notably, it is important to be careful of under/over eating. Many students automatically assume that less food is better. However, this can drastically drop energy levels and contribute to seasonal depression. It is vital for people to listen to their hunger levels and intentionally consume a variety of healthy foods because it will ultimately benefit their mental health.
Another method for maintaining a positive attitude throughout the grim winter is being intentional about staying social. While it can be extremely difficult to find the motivation to do anything that exerts emotional energy because it seems like all of it goes toward school, keeping up with friends has significant mental health benefits. Getting the chance to debrief a difficult situation or share a laugh with a peer can completely change someone’s mood for an extended period of time. Being conscious about finding a moment for positive social interaction is deeply important to the success of the second semester.
Something that students often overlook when planning their classes for the following school year is if the distress and rigor that the course would put on them is worth it. Teachers will ask their students, “Do you think you can handle this course?” Often, the answer is yes, but at what cost? When picking out classes, students should be conscious about the classes that they choose and if the stress that comes along with it will be worth it in the long run. Taking easier courses for the subjects that students do not care for or building a fun elective into their schedule can immensely decrease the stress that they feel during the gray months of winter. Lightening their homework load in advance can lead students to have a clearer head space and a better mood overall.
Seasonal depression is a very real thing that impacts a high percentage of high school students. There are ample actions that can be taken to mitigate how the gloomy months of January and February impact peoples’ mood. If students can prioritize their health and social well being over their excess school work, the overall mental state of the student population will remain high, even through the hardest part of the school year.
