The time is here again; it’s fall and the sun is gone. For those of us who are not October lovers or “spooky season” enthusiasts, this only calls for a lack of vitamin D and a lack of positivity.

Since most of you wanted it so badly and wished summer away, let’s see these winter outfits you’ve been preparing. For the rest of us, myself included, the only clothes we want to put on in the fall are sweats. At least during the summer, I could easily make comfy look cute.

During this time of year, there seems to be a dramatic shift. This could be in sleeping patterns, the music we listen to, motivation, overall mood or worst of all: the switch from iced coffee to hot coffee.

This can’t be a coincidence. There is a significant divide in the people who thrive in the winter months and the people who thrive in the summer months. I feel consistently happy in the summer. I feel healthier, more beautiful, more confident and more relaxed. At the end of the day, no matter how bad things could be going, how upset can you really be, considering it’s summer?

The lack of sunshine during this time of year is something that can have a major effect on students here at the University, especially as coursework and exams seem endless. It may be difficult for some to understand, but the feeling of being constantly cold directly upsets me. It makes me not want to leave my bed. It makes me want to spend the entire day in a hot shower. There is nothing nice about looking out of your window at 5 p.m. only to see pitch black. When considering how poorly lit our dorm rooms are, this is a major bummer.

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a feeling of sadness that appears with the coming and going of seasons. This often sucks energy out of people and can greatly hinder productivity. One way to tell if you’re affected by SAD is if you generally feel “off” throughout the colder months. This includes feeling lonely, gaining weight, having difficulty concentrating or even losing interest in normal activities.

For students who are not used to the freezing Illinois weather (maybe if you’ve come here for college from somewhere warm), this could be a feeling you’ve never felt before.

But seasonal depression can be combated in some unconventional ways. First of all, something that seems obvious: Wear the warmest clothes possible. Being a bit hot in your class is so worth not being terribly cold on the walk over; plus, you could always just take off the layers as needed. Really, if you need to give up your cute fall outfit to wear a hoodie, do it.

Drinking warm drinks also helps a ton. Whether you’re a coffee or tea person, having something warm in your stomach is always a good feeling. And if you’re like me — my hands become ice cold even if it’s only slightly chilly outside — try to keep some hand warmers nearby.

For more severe cases, purchasing lamps that emulate sunlight can work wonders. More commonly known as “happy lights,” these lamps are supposed to provide the light that is so minimal during wintertime.

When battling sadness in the colder months, just know it is normal and your emotions are valid. It’s always easier said than done, but try to power through and stay productive. Before you know it, summer will be just around the corner again.

Kaitlyn is a freshman in Media.

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