How to Manage the Winter Blues
By Shannon Roberson
Disclaimer: This article is not discussing seasonal affective disorder (SAD), nor is it trying to diagnose SAD. If you feel your symptoms are more serious and prolonged than what has been defined as the winter blues, please do not hesitate to reach out HonorsCares and VCU’s Counseling Center services.
February can feel like the Thursday of the winter months.
It’s the last official month of winter before the tease of spring comes in March. This final stretch can take a lot of effort to get through, especially if you experience the winter blues.
But what exactly are the winter blues? Dr. Matthew Rudorfer, a mental health expert at the National Institute of Health, defines the winter blues as a general term, not a medical diagnosis, that is common and clears up on its own in a short amount of time.
With the stress of a new semester, the cold days, and an isolating two-year pandemic, the winter blues can be intensified. 
That’s when management and self-care strategies come into play an important role in maintaining wellbeing for Honors students.
6 Ways to Manage the Winter Blues
With the following six strategies provided by Honors students and Dr. Christy Tyndall, the Honors College student wellbeing program coordinator, the winter blues can feel more manageable, even with a busy schedule.
- Be active
It can be tempting to reduce activity during colder months by bundling in blankets. However, it’s crucial to implement a daily workout routine to help move your body. The goal of this routine is to make it sustainable, obtainable and personalized for your activity level.
- Have open conversations
If you haven’t already, start conversations about your feelings and experience during this time with friends, family and professors.
“I make sure that I give time every day to communicate with someone, whether it's calling my parents or going on a walk with one of my roommates,” said Julia Daum, junior Honors student. “If I'm not really feeling social, I'll write in a journal about how I'm doing.”
- Implement a daily routine
With a daily routine, you are able to have structure and organization throughout your day. The goal for a sustainable routine is not perfection but progress through small steps.
However, keeping motivation up can be difficult during this season. “I think starting is the hardest part,” Veda Parvathaneni, Honors Student Executive Board historian, said. “I make a pretty strict schedule so I can’t distract myself.”
- Go outside
Another strategy Dr. Tyndall recommends is going outside for fresh air and sunlight as much as you’re able to. This simple act provides your body with vitamin D and gives you a screen-free break.
- Monitor your sleep and hygiene habits
It can be easy to prioritize assignments and projects over sleep and basic hygiene habits. Dr. Tyndall stressed resisting this urge and monitoring these habits. Having proper sleep, nutrition and hygiene habits early in the semester can help your body prepare for the tougher weeks of midterms and finals to come.
- Make use of Honors resources
Finally, Honors provides various resources to help ease isolation and stress.
Through the Honors Wellbeing Program that Dr. Tyndall runs, students have the opportunity to connect with their peers through wellness and self-care activities. One program is Wind Down Wednesday every Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the Honors College Multipurpose Room 1303. A second program is CommuniTEA, Coffee and Conversation at 11 a.m. on Fridays via Zoom.
In addition to these activities, if you’re in need of additional support Dr. Tyndall suggests requesting an HonorsCares Wellbeing Check-in. This provides specific types of support for academics, mental health or COVID-19. Depending on a person’s needs one can be connected to mental health resources, a HonorsCares ambassador or provided information on Honors wellbeing.
“Just remember you’re not alone and you’re not going through this alone,” Dr. Tyndall said.
While we can’t control the weather we can control how we get through it by using these strategies and taking advantage of resources. Winter will always come but the blues won’t be forever.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay from Pexels