Beating the Seasonal Slump

Graphics by Anika Dua

Snowflakes gently fall from the sky like confetti, blanketing the ground in white. Trees stand tall, their branches wearing glittering coats of white fluff. The familiar landscape looks like a winter wonderland as if out of a fairytale. The air carries with it the scent of winter, crisp and cold. Footsteps make a satisfying crunch as they press into the snow, leaving behind a trail of imprints.  

This is how I imagined my first snow. As someone coming from a warmer climate, my definition of winter was a nice 50F. After arriving at Syracuse, I was so excited to see my first snow, build my first snowman and live out all that I had seen in the movies.  

I remember the first time I saw snow. I was walking down from the dome steps towards my dorm when I saw a flurry of white almost rush towards me as if waiting for my arrival. I spun around on the spot, my arms out wide, laughing and giggling as the snow danced around me. (I got a few odd looks, but at that moment, I was in heaven). I stayed there for a while, cheeks hurting from my blinding grin as I stared at those playful white dots in awe. I messaged all my friends back home and took a million pictures! Everything seemed so serene.

Well, that feeling changed after a while.

I never really believed that the weather could affect me as a person. But then suddenly, everything started going wrong. I found myself barely waking up in time for classes, feeling lethargic and tired, almost like a braindead zombie who craved only to lay in bed and sleep. It felt easier to slay dragons than to open my laptop to work. I didn't want to hang out with friends or meet people. I was becoming a reclusive monk, intent on staying in my dorm, just staring at the wall.  

I realized I was experiencing the dreaded seasonal slump that everyone seemed to talk about. It was a complete shock to me. Initially, I didn't know how to handle it. I held myself up in my room, only coming out to get a meal box and going to class. Over a week, my room transformed into one ransacked by raccoons, with paper boxes littered across the room, bed sheets thrown back, and clothes in a pile higher than Mount Everest lying on the chair. I know, it was gross... 

So, I decided to do something about it. I set up meetings with my friends between or after my classes so I would be motivated to hang out and talk to them. Spending time with friends instantly made me feel better. I also started tracking my sleep schedule and set up small goals for me to accomplish each week. They were things like 'call best friends' or 'finish notes for this class.' I also signed up for adventure trips through the Wellness portal to encourage myself to find something to love about the winter. I even rearranged my room to make it cozier and began the favorite winter ritual of many - a soft blanket, hot chocolate and the perfect book. 

I would be lying if I said that all of this made me fall in love with winter. However, it did help me find a tiny bit of magic and romance in winter, which I will try to hold on to for as long as I can.