It’s that time of the year when winter break ends and extreme stress from the second quarter begins. College students begin to experience academic ruts, pressure to perform in extracurricular activities and the compulsion to maintain a positive attitude through it all.
But it can be argued that Oregon students have it worse than many other colleges, as students also deal with the daily rain that comes with Eugene winters. This kind of stormy, dark weather often enables lethargy and negligence to commitments. It’s too easy to stay inside during this weather, avoiding academic and social responsibilities. Here’s how to fight what is known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, with information provided by the University of Oregon’s Counseling & Testing Center.
According to the C&T Center, it’s not the small incidents or bad test scores that wear students down, but the “cumulative impact of small stressors or major events.” There are two types of stressors to be aware of: Type I and Type II.
Type I has a readily identifiable solution and generally has an easy fix, but still causes stress, like a blown-out candle. Type II stressors are harder to define, easy to build up over time and can’t be resolved very quickly. This includes ongoing interpersonal conflicts in relationships.
The weather can make this all much worse. Students avoid facing their problems if they don’t have to leave the house to do it. Furthermore, the gloomy gray skies provide a much darker perspective than sunny blue skies ever could.
The C&T Center has a list of strategies for dealing with this kind of stress and depression students may experience during winter quarter; however, it is important to note that these are strategies — not solutions. The more effort put in will lead to more benefits received.
First, exercise is a primary way to engage with issues and physically erase stress. The production of endorphins acts as a natural stress and pain fighter. Endorphins also enable a better night’s rest because sleep “gives your mind and body a chance to recover” from the day’s stressors, according to the C&T Center.
Exercise is still possible despite the rain. The Student Recreation Center provides opportunities to exercise indoors and also has intramural teams that can provide a team to work with as an alternative to solo exercise. Socializing is also important if anxiety becomes too much.
Another helpful way to reduce stress during this quarter is to “set priorities and learn to say ‘no’” in order to reduce the sense of being overwhelmed with responsibilities, according to the C&T Center. Mentally, changing attitude and perspective accomplishes a lot more than fighting against the rocky waves of anxiety.
Assertiveness training is recommended by the C&T Center because when students can’t assert themselves, “needs go unmet and stress rises.” Additionally, set rewards for even the smallest of accomplishments in order to feel proficient and busy.
Finally, find ways to have fun in the rain. Get out your rain boots, your favorite raincoat and embrace what Eugene has to offer. Make the stormy skies yours.