Dear Devil’s Advocate,

Every night, by the time I get on my late bus, it’s already pitch black outside, and every morning when I leave for school, it’s freezing cold. When the days are so short and cold, what do you recommend doing to avoid winter depression and enjoy this season? 

Sincerely,

Shivering Sophomore

Dear Shivering Sophomore,

Let’s face it: winter in New York City can be rough. Between the brown snow, the early nights, and the wind whipping at your back, it feels like there’s nothing to enjoy about the days between December and February. And seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is very real too; according to Boston University, around 10 million American adults experience it every year. So, to fight the winter blues, we have some suggestions for both indoor and outdoor activities that will help you make the most of the season.

First, let’s tackle the indoors. Crank up the heat, put on your favorite playlist, and brew some hot chocolate to cherish your time inside with friends and family. One sure way to make this happen is with a game. Whether it’s a favorite like Clue or Uno, a challenging jigsaw puzzle, or a fierce battle of Egyptian Rat Slap, nothing brings people together like the collaboration (or competition) of a game. 

To truly warm up, try cooking or baking something. Not only is the project of making food fun in itself, it also gives you something to share with others. There’s a reason so many winter holidays include meals: a great conversation over great food chases the cold away. 

If cooking sounds like too much work for a chilly day, settle down on the couch with a blanket or some pillows and turn on a movie, whether it’s a heartwarming holiday classic or a thrilling action movie—The Holiday or Saving Private Ryan are both great. A great book is also just as exciting, and winter is actually the best season to finally get around to that novel that’s been sitting by your bed for months waiting to be read.

To truly enjoy winter, though, you can’t limit yourself to the indoors. Mayo Clinic stresses the importance of getting outside and exercising to combat SAD. While it may seem like there’s nothing to do, and while there are certainly fewer options for running around outside than in the summer, there’s plenty you can do in the winter as well. If you live by a park with a rink, take advantage of the opportunity to go ice skating, or simply toss around a ball on the street with your friends or with your family after a holiday dinner. Nothing beats a football game in frosty weather. And, if global warming permits us, there are all the quintessential snowy day activities to enjoy, from sledding down icy hills to snowball fights on the Poly campus.

We know that these suggestions can’t solve SAD, or make the cold completely go away. But we hope that these activities, and the spirit that comes with them, can take your winter from hell to heaven.

Sincerely,

The Devil’s Advocate

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