Chase away those winter doldrums
By Jennifer Bak, Staff Writer
January 30, 2008 | 2:43 p.m.
If you're stuck inside with nothing but "Grey's Anatomy" re-runs and daydreams about temperatures actually reaching above freezing, then you may have caught a case of the “winter blahs.” Don't worry. There are simple ways to brighten those gray Athens days.
Ohio University students -- especially first and second-year students who don’t have the luxury of having a car on campus -- are often obligated to endure a typical hibernation of sorts during the winter. Forced to spend every free minute in their rooms, OU’s best and brightest realize exactly what it means to have “cabin fever” and live “too close for comfort” with friends.
The temperatures in southeastern Ohio may be slowly dipping into the single digits, but inside, it can be heating up. Despite the limited amount of daylight and the frozen turf, the dreary winter quarter can offer some entertainment.
Most residence halls offer a variety of games, usually available in the residence hall’s main office. There, students can select from a variety of classic board and skills games. Students can spend those frigid Athens nights challenging their friends to an enthralling game of Scrabble or testing their “street smarts” and financial abilities with Monopoly. Board games, contrary to popular belief, are actually a great way to spend the night when students find themselves trapped inside and, well, bored.
In addition to classic board games, cards are a great way to test your skills against friends. Try having a poker night with friends and neighbors. Have everyone bring something legal to drink or eat, pop in a mix of upbeat music and enjoy an evening with people who just might melt away the winter blues.
For those who would rather not hunch over a table pretending to know what a royal flush is, there are other options. Theme-oriented movie nights can bring friends and roommates together for an evening of memorable one-liners and classic flicks. Think students have it bad at OU? Try watching John Belushi throw seven years of college down the drain in the comedy “Animal House.” Eighty’s classics, black and white sci-fi films, testosterone-filled action movies or any favorite genre is perfect for a themed movie night.
For some students Monopoly and a movie are just not an option because the winter season brings about more than just a lack of activities and extreme boredom. According to the Mayo Clinic, many people find themselves suffering from the adverse side effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This disorder is triggered by a disruption of the body’s circadian rhythm, an increase in melatonin (a sleep-related hormone that’s been linked to depression) and a decrease in serotonin (a brain chemical thought to affect mood). SAD is most closely associated with the winter season and can cause depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, appetite changes and weight gain.
To counter these effects and keep the symptoms under control, experts highly recommend getting plenty of sunlight, exercising regularly and socializing. Open up blinds and head out to Ping Center for a late-afternoon exercise session. Instead of impatiently awaiting spring break, do something productive to increase energy and a good mood.
Let’s face it, winter in Athens is bleak. So instead of wasting time hoping for something better to come along, take the opportunity to warm up and engage in some fun activities with friends and neighbors.
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