Mental health check-in

Chloe Schlegel, Staff Reporter
March 8, 2023

During the winter, it’s important to keep our mental health in check. Seasonal affective disorder or SAD is a depression that is affected by the seasons. Around 10 million Americans experience SAD yearly. The lack of sunlight and the gloom of the cold season can make it hard for some people to get through the days.  

Here are some symptoms of SAD that you should look for in yourself and in people you care about: 

  • feeling sad most of the day  
  • feeling sluggish 
  • sleeping too much 
  • having difficulty getting tasks done 
  • gaining weight 
  • having a difficulty with concentration 
  • feeling hopeless 
  • having thoughts of not wanting to live 

It should be everyone’s goal to actively work on keeping up with our mental health, especially when we start feeling depressed.  Here is a list of fun activities that you can do to keep busy this winter:  

  • Go on a walk outside on a warmer day at Annie’s Playground 
  • A movie night with friends 
  • Paint pottery at Amazing Glaze 
  • Shopping at the Towson Mall 
  • Indoor mini golf 
  • Target trip! 
  • Go to concerts with friends and family  
  • Take friends to lunch on Main Street, Bel Air  

 Make sure to check up on friends and family during the cold seasons and remember that it’s okay to not be okay.  

Sydney Beard, pictured above, says that she likes to keep her mind busy by hanging out with friends and, when the weather’s decent, she likes going for drives with them and listening to music. She also stated that she likes “going to the car wash with a friend and cleaning [her] car”.  

Samaria Bryant, pictured above, simply says that she likes to hang out with friends, go out to eat, watch movies, and more. 

Lexi Runaldue, pictured above in the center, exclaims one of her favorite things to do in the winter is go to the gym with friends. She adds that it allows her to “release whatever stress [she] endured that week while still hanging out with friends in a warm environment.” Lastly, Lexi likes to get sushi with friends to eat on picnics because she finds it helps her “appreciate the little things.”   

Julianna Giglio-Tos, pictured above, says she likes to go “to the gym and work a lot during the wintertime.” On top of that, she also adds that making plans with friends over the weekend is a fun way to keep busy.