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By Kamryn Peace
January. The temperature drops, the holidays are over and school is about to begin again. For some, the start of a new year is a time for renewal, for making resolutions and for starting a new chapter in their lives. For others, the new year can bring about feelings of dread, melancholy and even sadness. This unsettled, sad feeling is often referred to as the “January Blues.”
“Cold,” is the first thing that comes to the mind of Sahana Hill ‘27 when she thinks of January.
As Sahana noted, the weather is a common factor that can bring about the Blues, and ninth-grade counselor and Woodward alumni Ms. Leigh Shelor ‘98 agrees.
“I think that sometimes the weather does have an impact because it’s cold and people don’t hang outside,” Ms. Shelor said. “So I feel like the energy is different when you’re cooped up inside, and you know people tend to isolate [themselves]. And also, that kind of weather can make people grumpy. You know, you always hear a lot of complaining about the cold, and then it reminds you of something else that’s not going right or something else you don’t like, as opposed to the spring when it’s so nice outside and you have more spaces to hang out and the mood is just uplifted. But also, this is a time where kids are working on major papers and it’s [a lot of] pressure to start a new semester.”
It can be difficult to return to school after having extended downtime, Jane McBath ‘26 shared.
“I’m really tired,” Jane said.
Adjusting back to a more structured schedule can be exhausting and sometimes overwhelming. But as Jane noted, even amid these difficult adjustments, there are things to look forward to.
“Soccer starts back up for school, so I look forward to that,” Jane said. “In the Spring, I look forward to when it gets warmer, oh, and this year I’m excited for Maymester [because] I’m going to Eswatini.”
Although the causes for the Blues can vary, oftentimes the strategies utilized to brighten a person’s mood and outlook can be surprisingly simple. Twelfth-grade counselor Dr. Chato Hendrix shares how she helps students address January’s “doom and gloom.”
“See it as a fresh start, a new year and a new you,” Dr. Hendrix said. “So whether you’re into setting big goals for yourself or not into it, the ultimate goal is to find joy in the new year. So back to some tips that I share with seniors, as a way to stay afloat, is to just stay engaged and connected. Sometimes, you know, people tend to withdraw, and withdrawing often kind of creates a sense of loneliness, but staying engaged, and staying connected [helps]. Some people are really into big friend groups, and some prefer like one friend, or just enjoying their friend on social media or possibly having lunch with them. But whatever or however you choose to do it, just make sure you stay connected, and then set some goals for yourself. And they don’t have to be the, I’m gonna make straight A’s or I’m gonna, you know, do something drastic, it can just be the small things that bring you joy.”