Summer: It’s usually a time for fun in the sun, to catch up with old friends, and to decompress from school. For some, however, the summer months seem to drag on and are characterized by bouts of dark, depressed days.
Summertime sadness isn't just a Lana Del Ray song, it's a real issue called summer depression. The condition is especially prevalent for college students making the transition back home. It is often caused by environmental factors, such as changes in schedule, sleep patterns, and isolation from college friends. Physical factors like seasonal affective disorder can also cause this depression.
Much like other forms of depression, summer depression comes with intense feelings of sadness, mood swings, loss of interest in daily activities, and even physical ailments.
I, myself, have been dealing with summer depression. At first I didn’t understand why I felt down all the time, especially during the months that used to be the best part of my year. The transition from the bustling school year, friends, and independence to the slow-paced life at home has been difficult, but I’ve found that these tips have made summer seem a little brighter:
1. Get off social media.
…Or spend as little time on it as possible. When you spend all your time scrolling through photos from your friend’s summer abroad trip or your sisters having a blast with their best friends, you’ll just end up feeling jealous and insignificant. It might look like your friends are having the greatest summer of their lives, and they very well could be, but we tend to present the best version of ourselves on social media. This false sense of reality distorts our perception of our own lives and makes us feel like our experiences are inferior.
2. Go outside.
After finals, we get into the Netflix and napping lifestyle. While pants-lessly lying on the couch is great (I can attest to this), save the occasion for a rainy day. Instead, get outside, even for a few minutes. Spending time outside will get you out of your funk, and help you soak up vitamin D. According to the Vitamin D Council, “Research does seem to show a link between low levels of vitamin D in the blood and symptoms of depression.” The best source of vitamin D is the sun, so step outside and zap those blues.
3. Stay busy.
It’s never too late to get a job and earn some extra spending money for the school year. After working nearly forty hours a week, I’m too exhausted to focus on the issues that were gnawing at me earlier this summer. You can also pick up a new hobby or volunteer to fill your spare time. Without the chance to ruminate on everything, you’ll be able to focus on the better parts of your summer.
4. Exercise.
We’ve all been through the freshman fifteen weight gain, so summer is great time to shed a few pounds and feel better about yourself. On top of looking better, you will feel better. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins that reduce the feeling of pain and put you in a positive mood, which is “similar to that of morphine,” according to WebMD.
5. Smile.
The advice to smile is often considered a way to shake off depression as nothing; however, scientists have confirmed that the act of smiling actually makes us feel better. A study published in the Psychological Science journal by the University of Kansas proves that smiling reduces stress and improves our moods. Even when the smile was forced using chopsticks, the participants faired better than those who did not smile. So when you’re feeling down, flash those pearly whites.
Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean it has to be the time of your life, but when things get bad, there are solutions. Ultimately, these tips can help mitigate the symptoms of summer depression; however, summer depression can easily develop into more serious issues. If you still can’t shake the blues, see a doctor for a personalized solution.
