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“3…2…1.. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!” But what happens when the countdown is over? What happens once it’s 12:01 January 1st? All your new year’s resolutions should be coming into play, but by January 4th you’ve given up and find yourself sitting on the couch, eating chips, binge watching a new show. You feel like you’re there forever, the days blending into one, time nonexistent, you know you can get up, but the thought of doing anything with any amount of work is too overwhelming. Your world just seems to be in one loop. You get up, eat, sleep, and it is an endless void. That is how the time after winter break always starts. Over and over again.
“If it feels like January has been dragging on forever, there’s a reason for that, experts say… [January is] typically considered one of the most depressing days of the year, January’s tendency to move slowly, and bum us out , stems from the sore reminder that the cheery holidays of December are long gone” (Alex Mitchell, New York Post).
It turns out, many are miserable during the month of January, and the cold weather makes going outside feel like a chore. Edison Intermediate School (EIS) seventh grader Jacob Kaplan stated, Even young children who have busy schedules with school, friends, and sports still find this time difficult to handle, as the holiday spirit wears off and colder days sink in. “Yea, January, February, and March are boring because we only have a couple days off for three months. I think we should move the basketball game to after new years to give kids motivation.”
In addition to Jacob Kaplan, many other EIS students find the shivering temperature unmotivating and tedious. Sixth grader Caleb Skurdal said, “The sun setting earlier makes me feel less productive, the dark always seems to make me lazy.”
Correlating to that, EIS Vocal Music Teacher, Stephen Markowski expressed, “The sun setting earlier makes me more depressed, when I wake up it’s dark, when I get home it’s dark, I feel like I’m always in a never ending darkness, so when the sun finally shows I’m like, wow sun!”
On the other hand, the cold weather of January can be beneficial to anyone with the right mindset. “Colder air boosts your brain activity, improves focus, and helps you think more clearly. Numerous studies show that our cognitive functions improve in colder weather: we’re prone to quicker decision-making and staying calm when our body needs more energy to keep us warm”(Kvaroy Arctic). The climate provides a perfect environment for encouraging cozy nights in, reflection on self-care, family bonding, and growth. The typical “January depression” can be viewed as a reminder that the most difficult and quiet times can be the start of a clean slate alongside mental, physical, and emotional rest.
All in all, the new year often feels stressful and boring because it enforces a need for change and a fresh start. It brings excitement and adrenaline to the table. Along with the chilly wind, lack of celebration, and the pressure to fulfill your resolutions make January feel endless. However, eighth grader Miah Henry concluded, “The climate change doesn’t matter, if I’m focused and putting in my grind.”
This undoubtedly shows how temperature doesn’t have to mold the way you continue your year. A little boredom is exactly what we need to appreciate the excitement of the warm weather and sunny days when it returns.
