Written by Haley Fowler, Graduate Assistant, USI GWEP
Once again, it is that time of year: the holidays are upon us. While I love decorating for Christmas and eating turkey, this time can also be a bit stressful. As a graduate student I have to juggle jobs, finals and long papers during this time of the year. Along with my academic and professional life, I also have to make sure that I cross off everything on my holiday list, and that list can be long. For example, my mother’s birthday is December 9, my parents’ anniversary is December 16, Christmas is December 25, and my father’s birthday is January 2. My theory that this schedule is a concerted effort to drive me crazy has yet to be proven!
While I am aware my experiences are not the same as everybody else’s, many people experience stress during this time of year. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, 4 to 6% of the population suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), meaning that people experience depression and symptoms of depression during the winter when there is less sunlight. And these are just the numbers of those who report their symptoms.
Even though the hustle and bustle of the holidays can take up all of one’s attention, please make sure to think of yourself during this time of year. Try to enjoy all that the season has to offer. If it snows, build a snowman or have a snowball fight. Have some seasonal beverages. Sing off-tune to songs on the radio. Buy yourself a present. Do anything that helps you destress after a long day of work. Remember your health, both mental and physical, is just as important as anything else. Make sure this season is the most wonderful time of the year for you, too.
Wishing all of our readers a wonderful holiday season. If you have any ideas, recommendations, questions, concerns or just want to talk, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email at hlfowler@eagles.usi.edu. I’d love to hear from you.
