When the clock strikes midnight and a new year rolls around, everyone typically looks upon it with such optimism. A new beginning! Finally I will accomplish all of my dreams! When in reality, for me and many people I know, the beginning of the year is not typically anything to be cheery about. Think about it – the holidays are over, your list of goals can be overwhelming, and, most importantly, the weather is miserable.

As I sit down to write my biweekly column, I have just returned from a jog, where boys were hanging off fraternity balconies shirtless, and I opened every window in my apartment once I returned. This makes writing about seasonal affective disorder odd, but when column the goes to print, the cold and rainy weather that is typical for Northwest Arkansas in the winter is set to return, making the topic all the more relevant.

Once the holidays are over, I know it is just a matter of time before an internal timer will go off and my mood and outlook will darken. Not depressed in any way, but being social will fill me with dread and getting myself to be motivated for my classes can be incredibly difficult. I know I am in good company, for I have discussed it with friends, family and coworkers, many of who agree with me. Lets face it: the winter months are hard, simple as that.

According to a New York Times article published in 2007, millions of Americans experience the “winter blues” and almost 10 percent of the adult population in New Hampshire (a state with one of the most bitterly cold winters in the U.S.) experiences Seasonal Affective Disorder. Which, I may add, is often appropriately abbreviated to S.A.D.

So what does that mean for college students who are just tired of feeling lethargic and walking around like a bundled up zombie? Though it may seem like an incredibly tall order, going to the HPER, even if it’s not for very long, can be an instant mood lifter. If you simply cannot bring yourself to work out, at least take advantage of the saunas in the dressing rooms. Even if you would rather stay inside and drink hot cocoa, forcing yourself to go out and be with friends during the weekend can also do wonders for your mental health. I know going out can mean putting on lots of layers and being in the cold, but just socializing with people you care about will make you forget it is the most gloomy time of the year.

If all else fails, just remember that this too shall pass. It won’t be cold forever, soon it will be t-shirt weather every single day of the year. The month of March typically brings the promise of less layers and improved moods all around. So as you walk to class in the morning, cold, shivering and seemingly hating everything, just remember that your mood will improve soon enough. Just keep calm and carry on.

Mattie Quinn is the 2011-2012 managing editor of the Traveler, and a Journalism major.

Her column appears every other Wednesday.