As temperatures drop and the sun sets earlier, students can find comfort and connection in unexpected ways
As winter sets in at McMaster University, the campus transforms and so do its students and their habits. Outdoor spaces like the arts quad and Mills Plaza, typically lively during the fall, become much quieter. Meanwhile, indoor spaces such as libraries, coffee shops and lounges are buzzing with activity as students seek refuge from the cold.
Winter brings a noticeable shift to campus life. The shorter days, colder temperatures and reduced sunlight can lead to what some may know as the "winter slump"—a sense of fatigue, low energy and decreased motivation that often comes with the changing seasons.
Campus routines and spaces evolve in response to the season's challenges and student habits are noticeably shifting. People walk more quickly to class, bundled in heavy coats, or just choose to stay indoors altogether whenever possible.
“Winter sort of changes how we move around campus,” explained Emily Chen, a second-year student at McMaster. “It’s not even just about staying warm. It’s also about finding where you feel comfortable and connected.” Shared indoor spaces where students gather to study or relax, such as The Hub or The Grind, offer more than warmth—they become key for maintaining a sense of community.
It’s not even just about staying warm. It’s also about finding where you feel comfortable and connected.
Emily Chen, Second-year student
McMaster University
Finding comfort in small rituals becomes a way to navigate the season. Whether it’s swapping headphones for earmuffs or finding a new spot to study, students adapt their routines to embrace the season. “I’ve officially made the switch from iced to hot coffee on my way to class. It’s a small thing, but it’s noticeable,” said Chen.
Socializing also takes on a more intimate tone this time of year. Group study sessions, smaller gatherings, and winter-themed events hosted by campus organizations offer more opportunities for connection. “Winter feels slower,” noted Grace Parker, a student in her third year at McMaster. “You’re not rushing from one event to the next. You can actually sit and talk and enjoy the moment.”
Winter feels slower. You’re not rushing from one event to the next. You can actually sit and talk and enjoy the moment.
Grace Parker, Third-year Student
McMaster University
However, the winter slump is not just about routines—it’s also a mental challenge. The colder months can bring feelings of isolation and low energy, which may impact students’ overall well-being. Seasonal affective disorder is one factor that adds fuel to the winter slump, leaving some students feeling drained and unmotivated.
To support students during this time, McMaster offers resources such as mental health services and wellness programs. Students are also finding personal strategies to manage the season’s challenges. “Even though it’s freezing, I try to take short walks outside. I think it actually makes a huge difference—I feel more awake and focused,” shared Parker.
Yet, winter also presents opportunities for reflection and connection. While the season may feel slower, it encourages a shift in priorities. Students can come to appreciate the quieter pace and find meaning in their routines and interactions. “Winter gives you the chance to slow down,” said Parker. “It’s a different kind of busy, where you can actually focus on yourself.”
Winter gives you the chance to slow down. It’s a different kind of busy, where you can actually focus on yourself.
Grace Parker, Third-year student
McMaster University
The winter can be a difficult time for many students, but they continue to find ways to adapt and persevere. While the cold and shorter days bring challenges, they also create space for smaller meaningful moments that define campus life during the season.
The winter slump is more than just an individual struggle. It is a shared experience among students. In a strange way, there is a sense of collective understanding and community in the struggle that makes the season feel just a little less isolating.
McMaster faculty and clubs are hosting winter-themed activities to kick off the new semester
From Jan. 13 to 16, the McMaster Students Union is running its winter "Frost Week," offering several activities for students aimed at reenergizing the winter semester. While McMaster does not host an official "Frost Week" event, student union clubs and university facilities have stepped up to offer a variety of engaging activities.
To kick off the activities, on January 9th, McMaster Campus Events in collaboration with the McMaster Student Union (MSU) hosted a karaoke night at the Twelve Eighty Bar & Grill. The event included half-off appetizers along with various performances from the student body
The McMaster Engineering Society (MES) is hosting their faculties official Frost Week from Monday, Jan. 13th-Jan. 19th. On Monday the faculty hosted a Raptors vs Warriors watch-along party accompanied by free pizza and snacks. On Tuesday, the faculty had a games night while replicating some of the games found in the ever popular show Squid Game.
On Wednesday Jan. 15th, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. a cocktail competition will be held at The Junction. Hosted at Westdale theatre on Thursday, Jan.16th, starting at 8:00 p.m, MES students are welcome to attend a free screening of Castle in The Sky.
Finally to conclude the weeks festivities, on Friday, Jan. 17th, from 5:30pm to 1:30am, the faculty of engineering is hosting their annual Fireball Formal. The event promises a night of free food, semi-formal attire, and dancing as the night presents its McMaster Engineering Student (MES) Awards.
The MSU Maroons, in collaboration with MSU Spark, are hosting a Skating Soiree taking place at Pier 8 on Thursday, Jan. 16, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Skates are available for rent and hot drinks will be served to keep attendees warm while they enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Later in the week, MSU Campus Events will host an event titled Battle of the Dj’s on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 9:00 p.m. The event, hosted at Twelve Eighty Bar & Grill, will feature three local Hamilton DJs given time slots to perform for the student body.
Cam Schoffro, campus events programming coordinator for the MSU, shared that the DJ event is seen as a great way to promote student engagement after the holidays in a creative way. “The event is a celebration of welcoming everyone back to school … we're aiming to get creative by bringing a club-like atmosphere to a safe and inclusive environment”, said Schoffro.
The event is a celebration of welcoming everyone back to school … we're aiming to get creative by bringing a club-like atmosphere to a safe and inclusive environment.
Cam Schoffro, Campus Events Programming Coordinator
McMaster Students Union
Following McMaster’s annual Welcome Week in September, Campus Events is working hard to recreate some of the excitement for the beginning of the second term. “In the second term we lose the momentum that Welcome Week brought . . . the importance of Frost Week is to capitalize on the excitement of coming back to school”, said Schoffro.
In the second term we lose the momentum that Welcome Week brought … therefore the importance of Frost Week is to capitalize on the excitement of coming back to school in a time where classes are not as busy and students have more free time
Cam Schoffro, Campus Events Programming Coordinator
McMaster Students Union
With its array of activities for the week, Frost Week encourages the student body to come together in celebration of the new semester ahead.
Check out these events to take explore Hamilton before midterm season hits
Before the semester starts getting busy, take a break and stop by these events to explore and learn more about Hamilton!
The Mini Zine Making Workshop is a free event that will be taking place on Jan. 23, 2024 from 12-1 p.m. at the McMaster Museum of Art. The event is part of Thrive Week, a week when the McMaster community comes together as a community to talk about mental health. Mini zines are self-published mini magazines that tend to display images and/or texts that are collectible. The workshop will cover how to make these zines and have participants make it unique to their own art style and practices. The event will also include a tour of the exhibit Chasm at the museum. There is limited space and registration is required.
The Hamilton Winterfest will be held from Feb. 2-19 at the rooftop plaza of Jackson Square. It will host a variety of events such as concerts, crafts, drag, dancing, theatre, fashion and art installations. Performers such as Aoife-Louise Doyle, Wax Mannequin and LT the Monk will hold a live concert there. They will also be hosting their annual Winterfest POP in the heart of downtown, featuring interactive exhibitions that relive the nostalgia of our youth, scratch n’ sniff stickers and video games.
The Hamilton Fashion Week, one of the biggest fashion parties in Canada, will be holding its 10th anniversary at the Music Hall on Feb. 17, 2024. This year, it will present its first Hamilton Runway project: Ethos of Summer, a representation of what summer means to each competitor. It will feature 10 designers, each presenting 10 looks. Some of the local designers that will be featured include Aimee Woods, Kaylee Shallows, Leslie Smith and more. Tickets will need to be purchased in advance.
Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame Festival
The Canadian Comedy Hall of Fame Festival will be held from Feb. 21-24 at the FirstOntario Centre. It will be hosted by Patrick McKenna and Graham Greene and feature local Hamilton comedy talent. One of the special guests is Hamilton punk rock group Teenage Head, who will be performing their 50th anniversary show. Tickets will need to be purchased in advance.
Have fun checking these out!
After a productive season before the winter break, the Marauder's men's volleyball team looks forward to the second half of their season
The McMaster University men’s volleyball team began their season back in September, with a series of preseason exhibition games. The team faced opponents such as Queen’s University, Trinity Western University, and Ohio State University. They picked up a wide array of scores and results, with the team mostly losing their first games of 2023.
As they moved in their Ontario University Athletics season, the team quickly turned these defeats around. Under the guidance of new head coach Brad Douwes, the team has picked up a record of seven wins and two losses.
Under the guidance of new head coach Brad Douwes, the team has picked up a record of seven wins and two losses.
They recorded sweeping wins [again citations needs from these games] against the University of Waterloo, Toronto Metropolitan University and Guelph University to end off 2023. Newer team players have stepped up this season too, including first-year outside hitter Brady Paterson who has recorded 32 kills so far.
As McMaster's winter break commenced, the Marauder’s volleyball team continued to play. They kept in form as they played against the University of Sherbrooke and the University of Montreal on Dec. 29 and Dec. 30 respectively.
Likely fearing a loss of form over the break, the team traveled to these schools looking to keep standards high as they returned to the OUA season. The team won against the University of Sherbrooke and lost against the University of Montreal.
The exhibition games proved successful for the maroon and grey, as they picked up wins in their first two games back from break. McMaster faced Nipissing University, winning their first game with by a score of 3-2 sets and subsequently sweeping the Nipissing Lakers in their second matchup.
The Marauders men's team still has half of their season to play, with ten more games until they reach the OUA playoffs in hopes of claiming their twelfth OUA title.
The Marauders men's team still has half of their season to play, with ten more games until they reach the OUA playoffs.
McMaster will look to book their ticket to this year’s national championships, as they have before in the past year. The team will hope to reach new heights under Douwes' leadership after falling in the previous U Sports championships at the semifinals stage.
New sports begin for McMaster students looking to participate in winter intramurals
As McMaster students head into a new semester, the McMaster Athletics and Recreations department will begin the winter portion of their intramural competitions. Fourteen sports will be included in the winter intramural schedule, all of which are different from those offered during the fall semester. Such sports include indoor cricket, inner-tube water polo, and volleyball.
There are fourteen sports included in the winter intramural schedule, all of which are different from the sports offered during the fall semester.
The intramural sports winter league will also include 5 tournament style games, which include table tennis, wheelchair European basketball and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
Different intramural style levels will also be available in the winter term. The different types of leagues include Playfun, which offers the chance for beginners to experience the games without an emphasis on the competitive aspect of the sport, as well as PlayComp, which are geared towards students who look to engage in a more fast pace style of play.
The different types of leagues include Playfun, which offers the chance for beginners to experience the games without an emphasis on the competitive aspect of the sport, as well as PlayComp, which are geared towards students who look to engage in a more fast pace style of play.
Registration for winter intramurals have already passed, ending on Nov. 26. Those who are interested can follow updates and announcements on the McMaster Intramural Sports Instagram.
Winterfest is a widespread event hosted by the city to chase away the winter blues
From Feb. 2 to 20, Hamilton is holding its annual Winterfest. This event is being hosted in partnership with Cobalt Connects, a company focused on promoting arts and culture in Hamilton in an effort to bring over 60 fun activities, including exhibitions to sports games, to the city.
Hamilton Winterfest originally started in the 1970s as a small community event organized by volunteers. Over the years, it has grown into a larger production and this year, the Winterfest Hub, where the some of the events will be run, will be located on the rooftop of Jackson Square. The Hub will be decorated with light installations, art and performances.
Jeremy Freiburger, who has been a producer of Winterfest for the past five years, is also a McMaster University alumnus. After his undergraduate studies, he attended the American Music and Dramatic Arts Academy in New York before returning to McMaster again and working at the Conservatory and the Hamilton Arts Council.
He has made a significant impact on the city’s arts and cultural scene as well through his work founding Cobalt Connect. Through Cobalt Connect, he and his team later created the Cotton Factory, a creative studio space for local artists and events. Cobalt Connect has also been a co-producer of Winterfest in recent years.
As producer, Freiburger’s role consists of supporting community organizations with whatever they need, including marketing, finance management and grant writing. Freiburger explained Winterfest stands out from other big festivals the city hosts because of how widespread it is.
“[Winterfest] is a festival that is across the city, so unlike things like Supercrawl or Festival of Friends that are in one site, we've got about 70 events that are in Dundas, Stoney Creek, up on the mountain down by the water . . . They're literally across the city,” said Freiburger.
So even if you don’t want to make the trek downtown, it is highly likely that there could be multiple events happening nearby or even right in your neighbourhood.
The art being exhibited this year at the Hub includes everything from curated pieces such as sculptures, to art installations in partnership with the Royal Botannical Gardens. Freiburger is excited about the art they’ve commissioned and to introduce new artists and unique works they’ve created this year. He hopes everyone who visits the festival walks away having had a good time and getting exposure to seeing a different, artistic side of the city.
“I hope [attendees] walk away with a great sense of optimism about downtown . . . People from across the city have an idea in their mind of what downtown [looks like] and I think events like this can help change that mindset. So I hope people walk away feeling really excited,” he said.
“I hope [attendees] walk away with a great sense of optimism about downtown . . . People from across the city have an idea in their mind of what downtown [looks like] and I think events like this can help change that mindset. So I hope people walk away feeling really excited."
Jeremy Freiburger, producer of Winterfest
Freiburger wants students to know they’ve organized Winterfest this year for them to enjoy as well. With events like free concerts, dance classes, skating and more, the festival considered various events to include activities everyone could appreciate. Winterfest can be a great opportunity to spend time with loved ones while participating in fun activities made to help you appreciate the season.
C/O Caitgreer, Pixabay
Find McMaster’s curling team sweeping their way through the OUA
McMaster’s varsity curling team has an impressive history. The curling team has not only been part of Marauder Sports for more than 25 years, but the women’s team brought home the OUA championship in the 2019-20 season.
The curling teams are among McMaster’s smallest varsity teams, with the women’s roster made up of five athletes and the men’s team made up of four. The smaller sizes help foster team spirit as all the members can mesh and work well together, both on and off the ice. Additionally, having fewer players gives each member more opportunity to receive coaching and individual attention to develop their skills.
Conversely, having so few members can create a couple of issues. Everything from administration to practice times is managed by the curling team presidents and skips, Madelyn Warriner and Daniel Van Veghel. As such, the curling team’s social media is limited to a Facebook page due to a lack manpower dedicated to overseeing it. The sport of curling itself doesn’t garner much attention, but over the past couple of years, McMaster’s athletics and recreation department has aided in increasing their media exposure by conducting interviews and writing articles.
“Compared to other sports the numbers are still small, yes, [but] we can really see a growth which is exciting for us as a program,” said Van Veghel.
The women’s curling Ontario University Athletics season occurred on the weekend of Feb. 26 and the men’s OUAs occurred nearly a month later, on the weekend of March 19. While neither team brought home the championship, both are proud of the work they put in and how they played.
“We were probably one of the first sports, at least on the women's side, to have our OUAs following the return to competition. Normally we'd be ramping up our training right before, but we didn't really have that opportunity this year. But given that I'm still very proud of how we did. I think we really left it all out there,” said Warriner.
“We were probably one of the first sports, at least on the women's side, to have our OUAs following the return to competition. Normally we'd be ramping up our training right before, but we didn't really have that opportunity this year. But given that I'm still very proud of how we did. I think we really left it all out there."
Madelyn Warriner, Curling Team President
Curling is a unique sport in that it prioritizes precision and accuracy over power. It requires players to plan their plays many moves in advance and adapt not only to their opponents’ moves, but also their own.
“You’re playing against yourself. You're making your own shots. You're focusing on what you can control rather than what the other team is doing . . . You have no direct effect on how the other team performed, which is very unique to curling,” explained Warriner.
“You’re playing against yourself. You're making your own shots. You're focusing on what you can control rather than what the other team is doing . . . You have no direct effect on how the other team performed, which is very unique to curling."
Madelyn Warriner, Curling Team President
Focusing on one’s own moves is a common sentiment in curling but keeping spirits high helps as well.
“Sometimes the other team just plays better and there's lots of times at the end of it you go, ‘Wow, we were awesome. The score doesn't show it, but we played very well,’” said Van Veghel.
The 2021-2022 curling season may be over, but this team is excitedly looking toward the next and is ready to repeat the previous season’s win.
C/O Gustavo Sanchez
Amidst cold weather and high COVID-19 case counts, the city of Hamilton failed to protect and consider its unhoused residents
January 2022 was a difficult month for the city of Hamilton, with temperatures dipping as low as -20 degrees Celsius and hundreds of Hamilton residents hospitalized with COVID-19. Unfortunately, low temperatures and high rates of COVID-19 created even more obstacles for Hamilton’s unhoused population.
“What we've observed as COVID has been ongoing and as the cold weather has been ongoing is just the lack of empathy and the lack of tangible sustainable solutions [from the city],”
Koubra Haggar, member of Hamilton Encampment Support Network’s Steering Committee.
HESN is an advocacy group and support network run entirely by volunteers in the Hamilton community. They advocate on behalf of the needs of unhoused residents of Hamilton and provide unhoused people with support and resources.
Vic Wojciechowska, another member of the Steering Committee, explained how shelters in Hamilton have not been adequately supported by the city throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Wojciechowska explained that, earlier this year, all but one of Hamilton’s men’s shelters were experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks.
“Given the Covid outbreaks, [people] were being refused at the door. We had testimonies come in from shelter workers about the lack of municipal support for staffing, for adequate PPE, for any sort of code protocols or measures. We are two years into this pandemic now. The city has had adequate time to respond, to prepare, to prioritize and yet we're in the same position that we were a year ago,” said Wojciechowska.
Hagger added that, over the past few months, the city has taken a clear stance against people residing in encampments by saying that tents have to go.
“They care about aesthetics. The city cares about maintaining a certain image. While making these remarks and saying all these horrible things, they aren't providing any alternatives that are sustainable or dignified,” said Haggar.
Hagger recalled seeing police officers and city workers tell encampment residents to move farther into the trees where they would be less visible.
“The city doesn't have an issue in terms of letting people die in the cold; they also have an issue around maintaining a pristine image of Hamilton that excludes all poor and unhouse folks,” said Hagger.
In November 2021, several people who protested against encampment evictions were arrested. These people said that police officers used violence during the arrests, leaving them with various injuries.
In a video shared by the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, officers can be seen tackling three Black youth in front of Hamilton’s central police station.
“Here is the footage of Hamilton Police arresting [three] Black youth early this afternoon. These violent attacks are a reminder of outright police brutality & systemic racism. Why are Black youth being arrested when they are advocating for better housing options for residents?”
Statement from Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion
Wojciechowska also pointed out how many of the people making decisions about Hamilton’s housing crisis do not truly understand what the options for unhoused people look like. Wojciechowska recalled that, at a community delegation day to inform the operating budget, a city councilor expressed confusion about why one might choose to live in an encampment over a shelter.
“These are the people that are making the decisions. They don't even understand what the conditions within shelters are,” said Wojciechowska.
Wojciechowska highlighted how this lack of understanding leads the city of Hamilton to present options to unhoused community members that are not truly viable.
“We had someone provide testimony that, during the outbreaks in the women’s sector, people who were in COVID-19 isolation would not be able to access the shower for ten days. Again, these are being presented as options to people. In an encampment, at least you have community, at least you have control over isolation and contact and exposure with others. Whereas [the other option is that] you're crammed into a shelter with who knows how many other people, a shelter in an active outbreak and the city is calling this a housing solution,” said Wojciechowska.
Despite the current situation, Wojciechowska and Hagger expressed optimism that through the work and advocacy of HESN, the public has become more aware of Hamilton’s housing crisis.
“There's been a shift in public narrative over the last year regarding encampments. [There has been a shift in] understanding the conditions and the causes of encampments and understanding how these are linked to the housing crisis and how this is aligned to municipal failure to take responsibility of housing people,” said Wojciechowska.
Treating all members of our community with care is crucial, and this involves respecting and considering the needs of unhoused community members. Moving forward, the city of Hamilton still has much work to do in order to support unhoused individuals.
C/O Travis Nguyen
While the holiday season may be welcomed, the extreme shift to total relaxation can cause us to “crash”
By: Ardena Bašić, Contributor
The holiday season is often a welcomed time off for many, especially students who face their exams period immediately prior to the break. However, given that we are exceptionally busy beforehand, the decrease or change in responsibilities can be a shock to our system.
Although we certainly deserve the rest after busy and stressful times, we must balance that with different endeavours and activities to ensure that we are not putting ourselves in significantly contrasting environments. Such an approach will allow us to get the most out of the holiday break and return to school and work with a renewed sense of motivation.
Many individuals become acclimated to such high levels of productivity, particularly students who must balance their school work, extracurriculars and other endeavours on top of maintaining their health and social lives. In the moment, we often fail to realize how much of our energy is coming from the sheer adrenaline of all our obligations, likely alongside copious amounts of caffeine.
Thus, when we take a break from such a hectic lifestyle, the drastic drop in our stressors often leave us feeling drained and lethargic, a phenomenon often called ‘adrenal fatigue.’ In fact, going from one extreme to another — overworking to completely resting — could leave us feeling worse off.
Thus, when we take a break from such a hectic lifestyle, the drastic drop in our stressors often leave us feeling drained and lethargic, a phenomenon often called ‘adrenal fatigue.’ In fact, going from one extreme to another — overworking to completely resting — could leave us feeling worse off.
Ardena Bašić, Contributor
We need to find a place in the middle of this continuum that will allow us to recharge without radically lowering our adrenaline levels.
There are a variety of activities and methods that can allow individuals, no matter their specific interests, to find this balance. For example, some hobbies can be both restful and stimulating to the brain and body at the same time.
Reading, exercising and listening to or playing music all have beneficial effects on the body and mind, but are not as taxing as arduous readings or complex essay prompts. Moreover, social interactions can be highly energizing for some individuals, especially after being deprived of them during the pandemic. It not only has physiological benefits since humans are naturally social creatures, but it also helps abate feelings of loneliness and isolation that can be extremely draining on a person. Finding solidarity in finally getting a break after a long semester can also be a great bonding tool among students!
Of course, such approaches will vary for everyone. Some people who are more introverted may find that individual activities are a better way to stay occupied without creating overbearing stressors during the holidays.
Furthermore, one cannot expect every day of the break to be the same. Our energy levels fluctuate constantly and we need to respond as needed. This may mean being outside and active with friends for one day and then deciding to stay in for a movie marathon by yourself on another.
So long as we are not keeping ourselves on one end of the spectrum for a prolonged period of time, we can find a healthy equilibrium between complete rest and the hustle of our daily life.
So long as we are not keeping ourselves on one end of the spectrum for a prolonged period of time, we can find a healthy equilibrium between complete rest and the hustle of our daily life.
Ardena Bašić, Contributor
In sum, although the holidays may seem like the perfect time to fully recharge, we have to balance such rest with engaging activities to ensure that we do not completely crash. Given the spirit of the season, reaching out to loved ones and peers, finding new or old forgotten hobbies or simply taking what comes with the day can allow one to reach this balance.
Take care of yourself and those around you and you will come back with a new vigour for a successful next term!
Travis Nguyen/Photo Editor
Shorter days and longer nights from daylights savings have mental and physical effects
Don’t get me wrong, I love the colder seasons. Halloween, Christmas, doing winter festivities, the snow and much more. But I do not like when it’s pitch black outside by 5 p.m. and the day that felt as though it just started is already done.
It confuses me because, although I’ll still have classes, meetings or work after the sun sets, it becomes hard for my brain to wrap around the notion that I’ll be working for hours in complete darkness.
We may not truly even realize it, but we do rely on the sun for a lot. When it comes to the simplicities of aiding our health, the sun is a great mood booster and important for your physical health as a whole.
Light is the most powerful regulator of our internal clock, known as our circadian rhythm. In fact, some people may not even adjust to the time change after several months. We also rely on the sun everyday without even knowing.
We use it as a way to tell time in our day-to-day lives. It nurtures the food and plants that we need, it keeps our ecosystems growing and it keeps our earth moving. With these shorter and colder days, we see the sun less, which has large effects on us both physically and mentally.
The shorter and colder days can also cause depression to increase in prevalence. The darkness and coldness limits how often we go out and we can begin to feel isolated. As university students, it becomes difficult for many to have the motivation to do work when it feels as though it is night-time and one should be unwinding instead.
This is where seasonal affective disorder comes in, also known as seasonal depression or the winter blues. One way to recognize the symptoms of SAD is if you feel normal during spring and summer, then feel drained with your energy and mood as days get shorter during winter, almost like you want to hibernate.
As the semester is either ending or a new one is starting at this time of the year, our stress is at its peak and the effects of daylight savings can have immense effects on us physically as well.
The lack of sunlight can cause cluster headaches that can cause pain for days or weeks on end. If you’re not getting enough sleep during this transition, this can lead to increased levels of a hormone called ghrelin which regulates hunger and may cause an increase in appetite.
It is important that you keep your mental health in check and professionals recommend taking Vitamin D supplements during this time, seeking help if you need it, eating healthier and maintaining some kind of physical activity during the cold months.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, focusing on one’s self and still taking it easy will help immensely. It is a difficult shift for many, but attempting to balance everything in a healthy way can improve one’s physical and mental health during these cold months.
