Shape up for Spring

In Northern parts of the United States, long months of cold winter weather and short hours of sunlight can lead many normally well-adjusted people to experience general lethargy, mild forms of depression, and weight gain. Luckily, with Daylight Savings Time kicking into effect, many people will naturally bounce back from those winter blues, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

However, if your student is experiencing anxiety, sadness, fatigue, overeating (especially carbohydrates), loss of motivation and poor concentration, they may still be struggling with SAD, which affects from 1.5 percent to 9 percent of U.S. adults.

What to do if your student hasn’t “sprung” into spring

First, don’t panic. Many people respond well to simple therapies like getting more exercise and sleep, eating healthier, and spending more time outdoors. When that’s not enough, short-term use of an antidepressant (prescribed and supervised by a health care provider, such as those available at the Pace Counseling Centers) can make the difference.

Let the sunshine in

Pace has plenty of on-campus resources that can help students face spring with a healthier outlook, including the health, fitness, and recreation centers on our New York City and Westchester campuses.

• New York City students have full access to the campus’ Civic Center Gym at One Pace Plaza, which includes a cardio and weight room and full-size basketball courts for pick-up games or intramural basketball. Some residence halls also offer complimentary passes to students for nearby gyms and fitness centers.

• In Westchester, the Goldstein Health, Fitness, and Recreation Center offers three basketball courts, a running track, a full fitness center with cardio machines and an Olympic-sized swimming pool, along with a full range of fitness courses, from Japanese swordsmanship to yoga.

In addition, some residence halls also offer complimentary passes to students for nearby gyms and fitness centers. 

Spring also marks the return of a number of intramural sports, including: indoor and outdoor flag football, indoor soccer, basketball, volleyball, dodgeball, wiffle ball, and beach volleyball. For more information, visit the Pace Athletics site.

For students who find that helping others is often the best way to help themselves, the Center for Community Action and Research offers a number of volunteer activities, including “greening” outdoor areas and alternative spring breaks. Meditation rooms are also available on both campuses in the Multipurpose Room at One Pace Plaza in NYC and the Center for Spiritual Development in Pleasantville for students with a spiritual bent.

However, if you think your student has a more serious case of the blues, winter or not, we recommend a visit to the Pace Counseling Centers on our New York City and Westchester campuses. Go here to learn more.