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With Winter Weather Almost Here – Get your Motivation Back on Track with these Tips

students studying winter time

As daylight savings time draws to an end, it’s a sure sign that shorter days and much colder weather will follow. This often means that even the most dedicated of medical students will find themselves having difficulty focusing on their studies. As a matter of fact, up to 20% of the population experiences varying degrees of depression during the winter months.

The good news is that there are some steps you can take to help keep yourself as motivated as possible to keep up with your studies at this time of the year.

Sunshine is Essential

As a medical student, you’ll often feel as though all you’re doing is studying and trying to find gaps in between to eat and get some rest – meaning that spending some time outside may not seem like a high priority on your list of to dos.

While studies have revealed that the majority of individuals cannot obtain their daily Vitamin D from sunshine during winter, this doesn’t mean that you should abandon all attempts to go outside at this time of the year. Even spending 15 to 30 minutes outdoors when it’s overcast can be highly beneficial for your mental and physical health in winter.

Invest in a Light Box

During winter, many individuals experience a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that can cause mild to severe depression. Even if you don’t suffer from this condition, it can be extremely challenging to get anything done when it gets dark and cold a lot earlier than usual.

A good light box is designed to mimic natural sunshine by emitting a bright, warm light in the room it’s being used in. If you decide to use one of these, it’s recommended to do so before 10 am for approximately an hour each day.

Examine your Diet

Eating enough of the correct foods as a student can be challenging, but it’s important to ensure that you’re consuming a diet that’s as balanced as possible while studying.

Consider including foods in your diet that provide energy, help reduce inflammation and give your brain the boost it needs to remember everything you’re learning about. Options that fit this description include wholegrain foods, fruit, vegetables, homemade popcorn and starches and carbohydrates in moderation. Energy drinks and sugary snacks to be kept to a minimum, as these provide little to no nutritional value for your body.

Keep your Studies Simple

Colder weather usually makes it far less appealing to go out and join a physical study group. However, thanks to the CanadaQBank platform, you’ll be able to get in as much study time as you need without having to venture out into the cold.

Remaining motivated to study when the days are shorter and darker can seem impossible at times, but keeping the above-mentioned tips in mind can help ensure that you get in enough learning time – to the point where you’ll be able to pass your medical licensing exams with ease.

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How to Stay Motivated to Study Despite Shorter Days and Colder Weather

winter-studying

With the end of daylight savings time comes shorter days and colder weather, and that means even the most ambitious students could find themselves struggling to stay motivated. Some studies suggest that 10% to 20% of the population suffers from some sort of winter depression. Fortunately, there are a few ways for students to keep themselves motivated.

Consider Using a Light Box

Light boxes are commonly used among people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD – a condition that causes mild to severe depression that sets in like clockwork almost every single fall or winter. Even if you do not have SAD, when it gets dark outside at five o’clock in the afternoon, and when the sun doesn’t come back until seven in the morning, it can be difficult to do anything except yawn. A light box is designed to mimic the sun with a bright, warm light. If you choose to go this route, use it for about an hour, and ideally before 10 in the morning.

Get Some Sunshine

When it feels as if you’re spending all your time studying and trying to find time to sleep and eat, getting outside everyday may seem like a challenge. What’s more, experts have shown us that anyone living north of Atlanta simply cannot get their daily dose of vitamin D from the sun in the winter months because the sun simply doesn’t climb high enough in the sky. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go outside at all, though; spending 15 to 30 minutes outside in the sun – or even going out when it’s overcast – can help you feel much better.

Modify Your Diet

Eating enough as a medical student can be tough, and even when you feel as if you are getting the sustenance you need, there’s a good chance you aren’t getting the right kind of sustenance. Try adding foods to your diet that help to reduce inflammation, give you energy, and provide brain-boosting vitamins and minerals. Good options include cinnamon, which has been shown to enhance cognitive ability, and pumpkin seeds, which are known inflammation fighters. Swapping simple carbs like white rice and white bread for their complex whole-grain counterparts can also help keep you energetic throughout the day.

Simplify Your Studying

Of course, when days are shorter and temperatures are colder, going out to study groups or libraries can be difficult to say the least. Utilizing software like the excellent CanadaQBank platform is a great idea for those days when you just don’t feel like getting out – or when you only have a few minutes to study. It’s packed with features designed to help you customize your mock exam or your study session any way you’d like, and the best part is that it’s affordable enough to fit even the most frugal student’s budget.

Keeping yourself motivated to study when it seems dark more than it’s light can be difficult. In fact, as many as 20% of the entire population suffers from some sort of depression triggered by the changing weather. The tips above are sure to help you feel better throughout the day so you can stay motivated to study and pass your licensing exam with flying colors.