Picture this: it’s a beautiful, sunny day on the University of Iowa’s campus. The birds are chirping, the sky is blue, and there’s not a cloud in sight. Your classmates are sitting on the Pentacrest, soaking up the sun.
With weather like this, would you rather go outside and enjoy the warmth, or sit in the library and tackle your assignments for the week?
Obviously, most of us would rather be outside in the nice weather instead of cooped up indoors trying to be productive. While good weather is often linked to improved mental health, poor weather isn’t as bad for you as some might think.
Changes in climate conditions on any given day can affect a person’s mood, productivity, and even their personality.
Seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, a common affliction among college students, causes mental health to decline as winter approaches.
SAD is less about cold temperatures and snow and more about a lack of sunlight and vitamin D due to shorter days. One effective way to treat SAD is using a light therapy lamp that mimics the effects of sunlight.
Norman Rosenthal, who coined the term SAD, has noted that cold temperatures and winter weather can be calming for people who find the summer months overbearing.
Just as sunlight can keep people stimulated, rain and snow can act as white noise, limiting the need for extra sensory input and reducing cognitive distractions.
Cognitive distractions, such as nice weather, lead to higher error rates when completing tasks. Good weather can take your mind off work, making you less productive, while poor weather leaves you with no excuse to avoid your responsibilities.
According to a study by Harvard University, a single-inch increase in daily rainfall was associated with a 1.3 percent decrease in the time it took workers to complete data entries.
Heat is one of the most common triggers for aggression, and high temperatures are correlated with increased suicide rates and declining mental health. This phenomenon known as the “heat effect,” is widely accepted by researchers.
A study by the National Library of Medicine found shootings are more likely to happen on humid, sunny days. When temperatures rise 10 degrees above average, the likelihood of a shooting increases by 34 percent.
Warm weather can also lead to an increase in sickness, especially in densely populated areas. Wind clears streets of litter and pollution, while rain washes away germs and debris.
In 2021, BioMed Central conducted a study on the correlation between time spent outside and COVID-19. Researchers found that when wind speeds decrease, the likelihood of catching COVID-19 increases.
Contrary to popular belief, cold weather doesn’t directly cause illness. People tend to get sick more often in the winter because of increased indoor gatherings and reduced exposure to fresh air.
Going outside in the winter and taking walks in the rain can improve not only your mental health but your physical health as well. Fresh air is always beneficial, no matter the weather.