As the holidays have come to an end and the cold, dark, and wet season continues, it can be hard to find things to look forward to. This, combined with a reduced winter break — due to the Portland Public Schools and Portland Association of Teachers bargaining and strike in November — may leave students feeling as dreary as the weather. A few things students can do to combat this issue is seek out positive experiences and appreciate the little things that make them happy. Often, simply having a positive outlook on things instead of dwelling on the uncontrollable aspects of life can be helpful.
With this in mind, the search for fun, affordable, and student-accessible activities to explore in the late winter season begins. For Portlanders, possible activities to do during the long stretch post-winter break could include the following: hiking, backpacking, visiting indoor and outdoor shops or markets, thrifting and more.
There are many fun and accessible hiking places in the Portland metro area including Sauvie island; a beachy, wooded expanse along the Columbia river, Northwest of Portland. Forest Park is another option, a thick woodland with an assortment of trails to explore, located in Northwest Portland. Lastly, Angel’s Rest along the Columbia Gorge is a beautiful trail with a stunning lookout —the trail is best known for the variety of scenery it has. From mountainous views to waterfalls, Angel’s Rest has all that hikers could want on a hike.
Another relatively underground winter activity for students to try is ice skating! For those who may not know, there is a temporary outdoor ice skating rink, located under the Morrison Bridge in downtown Portland. The rink has been open through December and is scheduled to close on Jan. 28.
To gather more information about what the Franklin student body enjoys doing in their free time as well as student opinions on fun winter activities, I interviewed several students, one being Franklin senior Ashley Tran. When asked about her favorite activities to do during winter, Tran said she enjoys being in nature, as well as, “solving jigsaw puzzles or baking bread with friends.” Tran suggests that students try different kinds of non-traditional activities this winter such as building lego kits or even solving a rubik’s cube! Additionally, she notes that puzzles and baking bread are great activities to occupy your time, and they can be done from the comfort of your own home.
Franklin juniors Piper Powell and Victoria Huynh share their go-to pastimes and recommendations for the remaining months of winter. Powell’s favorite winter activities include trying new restaurants, thrifting, painting and hanging out with friends. Powell states that it can be hard to be optimistic during the winter season but shares what she does to combat the gloom. “The best way for me to stay optimistic after break is by taking extra time to spend with my family and friends. I try to plan extra nights out so that I have lots to look forward to. It’s hard to get back into a regular routine but if I make time to see my favorite people, my life feels more balanced.”
During the dark cold season — particularly in the Pacific Northwest — individuals receive less sunlight (and vitamin D) than normal, along with lots of heavy rainfall. This can sometimes result in individuals experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) — commonly referred to as seasonal depression. Victoria Huynh says, “my mood gets heavily affected by the winter weather — I noticed I get a lot less motivated to do anything and it’s hard to get out of that slump.” It’s normal to feel discouraged and distressed coming out of winter break and closer to the finals period, but know it shall pass.When asked about different ways students can stay positive during the late winter season, Huynh echoes Powell, saying that, “Being around friends and family has a lasting effect on me and brings me joy.” She also recommends reflecting on yourself and how you interact with your surroundings or others, saying that new year’s resolutions and other forms of reflection are helpful. “It’s a perfect time to set goals and create plans to go with it,” Huynh concluded.
For students who may relate to feeling the winter gloom or who experience SAD, it’s important to remember that this is not unusual; many people experience this. There are many resources available to help support Franklin students during this time such as counselors, admin and other outreach systems surrounding mental health provided through the health center or student advocates. Although the winter season can be long and dark with obstacles like finals and grading terms, there are things to look forward to. Fortunately, the cold rainy season doesn’t last forever, even in Portland. Before long, gray skies will clear and colorful flowers will bloom; Spring will be here!
