It’s the end of July, and after a long summer of 40 hours a week, your internship is finally done. Feeling accomplished, the sticky sweat and heat of the summer pound on your back as you walk back to your car. 

Thoughts of cool, windy weather, layered outfits and pumpkin spice lattes begin to float into your mind. Waking up on Caturday, “Gilmore Girls” watch parties with your roommates, cozy books by the fireplace when it’s raining, stepping back onto K-State’s campus and the fall season await. What could be better?

The transition back to school and into fall is always exciting. New classes, friends, experiences and the anticipation of new memories to come. However, it brings challenges that aren’t talked about enough.

Seasonal affective disorder, typically known as “seasonal depression,” is a type of depression linked to changes in seasons that typically begins and ends at specific times each year. When daylight hours decrease, the weather turns cold and there’s not as much social interaction, many people find themselves experiencing these symptoms in the fall and winter.

It’s almost too easy to fall into the cave of cozy. The comfort of our warm bed, Instagram reels waiting to be scrolled and soft blankets that feel like a hug you never want to leave. But you need to resist the urge to rot! Enjoy life and go outside, just as you did in the summer.

Basking in cozy, seasonal fun with friends and family is another great way to live out the festivity and be with the community. Carving pumpkins, hosting a movie night or baking something delicious and sugary can make for the perfect fall evening with the people you love.

So, when the daylight hours start to shrink, it’s important to soak up the sun when you can. Fresh air really does feed the soul, and changing up your routine, getting out of the house and stopping the doom-scroll will significantly help with feelings of loneliness or disconnection.

Fall and winter only come around once a year, so bask in the cozy fun with friends and make new memories.