We’ve all heard of seasonal depression, the very real phenomenon that occurs during the fall/winter months in which people often feel more depressed due to lack of sunlight, but what about the opposite end of the spectrum – “Spring break fever.” Spring break fever, or rather spring fever, is defined by Cambridge University as the feeling of excitement and unrest due to the weather becoming warmer in the spring. However, is this feeling real or is it just a phrase used to try and excuse behavior?
I feel as college students, especially Gen Z, we often coin terms to excuse behavior, such as “just a girl” to justify ditzy behavior or “I just work here” to justify not knowing the answer to a question at their job. While most of the time these are not phrases meant to be taken seriously, they are still phrases used to help excuse our own actions. However, I do not think spring break fever is the same.
There is scientific proof that the vitamin D from sunlight improves your mood. The lack of serotonin levels during the winter, while may not be the direct cause of seasonal depression, is a factor that has affected mood. Sunlight has been proven to boost serotonin levels, so with the shift of when the sun sets, and the warmer temperatures, the sun literally is a natural anti-depressant.
With Daylight Savings Time occurring on March 8, I have personally experienced being in a better mood because of the weather and the sunlight and it switched in the snap of my fingers. I felt like I was having the worst day imaginable but then I went and sat outside in the sun and it actually made me feel better. While the time I took to decompress was a factor, soaking in the vitamin D also affected my mood.
The anticipation of an exciting spring break also is a factor in mood betterment. In Expedia’s 2023 Report, they found that 85% of global respondents agreed that already planned vacations made them feel more positive and optimistic about their future. Just the thought of going somewhere or even just taking the week break releases that dopamine hit. It gets people excited and anticipating what’s to come, living life happier rather than sort of dreading their present.
These sudden outbursts of joy and excitement are not random, it is because of vitamin D and anticipation. While people may seem more restless and less focused in the weeks leading up to their spring break, is it necessarily a bad thing? Personally, I’d rather be restless and overjoyed than stressed over midterms. The anticipation of spring break has actually made me settle down more into midterms. Even though I am less focused (going on runs or going out for coffee instead of studying), the start of the break is what is motivating me to get through the week. Spring break fever is real, and there’s science to prove it. It’s not excusing behavior, but explaining it.
