Winter feels endless. By the time February is almost over, I feel drained. The Michigan cold, the gray skies, the short days make everything feel dull and my motivation has disappeared. Every year, it’s the same cycle. I feel stuck in this weird phase until the tennis season starts. And then, just like that, everything shifts. I have more energy, I feel happier and I actually want to be outside again.
Part of it is just science, I guess. Exercise releases endorphins, which help with stress and mood, and being in the sun again gives us the much-needed vitamin D our bodies need. “Exercise increases your body’s production of endorphins, which are natural mood lifters,” explains an article from the Mayo Clinic titled Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms. It also notes that sunlight exposure can boost serotonin, improving mood and focus.
But honestly, I think it’s more than that. Tennis gives me structure when I feel unmotivated. Even on days when you don’t feel like moving, playing a spring sport pushes you to get active, and once you start, you’ll almost always feel better afterward.
It’s not just about playing a sport, but about everything that comes with it. The drive to practice with music blasting, the familiar routine of warming up and laughing with my teammates in between drills. I stop thinking about how tired I am or how cold it was last week and instead I just focus on the game, on getting better, on the feeling of actually enjoying the moment.
“It’s really about the fun and the friends,” said Ellie Woodward, a Skyline junior who plays tennis. “Being with the team makes the whole experience something to look forward to.”
It’s about having something to look forward to. In the winter, it’s way too easy to stay inside and do nothing, but once the weather outside gets nicer, I actually want to get up and do something. Being around my team, spending time outside and having a set routine make a huge difference in how I feel.
Tennis is my way of breaking out of my winter slump, but I know not everyone plays a sport. The important thing is just finding something that gets you moving and outside, even if it’s just going on a walk in the nice weather.
I think what helps is just having a reason to be outside and move again. Even if it’s not tennis, doing something active makes a big difference. It clears your head, gives you a break from screens and makes the days feel a little less boring. When I start doing that, it feels like I’m finally waking up from winter.
