El Niño is really putting a damper on winter quarter. Whether El Niño is ruining your mood or your hair, you know something has got to give. These torrential downpours that have been plaguing the central coast may be great for surfers and the agriculture, but they sure aren’t great for about anything else. I thought by choosing Cal Poly I was avoiding wet and gloomy climates, but El Niño has me so weather-confused you could tell me I am in Washington and I’d believe you.

The weather isn't the only thing I am confused about: I never know what to wear. The weather is constantly changing throughout the day and so am I, to keep up with these crazy conditions. I never know whether I need to wear a rain jacket and my rain boots or just a sweater with some Uggs, and somehow I always manage to make the wrong call.

El Niño is really cramping my style, one drop at a time. This never-ending storm is causing a never-ending case of the blues for many students that have forgotten about the sunnier days. It has given us all some of our worst hair days, some of our muddiest shoes and soggiest socks, but not to mention some of our lowest days. It is scientifically proven that gloomy weather makes you more sad; most may believe that they are immune to these weather spells, but most of the time, we truly aren’t. Difficult days are just that much tougher with dark and gloomy weather. Life is hard enough as is; we don’t need bad weather to keep us down.

Now that we are aware that the weather can be a downer, we must try that much harder to brighten our days. This means doing the things we love and keeping a positive outlook, no matter what life throws at us. This is a good time to spend time with friends and family or cozy up with some hot cocoa and a blanket to embrace the gloomy days ahead. Some may say that some of their favorite activities include being outside. I would be one of these people. However, there are solutions to that problem. Do some of your favorite things inside. If you are trying to get some exercise go to the gym, join in on some pick-up games at the rec, or attend a yoga class. If you are missing the beach or the outdoors, jump in your car and take a drive; just because it’s raining doesn’t mean you can’t visit some of your favorite places. Spend more time watching some movies or start a new TV show that you've always wanted to try. Before you know it, you’ll start to find new hobbies and new ways to enjoy yourself and you might even be a little sad when the rain stops. Don’t let El Niño kill your vibe.