After the Winter Storm, Jonas, I was pretty much done with the cold. Little did I know, that was only the beginning. I’m waiting for this early spring the groundhog predicted. With temperatures feeling like single digits, it makes me miss the summer and the warmth.

Reasons why summer is better than winter:

1. Relaxation

Between the months of May and September, it’s such a relief. No more homework, stress of exams, and being busy with school. Instead, the calendar is full of beach days, vacations, and time for you. These few months in the middle of the year are what I look forward to. It’s the least stressful—which is good for your health.

2. No winter-twenty

Forget the freshman-fifteen, the winter-twenty is real. When it’s too cold to go outside, the result is binge-watching Netflix while snacking on Oreos and hot chocolate. Every episode adds up, pound after pound. When it’s 80 degrees and sunny, there’s ample time to be outside and staying active. Who wants to go to the gym when you have to wear more layers than an onion? Not me.

3. Lack of Depression

Seasonal depression is real, as well. I’m always in a funk and not as motivated as I am throughout the rest of the year. It’s because it is so cold and gloomy mostly every day: a constant hide-and-seek with the sun and it’s found the perfect hiding spot. When the sun finally comes out for spring, you’ve won the game.

4. Summer Job

Money! This is something I lack at school. There’s twenty cents in my bank account. I can’t even afford a pack of gum. It’s because trying to balance a job at college with activities and schoolwork is impossible. Some people do it, so kudos to them! In the summer, a job is one of your only responsibilities, which means you can focus on saving up and bringing in the money.

5. More time

There isn’t enough time in a winter day to get anything done. There’s only time to complain about how miserable you are. There’s always so much more to do than there are hours in a day. I’m always wishing for more, because this is when the semester gets tough. No more syllabus week— classes are in full swing. In the summer, though, there’s plenty of time. There’s less to do and less to stress about.

6. Outside more

Residents of Florida consider 60 degrees freezing, but hey— I’ll take that temperature in a heartbeat. That’s perfect sweatshirt weather. When the temperature feels below 20, you can’t be outside for more than a few minutes without contacting frostbite. The result of this is being stuck inside —which causes me to go a little crazy.

7. Family and Friends

At college, there’s always a lack of time with family and friends from home. A weekend is barely enough time to see everyone. When you’re feeling out of the loop, summer is the perfect time to catch up with friends like old times. Not only this, it gives you more time at home to bond with family. Summer makes up for lost moments.

The only struggles in the summer are the sand between your toes, breeze running through your hair, and salt water hugging your body. These don’t even compare to the wind chill smacking you in the face every time you walk outside and falling on your butt because of black ice. So, when the winter gets harsh, just remember that you are one step closer to the best season of the year— summer! I know it’s coming soon, and is closer than you think! Brace these next couple weeks and good times are right around the corner!