Editorial: Take advantage of brief warm weather

After one of the worst winters in recent memory, it's clear the bad weather has many feeling blue.

With shorter days, weeks without proper sunlight, several heavy snow storms and almost nightly accumulation on the ground, it's easy to get depressed.

In fact, more than 120 inches of snow has fallen in the area this year, according to a previous report in The Daily Athenaeum.

Combine those with midterms and Morgantown's car-damaging roadways, and stress levels can reach new levels.

But slowly, spring is on its way.

The days are getting longer and the sunshine warmer. Potholes are being filled (though, for the sake of our automobiles, we wish the city and the University would hurry).

But this is Morgantown, and the weather can be unpredictable.

Even though the first day of spring is less than two weeks away, another snowfall wouldn't surprise us.

Which is why it's important for those in the West Virginia University community to take advantage of the next few sunny days.

Many studies, including one four-year study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have linked sunny days to overall feelings of well-being.

The Weather Channel forecast for the week calls for sunshine and highs in the upper 50s to low 60s until Thursday, when scattered rain showers are expected to hit the region.

So take a break from work or studies and go for a brief walk around campus.

Start a game of football on the Mountainlair Green. Eat lunch outside, go for a drive to Cheat Lake or exercise on the Rail Trail. Shrug off those feelings of cabin fever and then get back to work.

For students, we only have three weeks of class remaining until Spring Break begins March 27.

Let the feeling of sand between your toes and the sound of waves crashing on the beach warm your heart and sustain your studies until then.

Warm weather will be here before you know it, and the cold and dark of winter will be but a memory.

Until next year, that is.