Kaylie Wang is a English freshman and Mustang News opinion columnist. The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of Mustang Media Group.
Cal Poly students are no strangers to spending time in the sun. Without fail, I see lots of students lying out to get a tan or playing spikeball as soon as the temperature exceeds 70 degrees.
More students should take advantage of the sunny weather. Even if you’re too busy to be in the sun for hours or lying out in the sun to tan or playing spikeball doesn’t sound appealing to you, I want to remind you: being in the sun for even a short time can make you feel photosynthesized and rejuvenated.
I received advice from a TikTok that said, “If you wake up and don’t feel like a person, it just means it’s lizard time.” To me, lizard time means basking in the sun.
I have two two back-to-back classes on Monday and Wednesday in the same building. After my first class ends early, I spend the break between 11:45 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. by stepping outside to walk around Dexter Lawn.
Feeling the sun after sitting in a cold classroom always makes me feel more alive and awake; it’s like I’m defrosting. The sun can feel so relaxing that, if I’m not listening to music or FaceTiming my family, it also gives my brain a moment to be completely empty when it would usually be filled with a flurry of thoughts.
It’s fun to feel like a lizard on a wall when I sit on a bench and just watch people walk to classes. I also notice interesting things happening on Dexter, like racks of clothes to thrift from, free Cal Poly Creamery Cheese samples, free fanny packs for festival season or the Armenian Students Association selling kebab wraps.
Being outside allows me to discover all the beautiful things Cal Poly hosts that I can’t experience from inside a classroom. These unexpected experiences truly make my day and remind me how much I appreciate living on a college campus, even on the most stressful days.
It’s especially important to go outside on days when you don’t feel like you need to. Too often, I spend entire weekends indoors catching up on work to the point that it makes me feel down. Being outside in general is important for maintaining a healthy mental state.
“Your serotonin and dopamine levels get affected by not being outside and that affects depression,” Dr. Deepti Pandita, an internal medicine physician at Hennepin Healthcare, said to CBS News.
Seasonal increases in sun time were associated with decreased emotional distress, according to a 2016 study.
I’m writing this article from a table outside 1901 Marketplace. I have work to do, but I also want to enjoy the natural lighting and warm weather.
Soaking up the sunshine can be as simple as completing your to-do list outside, like eating a meal, calling your parents or catching up on readings while sitting on a grassy lawn.
The next time you feel low on energy, , step outside and bask in the sunlight instead of scrolling on your phone indoors. As we’re in spring season and approaching summer, the sun has graced us with its presence more often — I encourage you to take advantage of it.
