As the new year begins, so do the long, cold months. Finding balance can be more challenging than usual. Shorter days, with late sunrises and early sunsets, along with long school days with packed schedules, can make you feel unmotivated and like there is no time for this time of year with fresh goals and important responsibilities. Between managing schoolwork and hours spent at your job, staying committed to your sports, and maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle, it can take a lot of students’ time to balance their time and energy wisely in ways that benefit them, while also keeping up with their social lives.

Staying active is one of the biggest challenges during the colder months. When it’s dark outside by late afternoon, many students feel less motivated to keep active. Especially those who don’t play any winter sports. However, staying active or increasing it is a big goal for many people’s new year goals. Whether it’s a sport, club, or hobby, continuing activities through the cold weather gives students a sense of accomplishment and routine in a time that typically feels dull. For some students at Ledyard High School, this is what it’s like to keep active this time of year. Junior Nora Gambardella simply stays active in her off-season from volleyball by joining the club volleyball team, like many others. Junior Alexis Frech says, “To avoid getting burnt out, I set realistic goals for myself each month”. She also says for the new year she created a new goal of using less technology, but knowing that’s large and easier said than done she set small goals, such as limits, to start her cold and long month of January.

After a long and hopefully relaxing winter break, school responsibilities often increase. Teachers begin new units, tests become more frequent, and stress only rises. Staying organized is key. It’s about how and what steps are taken to tackle these larger school responsibilities to keep balanced. Sophomore Sophia Piatek says, “ I sit down and finish them all until it’s done each night, ” so she can avoid procrastination. Some others do the opposite, like Junior Ellison Wallace, who says, “ I always try and get it done as quickly as possible, but often wait till the last minute.” Large parts of staying organized are the planning. Planners, calendars, making lists, setting reminders, choosing priorities, and establishing and maintaining routines are the best and most common ways to keep up with homework and studying. Senior Victoria Vidal says what’s worked for her is “planning out her schedule to the minute, sticking to it, and keeping it frequently updated,” as a process that has helped her a lot throughout these four years.

Balancing school, activities, social life, and even good rest during the off-season or just the cold months isn’t always easy, but it is possible. With planning, consistency, and self-care, students can stay motivated and healthy, and connected even when other things in life seem to say otherwise, and these students at Ledyard High School are just examples of proof.

Emma Piatek, Staff Writer

Junior Emma Piatek is a staff writer for the 2025-2026 Colonel News site. She likes summer, playing soccer, and fun drinks.