What took January so long?

By: Hannah Wiley, Assistant Features Editor 

With it now being the final day of January, I think it’s important to discuss why this month feels longer than the other 11 months combined. Why is it that January feels like it takes a million years, but at the same time, it feels like just yesterday we were ringing in the new year? And don’t say snow, because yes, but also no. 

The biggest reason is that we’re now in a post-holiday period. From October to December, we go through some of the best holidays of the year. From Halloween to New Year’s Eve, the last three months of the year are jam-packed with fun activities, family time and an overall jolly feeling in the air. What big holiday does January bring? None, except for the occasional snow day, but even that’s rare when you go to school in Buffalo. 

Like I said, it’s not all because of the snow, but the less-than-ideal weather really is a big factor. Yesterday, I texted my mother, “if it snows until March I’m going to go crazy,” and that is a text that’s probably sent by all non-WNY-born students here. With the amount of snow we’ve gotten recently, it’s made my two-block walk seem like the song from the opening scene of Frozen. I’ve also recently gone on a jacket strike for no particular reason, but I’ve only been wearing vests this week and I haven’t gotten a cold yet, so I’m calling it a win. 

It’s also the month where New Year’s resolutions are still prominent in our brains. In January, however, whether your resolution is to work out more, read more, stop drinking soda, spend less time on your phone or any other variety of things, this is the month where there is the most pressure to stay as booked and busy as possible, and that can really make the days drag out sometimes. Personally, the moment February hits, some of mine are completely erased from my brain, never to be thought about again, and I get right back to my usual ways through the day. 

To end it on a positive note, while this past month was long and grey with a lack of sunlight, the start of February marks being one month closer to summer, and sun and all things hot! (Yes, I did just reference Frozen again.)