Your friends may say that you feel gloomy on dreary days and happy when the sun is out. But, is this really true?

Weather can play a crucial part in how we perceive our mood and studies on this topic show varied results.  The researcher Marie Connolly found that your daily mood can be independent of the weather. If you are in a good mood, you remain happy no matter the weather.

“Looking forward to seeing my friends makes me happy, even if it is cold and rainy outside,” senior Talia Bailes said.

However, if you are in a bad mood, weather affects you more. Warm temperatures make you feel more positive while windy and cloudy days can make a bad day worse.

Other studies disagree, stating that your mood swings vary because of your activity level and not the weather itself. For example, on warm days you might opt to go outside and play while on downcast, winter days you might stay indoors and forgo seeing your friends.

Scientist Jaap Denissen’s research in 2008 found a direct link between lack of sunlight and tiredness.

“I feel tired because everything is dark. My body is telling me to go to sleep,” freshman Annena Lundgren said.

Days are getting shorter as winter approaches. Here in Ohio, the longest day of the year is 14 hours and 45 minutes and the shortest is nine hours and 14 minutes. Even though not all daylight hours are sunny, Ohio’s hours of sunshine range from three hours, 29 minutes per day in January to ten hours, 23 minutes in July.

During darker months, ten to 20 percent of the population suffers seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a mild depression linked to lack of light. This might explain winter grumpiness. To lessen the symptoms, it is recommended that you stay under well-lighted areas in the morning and take vitamin D supplements.

Productivity is also affected by the weather. Writer Carmen Nobel demonstrated that people tend to be more productive on rainy and overcast days. Beautiful bright days distract us, making people less productive.

“I really like the rain and I feel it helps me think better,” Lundgren said.

You have no control on the weather, but you do on your emotions. Weather may affect you, but let your attitude rule your mood.