As the city defrosts, New Yorkers do too. We recently had the warmest day of the semester, and it served as inspiration for students to get out of their rooms and into the heat. After having survived the stiffness of winter, we have earned flowy linens and sunglasses. But if you ventured out on that one 78-degree Saturday with the bold confidence that the sun was the only coat you needed, you likely suffered a bitter cold awakening midway through the day. Our luxurious few hours were taken away from us as quickly as they arrived, but the small taste left us eager for summer.
People are happier in the sun — it’s science. The physical and mental benefits of sunlight on the human body and mind should not be overlooked. Our bodies need Vitamin D to function, and an article from UCLA Health by Dr. Robert Ashley reveals, “In the winter, only 10 percent of the body is exposed, and nearly 2 hours of sun exposure at noon is needed to produce a sufficient amount of Vitamin D.” This means that in the colder parts of the year, our bodies are lacking Vitamin D, which Mayo Clinic notes is “a nutrient the body needs, along with calcium, to build bones and keep them healthy … it supports immune health and helps keep muscles and brain cells working.” Even beyond the physical implications of not getting enough Vitamin D, there are strong correlations between a lack of sunlight and lower serotonin levels.
Studies detail how exposure to the sun triggers serotonin releases in the brain, which boosts our moods and makes us happier. In the winter, our mental states often reflect our dreary, gray surroundings. It is much easier to have warm, hopeful thoughts when it feels like the Earth is full of warmth and new beginnings. So, it makes sense that many people struggle to find joy when the sun won’t peek out during the day.
The spring semester is going by lightning fast. Now that the coldest days are behind us, it is thrilling to think about our upcoming summers and the hard-earned tans we will flaunt at the end of August. In these last few weeks, if weather permits, there are a lot of ways to spend a sunny day in New York. The best way to make the most of these precious, warm days is to seek out the parts of the city that radiate in sunlight and appreciate their beauty.
Brooklyn Flea in Dumbo has a wonderfully colorful assortment of “cool vintage finds, handmade goods, and unique treasures” that pair well with a sunny day and an iced coffee. Time Out Market New York is just a five-minute walk away, and whether you’re craving a flaky, jam-filled pastry or a spicy pad thai, the food will taste better if you have a picnic with your friends outside on the steps by the Manhattan Bridge.
If you want to appreciate the upcoming summer weather in Manhattan, there are plenty of pockets of sunshine to bask in. Sundresses and sandals pair perfectly with people watching on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the Upper East Side. Central Park — with so many routes you never have to take the same one twice — is one big uninterrupted section of green calm in the middle of bustling Manhattan. Bring a picnic blanket, your close friends and hearty laughter for the perfect Central Park experience. The view of dogs running around with the springtime zoomies is hard to beat. Further downtown in Greenwich Village is Washington Square Park. If you can secure a park bench before the New York University (NYU) students claim it as their campus, it is the perfect place to start a new read or finish the book you’ve been putting off for months.
Opportunity is rich at home too. The streets of the Bronx are lined with opportunities. The New York Botanical Gardens are a well-loved treasure and as the days get warmer, walks there become more frequent. Beyond that, brunch spots like DeLillo Pastry Shop and Pete’s Café are hubs of good food and even better company. You can also walk around the Bronx Zoo with an ice cream cone in hand or go watch a Yankees game.
People need sunshine like they need air in their lungs, and though the weather isn’t in our control, the perfect sunny day can give us enough hope to get through weeks of icy winters. Fill this summer season with trips to the farmer’s market, long sunset walks and late-night bonfires so that when winter comes around again, you’ll have three months of fond memories to think back on.
Ameya Jain, GSB ’28, is a marketing major from Los Angeles, California.
