February 2, 2012
Winter depression (seasonal affective disorder or SAD) is thought to affect up to one in 15 of us every year between September and April. Many more of us (about 17%) get a milder form of the condition, known as the winter blues. The key symptoms are overeating, irritability, feeling down and unsociable, depression and sleep problems.
According to Sue Pavlovich of the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SADA), these tips could help. “Everyone’s affected differently by SAD so what works for one person won’t for another. But there’s usually something that will help, so don’t give up if the first remedy you try doesn’t work. Just keep trying," she says.
1. Keep active
Research has shown that a daily one-hour walk, in the middle of the day, could be as helpful as light treatment for coping with the winter blues. Read more about the benefits of walking and local healthy walks .
2. Get outside
Go outdoors in natural daylight as much as possible, especially at midday and on bright days. Inside your home, choose pale colours that reflect light from outside, and sit near windows whenever you can.
3. Keep warm
Being cold makes you more depressed. It’s also been shown that staying warm can reduce the winter blues by half. Keep warm with hot drinks and hot food. Wear warm clothes and shoes and aim to keep your home between 18ºC and 21ºC (or 64ºF and 70ºF degrees). For further information on what you can do, including applying for grants to keep your home warm, read our article on keeping warm and well.
