How to deal with SAD ↓🌚 🌅 Make the most of the limited light. If you’re able to, try to be outside for as much as possible whilst it’s still light. This should still be around 8 hours a day. Whether it’s going for a walk to the shop or just sitting in a park wrapped up in a coat - every little bit of vitamin D and fresh air contributes to your mental health. ⏰ Get a sunrise mimicking alarm clock. @lumie.lights are the most popular type of sunrise alarm clock, but I got a knock off from Amazon. Waking up to gradual light instead of a harsh iPhone alarm tone makes the world of difference when starting your day. 🧘‍♀️Move your body & plan a weekly routine. Any form of excercise positvely impacts your mental and physical health. Whether it’s going for a walk before you start work, booking in for an evening gym class or setting a goal to walk 10k steps every day in January - plan your weekly excercise in advance so you’re more committed to stick to it. ✈️ Take a trip. This may be running away from the problem but I’d much rather use my annual leave in winter than I would summer in the UK. The flights are cheaper, the crowds are lower and you can top up on vitamin D if you choose a sunny destination. 🎟️ Plan fun things to do. I deliberately made plans every weekend in January to get me through each week. Little pockets of things to look forward to are so important. If January is a tight month, put energy into booking things later in the year to look forward to. I loved watching Disneyworld vlogs every day last winter to get me excited for my trip later in the year - it’s never too early to start planning something you’re excited for ✨ 🕯️Lean into the seasons. Winter is what you make of it, so you may as well try to make it cozy. Indulge in luxury bubble baths, light your new candle and have a Harry Potter movie marathon under the blanket whilst eating leftover Christmas chocolate. Winter can also be a really good time to slow down for those of us who burn out the rest of the year, and it won’t last forever. #SAD #seasonalaffectivedisorder #seasonaldepression #winterblues