When the seasons change you have to be ready for a change in mood, especially as we move from Fall into Winter. Although it may not seem as drastic of a shift as you think, it matters more to our mental and physical states than you may know. Seasonal Affective Disorder is estimated to effect around 10 million Americans a year, and this isn’t even the full number of reported cases.

As we begin to lose the summer sun and transition into the darker months of the year, depression and fatigue seem to make that transition with us. But, there are ways to shake off the impending gloom and brighten your day, if you follow some of these steps you can combat seasonal affect disorder and find yourself being just as happy as you are in the warm summer months.

Try light therapy. Doctors have called this idea phase shifting. Because we lose sunlight so quickly as we head into winter, you should start setting out bright lights when beginning your day. By eating breakfast and starting your daily routine under bright, indoor lights you get used to not having sunlight and can better acclimate to your new surroundings.

Excercise, excercise, excercise. Regular exercise works wonders for depression in general, so why would it not work for SAD-induced depression? By maintaining regular exercise habits you can work to get rid of fatigue, depression and tiredness by adding at least 60 minutes of activity into your life.

These next two ideas go hand-in-hand, as both work together to not only combat S.A.D, but promote a healthy lifestyle. Maintain a heart-healthy diet and get plenty of sleep. No brainers? Maybe. You would be surprised at the amount of people who do not follow both or one of these guidelines. I’m sure you know someone who fits into those categories.

Make sure to maintain a regular sleep schedule.

Try Acupuncture! Acupuncture is a great solution to combating S.A.D. There are various points on the body that have been known to alleviate sypmptoms of S.A.D.

Try some of these techniques yourself!