Good news! The dark days of winter are receding — in fact, we’ve added almost an hour of daylight since Dec. 31. With the lengthening daylight comes a degree of relief for those who suffer from a touch of the winter blues, also known as SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). While some battle these symptoms chemically with prescription pills or alcohol, I encourage my patients to chase the blues away with healthier options.
My prescription: try a combination of these side-effect-free ways to help beat the winter blues:
- Let there be light.
For us light-deprived northern hemispherians, I recommend installing full-spectrum light bulbs at home, to help mimic the benefits of sunshine. Beaming high-quality full-spectrum light indoors is essential when adequate natural sunlight is in short supply. The full-spectrum bulb benefits? Better sleep, improved concentration, mental clarity and mood, plus a tougher immune system — so let the faux sun shine in! Full spectrum bulbs can be found at most hardware stores and www.gaiam.com.