Managing Your Daily Life

This is one component in my holistic approach to coping with SAD. It is probably the hardest, as you have to find it internally - you can't buy it off a shelf (though phoning a friend can help). I know how difficult it can be to get out of bed on dark mornings and get motivated when lethargy has got a hold of you and you have problems to deal with.

Keep busy with  multiple activities (i.e. filling your time up by keeping busy) - this will reduce the amount of time you have for looking inward, being miserable and worrying about your problems. This can involve some of the therapies such as exercise and activities which I talk about on other pages.

Minimise alcohol consumption. I love a glass of wine, but alcohol is a depressant. You feel good at first, and then later it acts like a magnifying glass, blowing your problems out of their proper perspective. Keep your consumption down, and if you must have a glass, make it with a meal.

Count your blessings! I have a list which I keep handy - it includes my children, my health (so far), my partner and things I've been lucky enough to enjoy during my life. Everybody can find a couple of blessings somewhere. I've had my share of problems with serious family illness and handicaps, financial stress and relationship issues. Most people have them in their family, and most people have Blessings. Think about them and list them out. Keep the list where you see it regularly, maybe with a fridge magnet.

• Put another note up which says, in your own writing "It's only a seasonal chemical imbalance, I know it will get better in the Spring"!
• Build in some daily time with a Light Box. 
• If you can, try and take a short winter break in a sunny place. See Light Therapy for some ideas. This is different to Light Boxes.
• Include some Homeopathic treatments, if you find they help.
• Make the best use of natural light - get out of doors on those occasional sunny winter days, and sit with your chair facing a window. 
• Check the section on Stress issues, and try to have a plan for coping with those stresses.  In particular, calendar issues can be anticipated and you may be able to make plans to go away, get extra exercise or sunshine at those times; perhaps plan to increase your level of social activity to cut down the time you have available for feeling sad.