Six strategies for beating the winter blues

Feeling sluggish and sad during dark, dreary winter days? Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) could be to blame. Symptoms of SAD mirror those of regular depression: social withdrawal, changes in appetite and weight, low energy, and difficulty sleeping. Why? Shorter days and a lack of sunlight cause a dramatic dip in serotonin, the body’s natural mood stabilizer. For those days when you’re stuck indoors, Paul Verhaeghen, professor in the School of Psychology, recommends the next best thing: a light box or lamp with 2,500 to 10,000 lux. Use it for up to one hour per day — preferably first thing in the morning — to simulate natural sunlight and increase energy.