As the temperatures start to cool and the days get shorter, many people (myself included) worry about Seasonal affective disorder. Seasonal affective disorder is commonly called seasonal depression. Millions of Americans struggle with their mental health during the fall/ winter seasons when there is less sunlight.

I grew up in Kansas but never got use to the winter. The winter is extremely cold, dark and seems to last forever. When I was a kid, I hated how it got my jeans wet and made my nose run. As an adult, I got to add seasonal depression to the list of reasons I hate it.

In the last couple years, I’ve started to conquer this mood disorder and stayed healthy during these dark seasons. Besides going to therapy on a regular schedule, here are some life hacks I’ve learned living with seasonal affective disorder.

1. Sleep on a normal schedule

I always fall victim to going to bed when the sun sets if I don’t feel good. In the winter that can mean lights out around 6: 30 pm. Oversleeping is directly linked to depression and causes just as much problems as under sleeping. Now days I make some tea and find a hobby to keep me busy until a normal bedtime.

2. Change your clothes everyday

Even if you have no where to go, even if you just change to different pajamas, even if your current pants are super warm. Depression always feels like it sneaks up on me, but there are warning signs. The first red flag is not changing out of my pajamas for 2 days, after that it’s a slippery slope.

3. Act like a cat

Curl up in the window and soak up every once of sunlight you can get. The sun is my best friend in the winter because the sun makes my brain release those “happy” hormones I need. If your lifestyle doesn’t provide a lot of natural sunlight, you can buy a light therapy lamp for the same type of mood boost.

4. Make social media work for you

Follow people that make you feel good. It is really that simple, just follow accounts that post things you like. I follow a lot of people in the wellness industry that fill my feed with love, hope and kindness.

5. Meditate

I do this all year long, but it is especially helpful in the winter. Meditating is very easy, there aren’t a lot of rules and you don’t need to buy anything to start. It is time during everyday to slow down, be still and set goals/ intentions. There are a ton of free apps, videos and podcasts that will guide you through the process.

6. Write it down

My therapist told me to journal for months and I never would. I didn’t like journaling in the past because it became a negative book of every bad day I ever had. Recently I started making more of an effort to write down the good things that happen too because I tend to ignore those. Now with a more honest mix of the good and the bad in my life, it feels good to write it all down.

7. Go do things

It’s cold, dark, and wet outside, and my couch isn’t at all. It is really easy to make excuses to stay home in the winter. But, If you have experienced depression you know how lonely it can make your life feel. So, I force myself to go grab coffee with a friend or just go to someone else’s couch to watch TV. I just make myself do things and don’t let myself become isolated.

8. Remember you aren’t alone

My friends, family, and my therapist all are there to support me when I need it. Now I ask for help when it seems too daunting to handle on my own. This tip is the one that made the biggest difference in my life and probably the most important. We aren’t alone in this.

The more I talk about this issue, the more people I meet experiencing the same thing. We exchange tips and tricks to get through the season and every year this gets a little easier. Do you have any life hacks to share about season affective disorder?

These are suggestions from personal experience, please consult a doctor for mental health advise.

8 (Free) Ways to Stay Well This Winter