Don't be SAD. Get Happy!

Posted by Sandra I 23 November 2011

Don’t be SAD. Get Happy! Make this Your Best Autumn Yet!

There’s no getting away from it. Autumn is well an truly here. The leaves, the wind, the rain, and the cooler, shorter days.

Many people love autumn. Bright chilly mornings; warm, cosy sweaters; harvest festivals, bonfire parties and long walks in glorious forests of colour.
Then there are the gloomy shadows of darkness closing in earlier each evening; the long, grey months of cold and damp ahead of us; and the approaching death of another year. What a drag…

… The winter blues, or SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is a condition now known to affect about 2 million people in the UK and Ireland, according to SAD.org.uk, and is related to lack of exposure to light, choice of lifestyle and level of wellbeing.

We can’t change nature’s cycle. However it is possible to change how we cope with it*.

So if you’re not feeling your usual perky self; if you’d rather stay home with the cat and a bottle of wine than socialise with friends; or if you are struggling more than usual to get out of bed each day, why not make up your mind NOW that this will be your best autumn yet?

Here are some simple strategies for you to try:

You have one life. Live it.

The seasons come and go, year after year, and before you know it, you’re collecting your pension. 6 months of relative hibernation means you’re missing out on 50% of your life. Don’t waste time wishing it was still July and don’t sit waiting for summer to return. Commit to living in the present moment as much as you can. Make today matter.

The power of positive intentions.

Setting intentions puts you in the driving seat of your life. Before you get out of bed, you can set an intention to have a great day. Before you leave the house, you can intend to have quality time with your family or partner. Before you enter your workplace, you can intend to learn something new. Commit consciously to a new action or attitude each day and soon you will gain a sense of achievement that will spur you on to accomplish more.

Make a plan!

Imagine how you want to feel next spring when you look back on the previous 6 months. What will you have accomplished in work, in your social life, in health, in your relationships? Will you write that book? What about that job you’ve always dreamed of? Set 2 or 3 goals in different areas of your life that will really make a difference. If they are compelling enough, you will soon find yourself acting in alignment with your new direction, rather than drifting aimlessly from month to month.

You are just one thought away from feeling great.

Your hair is out of control, you’ve gained half a stone and work is dragging you down. Before you reach for the chocolate in total self- disgust, be aware that it’s what you think about your situation that causes you to feel this way – not the situation itself. Learn to spot those negative thoughts and turn them into a more positive perspective. Will you stuff your face for a quick, feel-good fix? Or see it as a wake-up call for positive, healthy action? You can choose.

Attend to your well-being.

How’s that body doing? And those stress levels? It might be the last thing you want to do, but exercise is an effective way to feel better and counteract the calorie intake. Whether it means going for a walk, getting down the gym or dancing around the bedroom to your favourite song, you’ll receive a healthy a dose of happy hormones that your body and mind will thank you for.

Be amongst positive people.

It’s good to offload, and real friends can help a lot to ease your burdens. But if the occasional heart-to-hearts are turning into regular pity parties, get out quick. Any benefit from this sort of ‘sharing’ is short-lived. Eventually it saps our energy and drags us down further. Choose to surround yourself with ‘glass half-full’ types who look for solutions to problems, who are rarely held back, and who live their lives in ways that make them happy and fulfilled.

Change your lifestyle.

If you have a flexible job, you can claw back some daylight hours by working in the evening when it's dark. In any case try to get outside for at least 10 minutes every day. Bring brightness indoors with mood-changing colours. Red is generally related to energy; blue is calming; green is comforting; and purple radiates sophistication. Changing curtains and blinds or re-positioning mirrors can also help to increase the flow of light indoors.

*Don’t ignore signs of depression.

Research shows that while 17% of the population have “sub-syndromal SAD”, or the “winter blues”, 7% suffer from full blown SAD. People with the blues experience mild symptoms, which can be addressed using techniques like those above. Genuine SAD can be very debilitating and may even affect work and relationships. If you feel that you are not coping and your symptoms are interfering with your life it is always best to seek professional help.