Mood-Boosting Seasonal Depression Remedies

By Caroline Albert

Edited by Taylor Morgan

As the days have been getting shorter, darker and colder, seasonal depression can start creeping in. It is easy to fall into the monotony of the impending feeling of gloom; however, here are some potential solutions to turn seasonal depression into a winter bounce back. 

To start, some of the main symptoms of seasonal depression are persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness and low mood. Usually, people who experience this see a loss of interest in previous hobbies, changes in appetite and difficulty concentrating, among other things. 

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Other than medication and psychotherapy, there are remedies people can do at home to help combat seasonal depression. 

The first plan of action is to spend as much time in natural sunlight as possible. It can be difficult in the winter months to get outside when it is light, especially with busy schedules. Therefore, for people who may not have the time to get sunlight exposure, there is a product called a Happy Light. 

This product is a light therapy lamp that is made to help combat seasonal depression. The light can sit on a desk or table while someone is doing work, and it helps with light exposure, inevitably boosting the user's mood. 

Another recommendation to help combat the effects of a lack of sunlight is to take a vitamin D supplement. Humans get vitamin D from exposure to the sun, so in the winter, we typically lack it. Taking this vitamin to get those levels back to normal also has the potential to improve moods, ultimately helping fight seasonal depression.

The final major tool to combat seasonal depression is to be consistent with eating mainly whole foods and staying active.