I’ve found a few helpful ways to cope with the SAD. A sunrise alarm clock helps tremendously (wakes you up with light rather than sound) and the herb St John’s Wort is good too, especially as a tea drunk in the morning. Not giving in to the carb/sugar cravings is essential for me (so I always have some nuts handy for snack emergencies).

I spent a week the United Arab Emirates just over a month ago, and I had a complete reversal of SAD symptoms from literally the day I arrived, it’s amazing what a few more hours of sunlight can do! Bring on the longer days I say

You get an A+ for reminding us of the ‘other side of the coin’. Thanks!

@Bonnie: You deal with SAD? That stinks! My mother-in-law struggles with that and it makes winters hard. I’m a sunshine kind of guy, myself. I don’t necessarily have SAD, but do tend to feel down by late winter.

“I also find tidiness in the rest of the house follows easily when the kitchen is in order.”

Very true!

@Jay: Ah, forgiveness. A wonderful word and a verb that promotes SO MANY positive things. Excellent point and thanks for sharing it. Eric.

My favorite is forget the past. The past is holding many people back from moving forward- sounds ironic but it so true. Sometimes the key to moving forward is forgiveness. If you are holding onto a grudge use forgiveness, and move on- your life will benefit immensely.
Thanks Eric.

Jay’s last blog post..Dream and Grow Rich

Thanks for an inspiring list, just what I needed to read at just the right time!

One of my favourite things about new year is the knowledge that days will get brighter, as a SAD sufferer dark & gloomy days make me loose my energy & enthusiasm.

I can relate to the messy kitchen thing, if I have a messy kitchen I feel ungrounded & unsettled, regardless of how the rest of the house is. I try to stick to the rule “never go to bed with a messy kitchen” Nothing beats enjoying breakfast & coffee in a tidy kitchen! I also find tidiness in the rest of the house follows easily when the kitchen is in order.

I agree that it is good to take a look around the current year before moving into the next one.

I think it is also useful to look at what was good, what was (perceived) bad, what did you achieve and what did you not get around to.

You’ve got me with the tying up the lose ends. Sigh, best I look at my tax submission and get those new car tyres and…

Thank you – although a part of me is regretting having read this post

Juliet

LifeMadeGreat | Juliet’s last blog post..Why Is It Awkward To Haggle Over Prices?