WINTER CAN be dark, dreary, depressing and so cold that it’s enough to make you want to hide under the covers until May. It arrives yearly, but each time it strikes panic in me anew; I’m caught out year after year. Not anymore, I say. After some research and reconciliation with my old friend, common sense, I’ve figured how to keep from becoming as gloomy as the weather:

1. Go outside, no matter how awful it is. Staying inside all day is NOT good. There’s never enough light, it leads to lazing around all day and grazing (packing on winter weight) and it’s been shown that air inside of homes is increasingly more polluted than fresh air. Plus, you’ll feel revived because of the bracing air and brisk walk/run to stay warm.

2. Get enough light – nearly impossible for northern hemisphere dwellers, but sunlight is essential to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter-induced depression) and keep the body making things, like vitamin D. If you can’t get outside or have SAD, get an SAD lamp that you can sit next to each day to get the feel good factor you’d usually find on a sunny day outdoors.

3. If you don’t think you’re getting enough vitamins, nutrients et al, then take supplements. I’m not a huge fan of them, personally, but during the winter, I do take vitamin D, sometimes a multi-vitamin and I drink a shake of spriulina, chlorella, sprouted bits and bobs (barley, alfalfa), kefir, banana and flaxseed oil. Tastes like a bog but worth it.

4. If you don’t exercise or walk outside, then make structured exercise/movement a priority. It’s not as easy to just get up and do something in the winter, so pick an indoor sport — racquetball or squash — or train for a race/competition held in spring or summer. If all else fails, sign up at a local exercise studio and go several times a week to get out of the house, moving and socialising.

5. Join in! Seriously. If you’ve always hated winter (me) and eschewed ‘winter’ activities, drop the stubborn-child act and get into the seasonal spirit. Go sledging, learn how to Nordic ski, ice skate. Whatever you do, don’t simply cease having fun, because I’ve learned that you’ll begrudge winter your boredom and, well, it’s no one’s fault but your own if you’re bored.

6. Dress for the weather! It’s too easy to find yourself under-dressed and cold and miserable because you don’t have the right clothes for where you live. Or over-dressed and puffy and miserable because you layer on whatever it is you have at home and end up looking like a bipedal walrus. Neither look is good or comfortable. Have the right clothes in the right fabrics. (e.g. layer a long-sleeved t-shirt under a cashmere sweater with a scarf, hat, lined jacket, high boots (and warm socks), gloves and trousers or thermal tights). You’ll be surprised how chic you can look bundled and how much happier you’ll be braving the cold if you’re simply prepared.

It’s so easy to become a Grinch in winter. But that’s boring! No one wants to talk about how awful the winter is all the time, while sat at home alone — thus stuck talking to one’s self about said weather — swaddled in blankets while counting the days until spring arrives. If — no matter what you do — you simply cannot ever get out of your winter funk, might I suggest a change of address? Otherwise, buck up, bundle up and get out there!

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