If the short, dark days are getting you down, what can you do to feel like yourself again?
Keep active
Research has shown that a daily one-hour walk in the middle of the day could be as helpful as light treatment for coping with the winter blues. One You Cheshire East have put together some information about keeping active. Read more here.
Get outside
Go outdoors in natural daylight as much as possible, especially on brighter days. Inside your home, choose pale colours that reflect light from outside, and sit near windows whenever you can.
Keep warm
Being cold makes you more depressed. It's also been shown that staying warm can reduce the winter blues by half.
Eat healthily
A healthy diet will boost your mood, give you more energy and stop you putting on weight over winter. Balance your craving for carbohydrates, such as pasta and potatoes, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Read more about healthy eating with some great advice from One You Cheshire East.
See the light
Make an effort to keep in touch with people you care about and accept any invitations you get to social events, even if you only go for a little while.
Talk it through
Talking treatments such as counselling, psychotherapy or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help you cope with symptoms. Our free Talking Therapies service can offer support for people who may not need to speak to a mental health professional, as well as advice for those who are in therapy but also need some help with managing their day-to-day life. Find out more about Talking Therapies.
Seek help
If your symptoms are so bad that you can't live a normal life, see your GP for medical help.