Quote Originally Posted by PamNY View Post
I agree with the recommendation to experience as much natural light as you can. Even a little bit will help.

Maintaining my connection with the natural world also helps me cope with winter blues. It reminds me to see winter as part of a necessary and beautiful process, not a sinister plot to make me crazy.
Absolutely!

I was worried that moving the the PNW from the south was going to destroy my mental health in the winter. Not only does it rain a lot here, but it's grey and DARK for sooooo long up here. The first year, it was a big adjustement just dealing with darkness.

Luckily, I'm outside most of the day every weekend either on the farm or biking or doing other things. There is a distinct advantage to living in the country where I have season specific chores to attend to as I'm forced to stay in tune with even the most minute changes.

Plus, now that I've added a lunch time run to my work day a couple of times a week, I've absolutely noticed my mood improving as well.