Once the winter season starts to set in, there will be less sunlight to perk you up. Even animals know that there will be less sun overhead so they go into light hibernation. Humans also notice the changes that happen every season but if you think that it doesn’t have any effect on you, you might want to think again. There are about 20% of the population that experience seasonal affective disorder or SAD where they experience reduced cognitive ability, withdrawal from society, and even fatigue. SAD can affect both men and women but women are more prone to it.

So how do you beat seasonal affective disorder? Here are a few tips that you should try out.

Avoid sugar

Those who experience seasonal affective disorder often crave the sweet stuff because it helps boost their mood. However, the effects only last for a short time. What’s more, you’ll feel worse than before because you have to deal with the symptoms of sugar crash. If you want to keep the symptoms of this disorder at bay, you will need to load up on essential nutrients and avoid sugar as much as possible.

Have some fish oil

Eating fish is highly recommended to those who are suffering from SAD because the oil they contain can regulate your hormones. Fish oil has other health benefits too such as it being good for your heart. If you are not a fan of eating wild-caught fish, there are fish oil supplements that you can also take to get the essential nutrients that you’ll find in fish oil.

Eat dark chocolate

This sounds like counterintuitive after being told that you should avoid eating sugar when the days become shorter but we are talking about dark chocolate that is actually rich in polyphenols which are good antioxidants that are necessary for your body. There are several studies that prove that eating dark chocolate can enhance your mood which is good for combating the blues. Just make sure that you don’t eat a lot because you still need to practice control.

Exercise

This may sound tough given the temperature outdoors can drop in an instant but you can always exercise indoors. There are plenty of workouts that you can do in your basement or in your bedroom such as yoga, Pilates, or even aerobics. Add weights to your routine or try HITT if you can to really sweat your blues out.

Turmeric

Depression is common in those who are suffering from seasonal affective disorder but this can be prevented with the help of turmeric. Add it to your meals to get a dose of curcumin if you like. The best way to take turmeric is to mix it with fats like coconut oil so that it will be absorbed better into your system.