In the midst of darkness, light persists.

Mahatma Gandhi

Along my regular hike this time of year (one which involves steep hill climbing, glorious views, multiple trail options, and a lush forest environment), I passed by someone I often see in the early mornings, and our brief conversation went something like this,

Me: ‘Soon it will be too dark at this hour and we won’t be able to do this’

Fellow hiker: ‘oh, I don’t know what I’m going to do then, what do you do?’

Me: ‘well, just go back to walking the main (very flat) path for shorter time periods as I can’t get out as early as its just so dark now’

Fellow hiker: ‘oh, that is so boring; you can’t even get your heart rate up or break a sweat doing that’

Me: ‘well then, what do you do?’

Fellow hiker: ‘enter into three months of depression.’

This comment, coming from a man who always seems to be loving life, and brimming with joy and energy, had me realizing how easy it is to fall into a period of sadness or despair when the season seems to be working against us. SAD is real.

When the days start to get shorter, colder, and darker, it can really get the best of us. For many of us, it is pitch black when we rise in the morning, and for some, it means heading to work in the dark and heading home in the dark. If we work from home, we may find we can still miss out on the daylight hours. If we can’t snatch much of the daytime light, it can take a toll, zapping energy stores and depleting our mood. We may indeed find we are more tired and naturally less active. And if we rely on being active outdoors, we have to adjust our routine.

Here are some ways to help combat mood changes, fatigue, inactivity, and the shorter, darker days:

1. Get outside. Always find a time when you can grab some fresh air early in the day if possible – even if a 10-minute brisk walk.
2. Keep moving. If at home, and the darkness and colder weather is keeping you in, build in some indoor routines. Try this 15-minute walking workout or 15-minute total body yoga routine.
3. Get your sleep. We may naturally gravitate towards getting more sleep this time of year. Now is the time to prioritize it.
4. Let the light in. Be it through the windows or consider light therapy as an alternative to getting outdoor light.
5. Stay hydrated. Easier done in the warmer months but our skin needs this more than ever now – indoor heat depletes our natural moisture, and hydration plays a key role in our energy levels.
6. Relax. Enjoy some alone time or find solace in the quieter season.

We can’t change the looming season. But we can try to control how we react to it and what we do with it. Right now, enjoy all the wonderful. Challenge yourself to get creative or start an indoor project. Plan a short trip to rejuvenate. And appreciate the small pleasures that come with this time of year. Focus on the best this season has to offer rather than the worst. Find enjoyable and different ways to stay active – strolling around a holiday market, and get excited about the holiday season – whatever this means to you (Christmas shopping counts!), or if the holidays fill you with dread, at least find ways to cope for the holiday season. And look forward to the snowy season to brighten things up.