As the time changes, the sun sets earlier, and the temperature drops, many of us start feeling the changing of the season in our bodies and minds. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons. For me, that means that every winter, starting right about now, I tend to have a harder time. My energy levels drop, I lose my appetite, and I feel a near-constant low-grade anxiety. Some years it is harder than others. Last year, for me, it was pretty rough. In honor of mental health awareness, I wanted to share some things that have helped me with my SAD in the hopes that it may help anyone here who suffers from it: 1. A good therapist, and a journal. Journaling is one of my best allies against seasonal depression. It helps me combat negative thoughts, understand when I'm falling into bad patterns, and overall keep an awareness on where my limited energy is going. And a good therapist takes that a step further. 2. Plenty of exercise & time spent outside. In the winter, it's even more important to maintain a regular exercise schedule. This can be as simple as regular walks outside, going for runs, taking up classes, or getting an accountability buddy to go to the gym with. 3. Vitamin D supplements and a phototherapy lamp. With less sunlight, people with SAD tend to have less than ideal levels of vitamin D. A phototherapy lamp before 8 AM and supplements can help a lot. 4. Regular hangouts with friends. It can be hard to want to go out and spend time with friends, but isolating makes SAD symptoms worse. Try to schedule a regular weekly hangout that's always in your calendar, so it's not as easy to skip out on. Overall, just remember that you are not alone and that SAD symptoms will go away. It may not always feel like that in the moment, but it's always been true for me. If you're feeling SAD, feel free to reach out to the community here! And come to our virtual co-working sessions to get some social time in! We'll also be hosting more in-person and virtual events throughout the winter to encourage community and togetherness.