Tips on Preparing for Seasonal Affective Disorder

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As the days get shorter, mornings get darker, and I for one am preparing myself for seasonal affective disorder. If you also suffer from SAD, let's discuss — when do you start preparing for SAD? What items do you do on your to-do list?

Psst: we've also talked about how to wake up more easily when it's dark out…

My Experience with Seasonal Affective Disorder

I don't have an official diagnosis, but I've noticed over the years that by the time November rolls around I am… often in a not great place. My worst habits tend to come to the forefront — skipping workouts, drinking too much, procrastinating, staying up too late, having a very short temper, eating primarily carbs… I am never really “neat,” but by the time winter is upon us it often looks as if burglars attacked and couldn't find the valuable thing they were looking for.

How I'm Preparing Myself for My Seasonal Affective Disorder

I have also realized (probably far too recently!) that by the time I notice I'm in a not-great place, it's a Herculean task to try to get myself back on track (and it often doesn't start until January). So I have a little alert on my phone in mid-September to do certain things, like

• using my happy light
• taking Vitamin D consistently
• ordering or prep really easy meals (for myself and my family!)
• (and I have a general note to “take care of yourself babe,” which might look like doing restorative yoga or getting massages more often, or giving myself permission to sleep in on the weekends, or doing something mindful like meditating or even coloring)

I feel like even just knowing that it's coming is helpful to me in a lot of ways, also.

Readers, do you feel like you suffer from seasonal affective disorder? What are your best tips on preparing for seasonal affective disorder — and when do you start?

Further Reading on Seasonal Affective Disorder

• Mayo Clinic (primer)
• What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) [Anxiety and Depression Association of America] (tons of good resources)
• How to Fend Off Seasonal Affective Disorder [NYT]
• What doctors wish patients knew about seasonal affective disorder [American Medical Association]
• Seasonal affective disorder, winter blues and self-care tips to get ahead of symptoms [UC Davis Health]
• How to Obtain a Light Box [Yale School of Medicine – Psychiatry]