I have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD – the most fitting acronym EVER). It’s ironic for a couple of reasons. 1) I had a very happy early childhood in Fairbanks, Alaska, and 2) I willingly live here now.  It took a little bit of adjustment, but luckily by this point in my life, I’ve figured out a couple of coping mechanisms that make living in a cold place bearable.

Tips for Coping with SAD 

Look on the bright side, literally

SAD for me, isn’t about cold. It’s about darkness. I still had it when I lived in Northern California. As soon as it gets significantly darker, I really struggle. I use a therapy light occasionally in the winter (you can find one on Amazon) and I bask in any natural light that I can find, so I never close my blinds. Sorry, neighbors. I’m sure you’ve seen some weird things. The good thing about Idaho Falls is that winter days (in my humble, non-scientific opinion) are often clear.  Cold and windy, but clear.

Invest in the gear

Listen. We all have this dream of looking cute in the cold months, but you need to let it go. Buy the biggest, warmest, wind-resistant coat that you can get your cold paws on. My husband bought me a parka that goes to my knees and it was a. game. changer. I also became happier when I ditched cute boots and replaced them with ugly, warm boots. And also! Wool socks! The uglier, the better!

Get out of the house 

This might be the most important one. You need to get out of the house. Many people have told me that you need to get into winter sports to enjoy living in a cold place. I’m not going to lie – I haven’t embraced that yet. I might give snowshoeing a try. Most of the other ones seem like they come with a really high chance of me falling on my face. But I always try to make an effort to get out and get some exercise. The mall opens at about 6:30 during the winter and me and a bunch of the elderly set walk around it. There are of course, many gyms in the area too, for you people who actually crave significant exercise. Sheesh.

Get out of the city

If you can swing it, I highly recommend planning a trip in the winter. Optimally, a warm place is nice, but the real point is to break up the monotony of winter, so just go anywhere. You can find cheap flights out of IF on Allegiant Air (though I wouldn’t always call the experience smooth), and you can always find great deals out of Salt Lake or Boise. But if that’s not possible? Go somewhere close for a weekend. If that’s not possible? Go for a long drive. If that’s not possible? Just come over to my house – I’ll make you some soup.

Get cozy

That last line (and the line in my bio) wasn’t a joke. I’m constantly making soup in the dark months. My friends tease me because I like to make time-intensive soups and yeah, I know I could make bone broth in an Instant Pot, guys. It’s the experience of having something warm simmer for hours. I know it sounds a little quirky, but I love it. It makes my house feel a little smaller, a little more cozy. Take a moment to find something that makes you feel a little bit cozier. Hot chocolate, fireplaces, candles, warm bread, long baths are some options that I turn to.

Get help

Seasonal Affective Disorder can be debilitating. If it’s continually impacting your ability to function, talk to a doctor. There are a lot of treatments you can pursue. A lot of people find some relief with vitamin supplements (I take Vitamin D in the winter), but some people also need to take an anti-depressant (I take that too). You may even want to find a therapist to speak to. If you’re not comfortable with any of the above, find a friend or family member and let them know that life is making you limp a little more than usual lately. They won’t let you limp alone, I promise.