When the temperature drops and the days grow shorter, one may suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Feelings of sadness or depression that are part of the winter blues can lead to excessive eating, sleeping and weight gain. Increasing your daily exposure to as much natural light as possible can be a helpful treatment for winter depression. Sit near a window facing south in an office or classroom to get more sunlight.
A regular pattern of sleep is necessary to maintain to keep depression at bay. If it is still dark outside when you first wake up in the morning, turn the lights on to help you wake up. Light therapy can be an effective treatment, or you can replace regular light bulbs with broad spectrum bulbs. If none of these techniques seem to help your symptoms, consider consulting your family physician or mental health professional.
"Turn your face to the sun and the shadows fall behind you." Maori Proverb