Spring is coming but we still have some cold, dark, snowy, rainy weather to get through before the sun is up earlier than I am! The days are growing longer by 3 minutes 48 seconds per day. In March it is will be 3 minutes and 51 seconds longer each day!

In the meantime to keep yourself from getting SAD from the low light levels there are a few things you can do.

1. Take your Vit D without fail. Follow Dr. Mercola’s recommendation of 3000-5000 IU per day depending on your body size.

2. Avoid fluorescent bulbs unless they are the full spectrum ones (most compact ones are not). Even with the full spectrum ones, use a halogen or outside daylight at the same time to compensate for the high flicker rate that wears out your eyes making you feel tired and sluggish. Use the new halogen bulbs (full spectrum) that are now inside traditional looking glass bulbs so you can screw them into any socket. They are low energy, more importantly low EMF, and produce a solid light including the high frequency blue that is easy on the eyes and brain. Added bonus- no mercury.

3. Get your exercise. I know, the grayer the day, the less you feel like it, but, the more you need it. Even if it is just an AIM exercise ball for 15 mins of fun bouncing while you watch TV or some stretches on the Wii.

4. Increase your green intake. This weather makes people crave carbs because the body wants to hibernate and the carbs help it do that. But if you take an extra glass of green juice such as Barley Life Extra or Leaf Greens, or juice your own spinach/kale/cucumber/green beans it will give your body a shot of energy and a boost of vegetable protein to get you through. Try it, you will be surprised. You can take it 3 times a day to maintain high energy.

5. Do something nice for someone. Pay it forward. Just going out of your way to be helpful or nice gives you a big boost of endorphins. Treat a friend for tea or call an old friend and catch up.  Share a good laugh with someone. It shifts your mood. Of course, you could get a good massage or a mani/pedi but it is not the same as doing something for someone else. Your brain knows when you are being nice and rewards you with extra endorphins.

Don’t let dull days make you dull. You control your mood, so do something to lift it. Do all 5 things and have a great day no matter what the weather.