1. Exercise: Exercise is a natural mood booster, and in one study it was found to be as effective as anti-depressants for moderate depression. In winter we tend to hide indoors due to the cold, but bundling up and going for a walk or ice skating can help to lift your mood. Indoor exercise such as yoga or going to the gym provides the same lift without the layers.
    
2. Light Therapy: Seek the sun as often as possible. Many people are affected by the lack of sun and daylight during the winter months, and simply sitting by a window with sunlight streaming in can lift your mood. Getting outside when the sun is shining is an even more powerful mood enhancer.
    
3. Connect: Often we tend to be less social as cabin fever set in, and this can lead to feelings of isolation. Email an old friend, take a course in something new, meet a friend for a cup of tea, call your Aunty in Vancouver, volunteer a few hours a week, and make a real effort to connect with others.
    
4. Diet: The tendency to overeat through boredom or loneliness can be exacerbated by the season. Poor diet also leads to depression, so take care to eat the right foods. Bean or lentil based soups and stews are usually a good choice as they help to warm the body from the inside out, and don’t tend to pack on the pounds.
    
5. Nest: Take the time to do that project you’ve been putting off. Painting, cleaning, organizing a closet, or reading that hefty novel are all great indoor activities. When we do things we have been putting off we tend to feel a sense of accomplishment.

Shiatsu treatments are recommended for individuals with the winter blahs as they can help to shift mood patterns.