Dear Winter, I feel glum: How writing a letter to the season or sitting by a window helps beat the blues

As winter approaches, with its dreary days and long nights, it’s no wonder we feel a little down.

But experts may have finally found an answer to “winter blues” — and it involves talking about the season itself.

About 3% of adults suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or sadness, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists, while many others feel fearful or depressed at the prospect of the long winter ahead.

Researchers from the University of Glasgow found that writing a letter beginning with “Dear Winter” and telling the class how it makes you feel can ease feelings of depression.

Techniques, including using candles and going for walks, are cheap and effective alternatives to lamps that mimic sunlight.

About 3% of adults suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

When it’s dark and wintry outside, using candles, mirrors and bright objects to create more light in the home may also help.

Another idea is to imagine that you are sitting in a medieval sunroom – a room with large windows found at the top of castles – or surrounded by stained glass windows.

When it’s dark and wintry outside, using candles, mirrors and bright objects to create more light in the house may also help.

Other suggestions include sitting by a window when you have to work inside, and using your walk to look at the sky and notice its colors.

Professor Hester Parr, from the University of Glasgow, said: “Instead of thinking about how gray and dark it is, people can count the colors in the sky and notice how the light changes or penetrates the clouds.”

“The idea is to maximize lighting whenever possible, and maybe go to all the fall and winter festivals to celebrate light, like Bonfire Night or Halloween, when people light lanterns.”

The tips are in a book called “The Light Is Right: A Guide to Wintering Well.” The researchers also offer a free online cognitive behavioral therapy course called Living Life To The Full, which aims to help people experiencing grief. Their project will be launched on October 28 online and at the University of Glasgow. The public can attend.