If you are prone to feeling a little blue or depleted at this time of year, when the clocks change and the evenings get dark earlier and the days get colder, then you might be a SAD sufferer.
SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is a type of depression that is triggered in winter due to reduced light and affect between three and five per cent of the population, according to the Medical Express.
If it sounds like you might bet affected by SAD, pull on your trainers and get involved in some outdoor activities in Cheshire, because anything that raises your heart rate is good when keeping the winter blues at bay.
Medical psychiatrist Angelos Halaris told the online medical news resource that just 30 minutes of physical activity a day can help SAD sufferers feel better and more energised because exercise releases endorphins and other feel-good chemicals to create a sense of wellbeing.
Moreover, getting as much natural light as possible is a definite bonus, so if you can’t get outside as much as you would like, throw open the curtains.
If you still feel like you aren’t getting enough light, high intensity light boxes are available to buy and just half an hour of time in the morning and evening exposed to its light can help.
If you plan to take on SAD with an outdoor activity, bring a friend along for the ride. A study by medical researchers at the University of Pennsylvania recently found that having a biddy encourages you to take on physical activities – because those with a fitness pal benefit from mutual encouragement.