With the change of the seasons in motion, people are split on how to feel about the cooler and darker months. While many people struggle with this time of the year, particularly with Seasonal Affective Disorder, there are plenty of others who revel in the chilly nights and overcast days. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects an estimated 5% of Americans (roughly 10 million) a year according to Psychiatry.org. Women are four times as likely as men to receive this diagnosis. SAD is the result of the severe change in our environmental landscape during the fall and winter months, it lasts for about 40% of the year. Due to the time change our nights are longer and our days shorter, and in Washington we are headed into our rainy season which may seem almost endless. 

While there are plenty of ways people have fought away the darkness for thousands of years, in modern times we have some creative solutions for you to try to implement this year.

Consider buying a Happy Light. Happy Lights are light therapy lamps that give you the feel of a bright summer day and can boost your mood considerably. Your doctor might also suggest taking a Vitamin D supplement as it’s much harder to come by in these darker times of the year. 

Despite all this evidence that fall and winter are hard times to get through, many Washington residents love this time of year. It’s when we can all get comfortable and cozy, snuggling in for long Gilmore Girl marathons, lighting up our fireplaces for the first time in months, and with Halloween just passing in our rearview mirror there is all the joy that comes as a precursor to our spooky season to consider too. 

Personally, I love the fall! I love drinking hot cocoa, dressing in warm layers, and wearing my favorite shoes. All of these boost my mood and improve my mental health. Whether it’s October and I’m watching scary movies to get in the mood for Halloween or heading into November and hunkering down with my favorite books or show with a fire burning, it just makes me happy. 

If you’re a big Taylor Swift fan like me you’ll already know that our favorite pop princess loves this time of year too. She famously went on and on about how much she loves fall in what is now called her “Ode to Fall”.

“[H]ats and scarves and knee socks and wearing tights for the first time in months and when the mornings are all chilly and you can see your breath. And not caring when people make fun of pumpkin-flavored stuff ‘cause you love it and are happy it’s all the rage and people who dress their dogs in costumes on Halloween and fires in fireplaces…” Fall is very Taylor Swift coded and if you just remember that you’re bound to fall in love with fall. 

According to author Margaret Anne Clarke, “Autumn is the ‘cooling off’ months right between the blazing summer and chilling winter. When the cooler temperatures of fall start rolling in, saying goodbye to summer is not hard to do. Autumn is a great time to break out the jackets, coats, boots, scarves and hats in preparation for the change in season. It’s also the perfect time to start making hot cocoa and lighting a fire in the fireplace. This season creates the perfect setting for a sense of comfort, warmth, and reflection.”

The key to enjoying this time of year instead of moping and wishing summer would come around faster is to lean into the bliss that it has to offer. This is a time to be present for, to be grateful for, and to hunker down in the comfort of your own home.

Get into your comfortable clothes early and allow yourself to fully appreciate the world around you, it is essential to move through the seasons knowing that everything has its time and place. So don’t let the dark days get you down, simply let them be a reason to bring your own light into the world.