"Help me outsmart the winter blues"

If you’re as tired of winter as we are, read on for mood-boosting tips, inspired by everything from modern science to ancient wisdom

- BY KRISTINA MASTROCOLA

Boost joy

Let there be light

"Even brief exposure to bright light shifts our circadian cycle earlier, which can offer relief from winter symptoms like lethargy, sadness and cravings and enhance deep sleep," says expert Michael Terman, Ph.D.

"If it's sunny, get outside for a 20-minute walk without sunglasses." Or consider buying a bright light box and sitting in front of it for 20 to 30 minutes every morning.

Talk about winter

The power of language to shift our perspective can't be overlooked, says health psychologist Kari Leibowitz, Ph.D. For example, the Sámi, indigenous people of northern Europe, have eight seasons, including springwinter at the tail end of winter.