Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

I don’t know about you all but this year I am pretty lucky!  We have not really had a winter yet here in Kansas.  Usually by this time in January I am suffering the effects of SAD so bad it is hard to get motivated to do anything, much less run.

But this year, I have got to enjoy many sunny afternoon runs in the 40’s and 50’s.  I know you southern folks are thinking THAT IS COLD, I use to think that way when we first moved here from Florida but now I love running in these temps.  Don’t get me wrong anything under 40 and I am cold, but between 40 and 60 those are the best runs.

The best thing about this mild winter is that I can get outside for my runs or a walk with my girls, so we are still getting our vitamin D from the sun.  I think just the fact that we can get out at all is a huge help with SAD.  This is the first year since we moved here that I have not suffered from this disorder and I tell you I am feeling good.  I do worry about next year though and how will I keep this happy feeling through a bad winter.    

Do you suffer from SAD?  How do you cope during the winter to help with SAD?