I really enjoy going to botanic gardens and greenhouses. The plants and the warm humid air always brings me up

Hot yoga. Indoor climbing. Both if you can. Activity + heat + big, bright open space that tricks your brain into thinking you’re getting outdoor sunlight.

A light box for SAD. Mine is on a timer and I use it as an alarm clock. It really works.

Get into the festive shit. I never cared about Chirstmas or anything, so December was just cold/dark time. Wife was kind of in the same boat, but one year she just went nuts with decorating and holiday foods, events, etc. When you go through the motions, your living space will feel like a happier place; and it’ll pass the time.

And if you live somewhere with more of a mixed population, try to find info on your local cultural groups, and keep close tabs on their event calendars - and actually show up! India does a ‘festival of lights’ thing for example that has nothing to do with Santa or Jesus, but is still a super colorful, fun, and fucking DELICIOUS event. Most cultures have some kind of winter holiday, and when they host local events it makes for some really cool new experiences.

There’s also some good ol’ fashioned escapism. Pick your poison - reading, gaming, etc. Gaming is mine, and this is a good time of year to break out the nostalgic/comfort games. I just started another run of Subnautica, since it’s basically a tropical diving simulator; get immersed into that, and you’ll stop caring about the gloomy weather n’ shit.

For me it’s bright lights and exercise, especially if I can do the exercise in the bright lights

It’s tough though but it’s way easier now that I’m working days

When I was working night shift and wouldn’t see the sun for 2 months I was losing my mind

Vitamin D pills

Beat winter?? Nah man, it’s more like survive winter. Personally, I avoid that asshole if I can and go somewhere where his white bullshit can’t be found.

Failing that…I basically just turn into a miserable fuck. There’s a kind of freedom you don’t normally get to taste; bitter like the winter winds, and as delicious AND angry as the 7th bag of sour candies

Bright daylight bulbs, or good colour changing bulbs to simulate sunshine.

When it is bright outside, go outside and get some sun! Even if it’s cold, you’re still going to get some benefit.

Get an indoor air quality monitor. Open your windows and let in as much fresh air as the outside temperature allows. Cold weather = people don’t open windows = carbon dioxide and other shit builds up inside.

Circulate air with fans or central air set to fan only.

Light box, exercise, and up your vitamin D intake

Hot drinks. Coffee, tea, hot cocoa. I feel like they can’t be truly appreciated unless the weather is cold.

Find an activity you can do outside every (or nearly every) day, or for an extended time on weekends. The cold and/or snow (and/or rain depending on your climate) will make you want to shun the outdoors but that’s the trap. An activity that gets you moving is best IMO because it will help you keep warm, but proper clothes are really the key.

I personally like force-myself-outside activities that are easily replicable, like a run or walk of a set distance at a set time so it’s just part of my everyday schedule, making it harder to welch. If you can do it first thing in the morning all the better: there’s research indicating that early morning sunlight exposure–even through cloud cover–is important in winter. Whatever the activity it doesn’t have to be long; ten minutes outside daily is better than zero minutes, but I’d recommend 15-30 minutes if you can swing it. Even sitting outside on a porch or front stoop with warm clothes and a warm drink while you read the news or do your morning social media check-in or whatever helps.

Conversely if everyday activities don’t work for you or your situation, pick up a new hobby that’s winter-oriented like ice fishing or snow shoeing or cross-country skiing (a lot of the equipment for this type of thing can be rented so you can try out a variety). I’m more of a hiking person myself, which is truly the best year-round activity and requires minimal gear (although in winter proper clothing really makes a difference, especially base layers). The key is making sure to do that activity for several hours at least once a week, and finding something that you enjoy and doesn’t feel like a chore.

However don’t underestimate the power of moving. I don’t mean full snow-birding it down to Arizona or Florida: even places with a proper four seasons can differ dramatically from each other, and finding one that fits you (and facilitates getting outdoors more) can make a world of difference. I’m in the Pacific Northwest, and a lot of people would hate the long, dark, rainy winters, but it’s a lot easier to go on daily walks and runs on wet pavement than icy pavement so it works for me (plus it’s green here all year and you can garden year-round to a small degree). I really struggled living places where the air hurt my face, so cold but dry also works for getting me outside more. I know moving for the weather sounds petty, but why live somewhere that you hate for half the year?

A good quality sun lamp.

I’ve found for me it’s about getting out and enjoying it. Hiking with the dogs, skiing, snow shoeing, sledding, snowball fights and snowman building etc.

I found that viewing winter as a time when I’m stuck inside was super negative for me. Now I look forward to the things that winter brings and allows for.

The only tough part still is when it gets gray for long periods but I soak up the sun when it’s here.

Other people have covered the basics but when I was young and broke and lived in a northern latitude, I would make ceviche with catfish. Catfish is surprisingly high in vitamin D and is always affordable. Ceviche is kind of a “tropical” dish so it made me feel better for non-vitamin reasons too.

I love this time of year.