Dear Winter, I feel glum: How writing a letter to the season or sitting by a window helps beat the blues

As wintertime approaches, pinch its gloomy days and longer nights, it's nary wonderment we tin consciousness a small down.

But experts whitethorn person yet recovered an reply to nan 'winter blues' – and it involves having a connection pinch nan play itself.

Around 3 per cent of adults suffer seasonal affective disorder, aliases Sad, according to nan Royal College of Psychiatrists –while galore much consciousness daunted aliases depressed astatine nan imaginable of a agelong wintertime ahead. 

Researchers from nan University of Glasgow recovered that penning a missive opening 'Dear Winter', and telling nan play really it makes you consciousness tin alleviate feelings of depression.

Techniques, including utilizing candles and going for bracing walks, are inexpensive and effective alternatives to sun-simulator lamps. 

Another thought is to ideate being sat successful a medieval sun room – a room pinch ample windows recovered astatine nan apical of castles – aliases surrounded by stained-glass windows.

When it is acheronian and wintry outside, utilizing candles, mirrors and shiny objects to create much ray astatine location whitethorn besides help. 

Other suggestions see sitting by a model erstwhile having to activity inside, and utilizing walks to look up astatine nan entity and statement its colours.

Professor Hester Parr, of nan University of Glasgow, said: 'Instead of reasoning astir really grey and acheronian it mightiness be, group tin count nan colours successful nan entity and announcement really nan ray is changing aliases breaking done nan clouds.

'The thought is to maximise ray whenever possible, and possibly spell to each nan autumn and wintertime festivals celebrating light, for illustration Bonfire Night aliases Halloween, erstwhile group ray up jack-o'-lanterns.'

The tips are successful a book called Light Is A Right: A Guide To Wintering Well. Researchers are besides offering a free online cognitive behavioural therapy people called Living Life To The Full, which intends to thief those pinch Sad. Their task will beryllium launched connected October 28 online and astatine Glasgow university. The nationalist tin attend.