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Fact, I HATE THE WINTER! Why? Not so much because of the cold, no I can handle that. Not really because I have to put the Harley away, although that is not a happy time. Not even because of the snow, I really like a nice snowy day to stay at home with the kids and sit by a fire. Nope, not any of the above... I hate winter because of the DARK. I cannot stand all the darkness.

I get up at 5:30am-6:00am every 7:00pm or so and it is dark. It seems as though every time I look outside it is dark, dark, dark. I cannot stand the dark. You see I spent about 7 1/2 years in a deep dark depression and I hate the DARK. Have I got my point across? Too many reading this you know exactly what I am talking about, so let's move on.

What can you do to beat this? What are some of the things a student or young person on a campus can do to kick the blue out of winter... Here are a few suggestions.

• Let there be light! - Change the bulbs in your room to nice, bright 75-100 watter's. (be sure to check the rules before breaking them) Keep that sucker burning during the whole time you are in the room and awake. Studies have shown that by creating a bright area, people who suffer from SAD (seasonal affective disorder) actually feel better.
• Get off your BUTT! - The Sad fact of SAD is people not only are depressed, but the eat more. Get to the gym. Most of the schools I have ever spoken to have a great big bright workout center for the students to use, use it! Not only will the bright lights help you, but the workout will get some much needed oxygen to the 3 pound jello mold called your brain. This will also help combat the spring " I am a lard ass" blues.
• Stop pulling up to the second window! If you eat McCrap, chances are you are going to feel like McCrap. Get good meals at the cafeteria. Make sure that you are eating 3 good meals per day and pack some healthy snacks in your back packs for the days that you may not have a lot of time.
• Decorate for Summer! - Get some nice, bright, summery pictures for your dorm room or house. Make the whole place look like summer on the inside. You may even consider putting up one of those wall murals if you are allowed. You know the ones with the ocean and stuff. Your brain will react to these bright things just as it does to the darkness.

For me Lisa and I have painted our house with bright colors, increased the wattage of the light bulbs, and of course I go to the gym 6-7 days a week. This helped me a lot last year, and I am hoping that it does the same this year.

Here is an article I found that may also help!

If you have others please e-mail us and let us know.

~Paul