Years ago I read on Mumsnet about a D3 supplement that’s 20,000 units unlike the trifling amounts in most D3 tablets. It’s called Hux and I take it every other day during December and January. I haven’t had winter blues in all the years I have taken it. My SAD used to be debilitating - I remember walking home after work in the dark once with tears pouring down my cheeks for no particular reason at all. Anyhow, doesn’t happen now.
Bought an electric blanket, a blow heater to go under my desk, Uggs, and a duvet for the sofa to make WFH and staying indoors comfortable. Then invested in a massive parka, cashmere socks, sheepskin hat and gloves and sheepskin in-soles for my boots for going out for walks. Always cosy now.
I have fairy lights lit from when the clocks go back until they go forwards. It’s just twinkly enough to make the house look nice, but not so much that it looks like we forgot to take down the Christmas decorations.
We celebrate Lunar New Year in late January. Nobody in this house is Chinese or East Asian, but it was a big thing when I lived down in London, and I always liked it so have kept it up. We go for an epic banquet at a really good Chinese restaurant. Afterwards it’s a hop, skip and jump to Valentine’s Day (which I have made into a big home dinner occasion for us) and then Spring is here.
Have flowers and plants in the house, plant bulbs, and make lists of flowers I want to grow this year.
The key is to have things to look forward to, and to accept that it’s a difficult time so you must do everything you can to cheer yourself up.