What an appropriate acronym.

                  It stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder.

I used to live in the arctic. In winter, we didn't see the sun for many months. I am acutely aware of the winter blues and how people are affected emotionally, physically, and intellectually. Much has been written on the subject, so I would like to provide you with some supplemental information.

Natural Light

Research has demonstrated that exposure to natural light has a positive effect on human health, emotional well-being, and therefore learning. Some of the common symptoms of lack of natural light are fatigue, disturbed sleep patterns, appetite and weight disorders, depression, skin damage, and suppressed immune functions. During the short days of winter, a common problem is Seasonal Affective Disorder. The symptoms can be easily remedied through daily exposure to sunlight. Alternatively, Bright Light Therapy (phototherapy), using a minimum of ten thousand lux units for thirty minutes in the early morning, will often cure SAD. Just to put this into perspective, even the cloudiest day is rarely below ten thousand lux, and a sunny afternoon could be as much as one-hundred thousand lux. Do your own research to understand the current technology for Bright Light Therapy devices.

The commonly-used fluorescent tubes, found in many offices and training facilities, have only narrow spectrum light, and they also emit a constant pulsing that can create stress and fatigue. A study of 750 classrooms ((21,000 students) in California, Washington, and Colorado found that students in classrooms with windows and skylights learned 20 to 26 percent faster than students in classrooms with the least natural light exposure. A Florida study of two first grade classrooms found that full-spectrum lighting reduced nervousness and hyperactivity. The students also improved their overall classroom performance.

The Law Of Emotion

A person can only have one set of emotions and feelings at a time. Stronger emotions and feelings replace weaker ones. Indifference or boredom can be substituted with appreciation or curiosity. Curiosity can then be replaced with excitement, which in turn can enable a high-energy learning state. Self-criticism can be substituted with a strong self-esteem. Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) is a way of modeling how successful people achieve their results. It gives us a wonderful set of tools and principles for enhancing the components of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-control, motivation, empathy, and social skills.

The Love Factor

Two parallel studies were conducted on young newborn rats sourced from the same supplier. All aspects of the experiments were identical, including their food. In one of the locations, Cambridge University in England, the rats were gaining weight and thriving. In the other location, Harvard University in the USA, the rats were experiencing less measurable growth. The researchers were unable to rationalize the difference until they later discovered the one factor that made the difference. In order to clean the cages at Harvard, the maintenance staff moved the rats into other cages. At Cambridge, while some maintenance workers cleaned the cages, other workers held and stroked the rats. If TLC (tender loving care) can have that kind of effect on the physiology of rats, think what it can do for a human mind.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

EFT is one of the many techniques in the new field of Energy Psychology. It is in the branch known as meridian therapies. The technique removes negative emotions, reduces or eliminates pain, releases phobias, and assists in setting and implementing positive goals. EFT is a form of psychological acupressure, based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture, to treat emotional disorders. Focusing on the issue and stimulating the major neural pathways initiates a memory process causing change by unblocking the emotional short-circuit. This process results in substituting positive emotions for the negative emotions, which were previously learned and associated with the issue.

The process initially requires the person to think about the event or issue. Simple tapping with the fingertips is used to input kinetic energy onto specific meridians on the hand, head, and chest. This combination of tapping the energy meridians and voicing specific phrases works to clear the emotional block from the body's bio-energetic system. This restores the mind and body's balance, which is essential for optimal learning and mental health. EFT can dramatically enhance intellectual performance simply by eliminating the emotional lids on our intellectual potential.

Most SAD Goes Unnoticed.

Most of us navigate through the winter totally oblivious to how poorly we are functioning. Those who evade SAD are regular outdoor exercisers and walkers. Many of us just feel a bit down, and turn to comfort food. The lethargy sets in and we pine for the spring. Be assertive. Releasing the winter blues is simpler than you think. Begin today. Get outside.