Late fall/early winter is a tough time of year for a lot of Active Outdoors folks here in the northeast. Unless you are an avid hunter, chances are you don’t think of this quiet interlude after the leaves drop and before the snow flies and the ice forms  as “your season.”

Though there’s still lots of fun to be had, most hikers, mountaineers, bikers and kayakers grumble (at least a little) about the shorter days, moodier weather, and the need for more clothes and protective gear. And skiers, skaters and snowshoers grumble, of course, because there’s often no  ice and snow (other than man-made). Yet . . .

But getting outdoors and having a little fun is good for you at any time of year, and right now medical experts seem to say it’s even more critical for both your physical and mental health.

Far too many people are afflicted with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) or it’s milder form, the “Winter Blues.” In fact, being Active Outdoors can possibly help mitigate these very real ailments.

Full-blown SAD (I have a friend who suffered so badly that he finally had to give up skiing and move south) is apparently caused by decreased exposure to bright sunlight. At its worst, SAD looks and acts like a form of depression. At its worst, SAD can cause sleep problems, overeating, despair, anxiety, family/social problems, lethargy,  and even lowered resistance to infection. The Winter Blues aren’t nearly as bad, but they can still make life less fun. Maybe some of that grumbling we hear at this time of year  is the Winter Blues speaking . . .

Type Seasonal Affective Disorder into your search engine and you’ll find lots of companies more than willing to sell you special lights to cure the problem. Nearer the Artic Circle, these artificial lights are probably necessary, but here in the northeast, the solution to getting more light is, for many of us, both simpler and cheaper. If you suffer from SAD, talk to your doctor. He or she might just tell you there’s plenty of  sunlight available to help make your SAD better, you just miss it because you are cooped up indoors all day.

So get outdoors . . . it won’t make your SAD any worse, and it might really help.

Little Adventures

I’m all in favor of getting out and doing big adventures whenever possible. But that isn’t always possible for everyone, especially at this time of year with holidays looming. But how about just a little adventure? After all, getting outdoors really takes no more effort than just throwing on a pair of comfortable shoes and a jacket then walking out the door and into the daylight on your lunch or coffee break. Sure, it’s nicer to have some beautiful spot to walk, but even an office or industrial park gives you a view of the sky— and that’s all you really need. Just getting out for a few minutes for a brisk walk is a terrific pick-me-up.

My own experience tells me that sunlight  on even the shortest, cloudiest and gloomiest of December days is better for me than a constant diet of indoor lights. Try to get out at noon, if you can;  you can almost always see at least the outline of the sun through the clouds near noon when the sun is at its highest point overhead.  Granted, the sun never gets very high in the sky these days, but it’s still usually visible.

And a blue sky, sunny day at this time of year always seems like a pure gift. Some of us are lucky enough to be able to stop what we are doing and take a break if the sun comes out. Others are more constrained by schedules, but almost everyone either gets a break during the day or can make one. Tell your boss you need it for your mental health.

This isn’t just a matter of wanting to get outdoors, it’s a matter of needing to see the  light for your own well being. By Christmas, the sun will have reached it’s solstice and be slowly climbing higher in the sky. That’s another excuse to walk out the door and celebrate! Life isn’t a spectator sport. Get out and enjoy!