Five top tips to avoid seasonal sadness this year in York

The months are getting colder, and it can’t be denied, the summer enthusiasm is starting to die down. Honestly, as soon as it starts raining regularly I assume it’s the end of sunny days forever — and that’s rough living in York.

We all know that York is magical for Halloween and Christmas (and the rest of the year to be honest), but a little guidance to living your best life in semester one is never a bad thing. Say goodbye to sad girl autumn, it’s adventure autumn as we find all the best spots in York to keep the gloom at bay!

So I did some research on what the professionals advise for people with SAD — aka, seasonal affective disorder. This is a very serious condition that can affect people year-round, and is a much more heightened and life-altering version of the feeling a lot of us get in the colder months. Turns out, October is the perfect time to start preparing for winter, so some of these tips (with a special York twist) will be helpful for the coming weeks.

1. Find natural light

A major influence over our baseline happiness is sunshine; something becoming rapidly rare recently. No fear, because making the most of the daylight can have major effects on our wellbeing. The University of York has an Outdoor Walking Society that’s perfect for getting that vitamin D easily. Plus, grabbing a hotly-demanded ticket on the Monday of that week makes it easier to resist staying cozy in bed for the day.

2. Plan ahead

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When we’re feeling tired, it’s a lot easier to reach for pot noodle over a balanced meal. Disappointingly, though, we do still need to eat vegetables in winter. A common tip is to meal prep, and what better way to discover some new, exciting recipes to make than going out?

Okay, yes, I might be using slightly cold weather as an excuse to get brunch. If I didn’t, would I really be a uni student? Really, though, York has such a wealth of restaurants and cafes to try, and finding excitement in healthy food is a great way to keep up with a good diet. I’d recommend Goji Cafe for inventive vegetarian recipes, and SPARK for a range of culturally diverse dishes to explore.

3. Get moving

Personally, I detest exercise. I will forever be using rainy weather or a “bad vibe” as an excuse to stay home from the gym. However, exercise is brilliant for helping with both low mood and sleep difficulties — two of the effects of the changing seasons. The trendy brunch spot, Rise, hosts a 5k run club every other week, ending at Rise for a luscious breakfast. This hits three goals — getting outside, getting moving and getting good food!

4. Seek support

It’s a very admirable endeavour to seek support when you need it. It shows that you’re in touch with your own needs, and working to help yourself. During the colder months, a lot of people experience increased anxiety and low mood, and there are lots of services available to help with managing these feelings. The University of York runs a counselling service called Open Door, which offers weekly or fortnightly appointments with mental health practitioners or wellbeing officers.

If talking to someone in real life feels intimidating, and you need more immediate support, Shout offers a text helpline for young people struggling to cope. Text SHOUT to 85258 at any time for confidential and anonymous discussion. If you’re in danger, call 999 immediately.

5. Delve into hobbies

York is rich with opportunities to learn and engage with new activities, and what better way to keep the days busy? It can be difficult to get out of the house sometimes, so having something exciting to look forward to can make it easier. Bish Bash Pot is a pottery painting place that’s very popular among students, and Ossie Studio runs yoga, pilates and barre classes every week. There are some interesting societies to check out if you’re looking for something new: Check out the Pole Dancing Society, Archaology Society, The Tipsygate Readers or SJA First Aid Society.

I hope some of these tips will help change your relationship with autumn and winter; it definitely has for me in the past few years. Experiencing low mood and anxiety at any level is difficult to go through alone, and not knowing what you can do about it makes it even harder. Know that you’re not alone, and just like winter turns to spring, that feeling of exhaustion will thaw.

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•A new light show is coming to the York Minster this Saturday

•10 things you’ll only understand if you’re living in an all girls’ flat at York