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It's almost winter season, and for many people, it's the most wonderful time of the year. However, that is not the case for everyone. During this season, people with seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, feel lethargic, more irritated and less excited about the things they are usually interested in. The condition is sometimes called "winter depression" because the symptoms persist during this cold season for most people. However, others experience the opposite and feel more excited during the winter for their SAD symptoms manifest during summer.

So what do you do when you have SAD? Here are five quick ways to deal with the condition.

1. Try bright light therapy

Light therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat SAD. In a 2019 study, a lightbox mimicking the outdoors helped correct the distraught internal clock during winter. Aside from that, it could also help release serotonin, which helps balance one's mood.  

2. Get enough sleep

New York sleep specialist Thomas Kilkenny told CNN Health that longer nights during the winter season cause insomnia. He suggested getting ready for bed an hour early, dimming the lights and avoiding using electronics before hitting the sack.

3. Exercise

Over the years, several studies have been recommending walking as a way to boost a person's mood. Regular exercise like taking a walk outside in the morning even for just 10 to 15 minutes per day could help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. 

4. Boost your social life

Humans are social beings by nature. Isolation is common in individuals with SAD. However, this should be avoided since it increases the risk of several physical and mental health threats. 

5. Get medical help

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, could help reduce symptoms of depression and the chances of having the same condition the following year. Some experts also recommend going to therapy and taking prescribed antidepressants.