Three Things to Help Keep from Getting Depressed This Time of Year

This is the time of year we begin hearing more and more about 'seasonal affective disorder.'  That's the condition where people get depressed during the winter months because we don't get as much sunlight, and our serotonin levels drop.

Obviously the best way to prevent 'seasonal affective disorder' is to spend more time outside. But if you're not a fan of the cold, or you live in a place (like Binghamton) where there are more cloudy days than sunny ones, there are three other things that can help.

1.  Exercise.  A study at Princeton University found that exercise boosts our serotonin levels for HOURS, not just while we're working out or right afterward.

2.  Laughing.  According to researchers at the University of Montreal, just a few seconds of laughter can jump start your body into making more serotonin.  And other studies have found that even fake laughing can do the same thing.

3.  Getting a massage.  A study at the University of Miami found that massages up our serotonin levels too. A separate study  found we're significantly less likely to feel depressed after we've had one.