Use Light Therapy to Beat Winter Blues

Buy a light therapy lamp, turn it on, and sit with the light shining on you for about 20 minutes each day.

After my family moved to Minnesota from the South, we quickly discovered a shift in mood during the cold, drab winter months. SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, is common for those who receive less light and warmth in the winter due to living in colder, darker climates. After doing some research, I decided to buy a light therapy lamp to try to supplement some of the benefits of natural sunlight. We plug it in first thing each morning and "bask" in it while doing our morning routine. It has an auto-timer that shuts it off after 20 minutes, which goes by really quickly. Compared to last winter, my wife and I are much happier and in better spirits. We believe the light therapy has definitely played a role in this.

Here are some options that received high reviews:

Verilux's HappyLight Liberty 10,000 LUX Light Therapy Energy Lamp ($79.95 ; amazon.com)

Circadian Optics Lumos 2.0 Light Therapy Lamp ($64.99; amazon.com) 

Beurer's Daylight Lamp with Natural Sunlight Simulation ($49.99; amazon.com).

Aura Day Light Therapy Lamp ($103.89; amazon.com) 

• Light therapy lamp