Winter Lightens Up

January is one of the harshest winter months; it’s long, freezing and relentlessly dark. It’s no small surprise that most of us struggle to wake up in the morning and sit gloomily during the day, hoping for a ray of sunlight or a freak gust of tropical air. The cold-weather depression many Canadians feel is more than just the winter blues — severe cases are referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Symptoms of SAD are subtle: Sufferers find themselves tired, despite the fact that they sleep for longer periods of time; general moodiness and cravings for sweets and starchy foods are also common, perhaps explaining our need for comfort foods like stews and hot chocolate come December. While we’re used to sulking until spring, a new invention has hit the markets that promises to, ahem, shine a light on our somber winter days. It’s... MORE