Feeling SAD in Seattle?
Seasonal affective disorder (commonly known as SAD) is common in Seattle thanks to our short, dark winter days. When the sun is setting around 4:00 p.m. in December and Seattle gets several rainy days without sun in a row, it’s normal to feel an effect on your mood. The first thing you should do is speak to your doctor if you suspect you may be dealing with SAD. Then read on for advice!
We asked local Seattleites for their best tips for coping with SAD and got hundreds of helpful answers. Many suggestions were repeated multiple times, so we gathered the top tips below.
Here are the best tips for beating SAD in Seattle that we heard from locals:
1. Invest in light therapy and Vitamin D
When the days get dark and the nights start early, you have to make your own light! One of the most popular tips given by Seattleites: invest in light therapy such as a happy lamp and, if needed, supplement with Vitamin D.
- “Take vitamin D every day!”
- “Vitamin D supplements and a sun lamp do wonders.”
- “Light therapy.”
- “Smart lightbulbs with circadian rhythm color temperatures.”
- “Broad spectrum light, natural light bulbs, [and] red light therapy.”
- “Happy light for 10 minutes in the morning within 60 minutes of waking up. Candles in the evening.”
- “Smart lights and having a dog.”
- “Vitamin D3 and fresh air! Enjoy where you live! Every place has its own beauty.”
2. Stay busy with fun indoor activities
The Big Dark in Seattle gets old fast if you spend your days working and not doing much else. Luckily, even when the weather outside is cold and wet there are plenty of cozy activities you can do indoors, either at home or out in the city.
As one Seattleite suggested, “Make evening plans on week nights as often as you can! Specifically things that you get you out and about in the city. It helps fight the urge to go to bed at 4:00, gives you something to look forward to, and fills the winter with good memories.”
Another local had this advice: “Cozy up with your rescue cat when it’s dark and go out and enjoy all the amazing things Seattle has to offer.”
Here are some more local winter activities suggested by Seattleites:
- “Go to Jazz Alley for dinner and music.”
- “Indoor swimming.”
- “Kraken hockey.” See this month’s upcoming games here, or visit one of Seattle’s best sports bars.
- “Happy hours.”
- “Get in the gym!”
- “Wine tasting in Woodinville.”
- “Dance and art classes.”
- “Hot yoga and saunas!” Check out our guide to the best saunas in Seattle.
On a budget? The following winter activities suggested by Seattleites are all cheap or free!
- “Stroll around the public market.”
- “Light a candle after work, relax, and enjoy yummy food/drinks.”
- “Volunteering and helping others in any way possible. Donating and giving. Gets my brain focused on others and helps me feel gratitude.”
- “Playing music after work.”
- “Find a hobby you can do indoors that you truly love sometimes that can just be reading or painting or any other type of craft! Even board game nights with family and friends.”
- “Get together with other people to do hobbies if you can.”
- “Lots of candles, good books, yummy tea, and weekend walks or hikes.”
- “Find nice lounges with a view. Cozy up, drink something warm, and read a book. Somewhere as simple as the Starbucks on Alki.” We also recommend these bookstores in Seattle.
- One person suggested “the Seattle Public Library for books, movies, music, in-person events, virtual offerings, classes, soooo many things.”
- More free indoor places suggested by locals include the Frye Art Museum and Elliott Bay Book Co. Plus, we have a guide to free museum days in Seattle!
3. Get moving outdoors
If you’re staying indoors because it’s wet and chilly out, you’re doing Seattle winter all wrong! As one local put it, “getting outside and enjoying the weather no matter the elements” is a great way to chase away SAD. Let these Seattleites motivate you with their advice:
- “Get some good rain gear and force yourself outside every day. Unfortunately, it really helps.”
- “Don’t let it stop you from getting outside! Grab your raincoat, hiking boots, and headlamp and get going!”
- “Get outside as much as possible and walk and hike. This has saved my life.”
- “Go on midday walks when there is light. Just take a stroll, even in the rain. Fresh air is so good!”
- “Walk and hike outside as much as possible!”
- “Take up a new sport in skiing or snowboarding if you don’t know how.”
- “Snow shoeing!”
- “Join a hiking group.”
- “Ride your bike.” Check out these scenic bike trails in Seattle and don’t forget to wear some reflective gear!
- “Get a dog and a rain jacket!”
- “Have some form of movement outside. When you can recreate in the snow in the mountains the reflected light from the snow helps and often you are above the clouds in the mountains. And don’t beat yourself up for doing a bit less and sleeping a bit more.”
If you want to get outside in the Seattle area but you’re not sure where to go, visit these guides:
- 8 convenient hiking trails in Seattle
- 10 stunning city parks in Seattle
- 5 Seattle beaches for tide pool exploring
4. Plan a sunny getaway
Finally, if you have the means to take a winter getaway from Seattle then don’t think twice about it. Many Seattleites make our dark winter more bearable by “traveling frequently to break it up,” as one local put it. Opinions differ on the perfect month and destination, but the main thing is to go find some sun:
- “Travel to see sun if you have to.”
- “Go somewhere warm and sunny in January.”
- “Fly to Hawaii.”
- “Plan a sunshine break for February or March.”
- “Winter vacations to sunny locations.”
- “Planned vacations to somewhere hot in February if you can.”
- “Take trips south to San Diego and Vegas.”
- “Leave for at least one week and go somewhere warm.”
Then come back to Seattle and appreciate all the cozy vibes made possible by our moody weather!