I get it really, really bad. I'm definitely a summer girl, and winter is particularly harsh for me even in the mild (read: sometimes nonexistent like now...) winters of Texas. I get very groggy, sleepy, and lethargic and I tend to over eat more and hydrate less frequently if left to my own subconscious devices. Also, projects slow down and motivation plummets.
Here's generally what I force myself to do:
- Continue to exercise, just indoors. I usually go running on trails near my home, and I soak up a lot of sun that way. During the winter the trails are flooded. Also, I have this silly thing where my ears hurt if I am out in the cold running. Working out indoors solves all of that. I just vary between plyometric DVDs, dance DVDs, and walk-in-place DVDs and it does the trick within an hour.
I've gotten myself to work out a steady 2-3 times a week right now... I'll work my way up to 5, and by then it'll be summertime again and I'll go back to running on the trails.
- TRY to wake up at a regular time. This helps a ton if I have a job where I have to report to others like college or corporate work. Doing work on my own... I tend to play music to help me wake up. Also, my nephew now assists me in waking up whether I want it or not.
- Eat healthy, hot foods. I usually in the summer start off with an icy smoothie and cereal and iced teas.. salad and sandwich for lunch, and a lightly cooked dinner since the stove heats up the house. In the winter I have to adjust those things... so hot tea and oatmeal, soups and grilled sandwiches for lunch, and salads and hot, long-baked and cooked items for dinner.
- I force myself to go outside anyways. Even it is just for a while--to walk to the end of the street and back or getting to my car and driving to some place to do some thing.. Unless it's raining buckets and cars and cows are floating by I try my best to do this.