A few winters ago, I hit a wall. It was mid-January, the sun had barely made an appearance in weeks, and I couldn’t shake the sluggish, heavy feeling that seemed to settle into my bones. No amount of coffee helped, and my usual routines felt like a chore.
At first, I brushed it off as just being “unmotivated.” But then I learned that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing—not just a case of the winter blues. When daylight disappears, our body’s serotonin and melatonin levels get thrown off, which can make us feel exhausted, irritable, and just off.
That’s when I started experimenting with ways to support my body through winter instead of just waiting it out. Getting outside for morning walks (even when it’s freezing), prioritizing warm, nourishing foods, and supplementing vitamin D all helped. But the biggest game-changer? Red light therapy. I started using the Mito Red Light in the mornings, and within a few days, I noticed my energy was more stable. It wasn’t an instant fix, but over time, it made the long Michigan winters so much more manageable.
If you’re struggling to get through these dark months, you’re not alone. A few small changes can help you feel more like yourself again.