I was talking to a friend the other day. She was telling me about her new experiences with night sweats and hot flashes, wondering if they signaled the beginning of menopause. “Try soy supplements”, I told her confidently, having read and written about research that indicates soy phytoestrogens cool hot flashes.

I realized that, in writing for Fifty-Something Women, I end up learning a lot of important information and occasionally just some fun facts.

For instance, during coffee breaks at work I often go outside despite the cold to soak up some of the sun’s rays. I figure this will banish the specter of S.A.D. as well as boost my cancer-fighting level of Vitamin D.

I learned how to read my nutrition labels and why doing so can help me avoid Sadness Snacking and the dangers of comfort foods.

It comes in handy too, when I can point out that my second cup of coffee is really a diabetes preventative in disguise or when I mention that the danish I am having with it is only to add those few extra pounds that will stave off menopause symptoms.

Okay, so maybe I also look for a few excuses but everyone needs a few excuses in life if they want to enjoy it at all. Life, as we know, must be taken with a grain of chocolate.

As I sit here writing this, the world outside my window is still unlit. The sun won’t be up for hours and it will have gone again by the time I return to my desk this evening. This is the time of year when most of us leave for work in the dark and are indoors for most of the daylight hours only to leave work to go home in the dark. It’s that long stretch between the end of daylight savings time and the first recapturing of daylight minutes. We watch night descend earlier and earlier each evening until we reach the winter solstice.

Although the seemingly ubiquitous darkness makes all of us feel a little depressed, for some it is a serious condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. Many people experience the winter blues but people with SAD can suffer serious depression during the winter months.

The typical symptoms of SAD include depression, lack of energy, increased need for sleep, a craving for sweets and weight gain.

For those with SAD there are several different types of therapy used to treat its effects. Light therapies involve exposure to specially constructed bright lights. For some people SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) alleviate some of the depression associated with SAD. If you think you suffer from SAD, seek help from a medical professional.

For the rest of us, there are things we can do to shake the winter blahs. Exercise elevates mood and if you can, take a walk outside. Instead of spending your lunch hour indoors, go out for a stroll or a drive. Enjoy the sun while it shines and get plenty of fresh air. Remember, Spring is only 102 days away!