Here is some hands-on help for those of us who suffer from the blues when autumn rolls around. In fact, the tips and easy recipes here will help anybody who has occasional spells of mild depression, whether seasonal or not!

Find out these lovely, soothing ways to beat the blues, here:

1. If you think you may have mild Seasonal Affective Disorder, one of the best things you can do for yourself is invest in full-spectrum light bulbs for your home and office. For more information, see Full-Spectrum Lighting.

2. Try to spend at least ten to fifteen minutes outdoors during the daylight hours. Increased time in nature is also very helpful. On weekends, go on an outing to some beautiful, natural spot and enjoy.

3. Eat oatmeal! Oats are great for mood swings, nerves, and depression. Or make yourself a strong infusion of oatstraw (1 cup oatstraw to 4 cups boiling water; allow to steep at least 4 hours if not overnight, then strain and drink).

4. Aromatherapy is a wonderful ally for autumn depression. Here is Colleen Dodt’s Uplifting Blend recipe:

20 drops sweet orange essential oil
20 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops grapefruit essential oil
5 drops lime essential oil
5 drops rosemary essential oil
2 drops jasmine absolute essential oil

Combine oils in an amber glass bottle. Add 2 drops to a tissue and inhale, or add 8 drops to a bath. 15 drops blended with 2 ounces of carrier oil may be used for massage.

You’ll notice that the blend makes use of several citrus oils; citrus fruits have wonderfully sunny, brightening scents. If you don’t want to buy all the oils in the blend, try using sweet orange only. We can attest to its uplifting properties: when Cait began washing her dishes with an all-natural dishsoap containing oil of orange, she really noticed an improvement in her mood!

5. Be sure to get plenty of exercise, rest, fluids, and mineral-rich foods.

6. Practice smiling: research shows it really helps us to feel more cheerful!

7. Surround yourself with pictures of sunny, colorful scenes. Wear warm, bright colors, and decorate your home with them (see The Colors of Fall).

8. Try some of these Heart-Warming Ideas for Fall.