How to beat the dark days of winter.

The excitement of the holidays is over, and Winter Break seems like a million years ago. The newness of college has worn off, the days are short, and you're already sick of wearing itchy sweaters and shapeless parkas. And to top it all off, thanks to global warming, there isn't even a picturesque layer of snow to beautify your college campus. Yes, you've definitely got the Winter Blahs!

• Get as much sun as you can: Wake up early, walk to class, do a couple of laps around the quad between classes.

• Exercise a few times a week. You need those endorphins more than ever in the winter.

• Think about going somewhere sunny for Spring Break. Just having some fun in the sun to look forward to, will help relieve the winter gloom.

• Be ready to Spring Forward on March 9, when you'll get that extra hour of sunlight in the evenings!

• If you're attending college in one of the northern states, you're far more likely to fall prey to SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is caused by lack of exposure to sunlight. Check out the two links above to read more about SAD and decide whether you want to seek treatment.

• When "the weather outside is frightful," it's so easy just to stay in your dorm room unless you absolutely have to leave for class... or the dining hall. But you can't hibernate the winter months away, and trying to do so will just make you more blue. If you haven't already joined a student club or organization, now's the time - anything that gets you out and moving is a good thing!

• Read what the world-famous Mayo Clinic has to say about Seasonal Affective Disorder:

• The American Academy of Family Physicians weighs in, too:

www.familydoctor.org  - Seasonal Affective Disorder