I don’t know about you, but this time of the year can be rough. Around here, it’s cold and we have to shovel snow. We don’t get a lot of sunshine, and what little daylight we receive is typically gone by 5:30 in the evening. Winter, in short, can be brutal.

I’m not surprised that some people turn to alcohol and drugs as a way to cope. I don’t encourage it, certainly, but I’m not surprised if winter intensifies substance use disorder for some people.

But, to take some advice from my friend Dylan Thomas, we have to rage against the dying of the light. I know, I know, he was talking about death, not winter, but the words still apply. Here are some things we can do to fight those winter blues:

• Exercise. Exercise makes you feel good physically, and it helps improve our mood mentally. Exercising lets us know that we’re doing something good for ourselves.
• Outdoor activities. Do you like to ski? Take walks? Sled? If it’s not too cold, consider heading outdoors. Sunlight can provide vitamin D for our bodies, a nutrient that helps our bones, health, and immune system.
• Visit your local library. Libraries feature more than just books these days. Many libraries offer music, movies, games, and other offerings. Many also feature activities for different age groups, providing diversion during those long winter months.
• Learn something. You can take discounted or free classes online and through community organizations. Doing so can help distract you from the weather and even improve your future prospects.
• Organize your life. If you’re stuck at home anyway, why not make it a cleaner, more organized home? Consider organizing one small area at a time, such as a single drawer. Organizing things will also make it easier to complete your taxes, a task you’ll probably also have to do this winter and spring.

I’m hope that you’ll consider these suggestions and develop some of your own. They can help you fight seasonal depression, substance use disorder, and boredom. Winter can be an opportunity, not something to endure.