COMBAT CHRISTMAS CABIN FEVER – and GET OUT OF IT!

Being holed up in a stuffy sitting room with the relatives for hours on end can leave you feeling lethargic, listless – and even depressed.

Lack of sunlight reduces our brain’s production of the feel-good chemical serotonin. Studies have shown that even in the depths of winter light levels outside are up to 25 times higher than indoors during daytime, so get out for a stroll or a bike ride to lift your mood. A University of Essex study found that 71 per cent of people reported decreased levels of depression after a walk in the country. If you can’t get out, sit by the window and get a dose of daylight that way. >>