Eleven SAD-Busting Treats for Under £20 this Autumn/ Winter
Forget SAD lamps - it’s time to invest in a few cosy winter gifts…
OK, I’ll start by being a Debbie Downer: Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression, affects two million of us* in the UK.
Compared to the summer months, SAD symptoms include:
Low moods
Low sex drive
Increased stress
Concentration issues
Low self-esteem
And low interest in socialising
I mean, who among us..?!!
You mightn’t be surprised to hear that I, too, suffer from SAD, even though I actually love autumn and really like winter (it’s to do with a feeling of calm, a chance for some downtime, and a period of much-needed reflection - that and the chance to break out some cracking knitwear).
I know I said, “forget SAD lamps” in my cocky subtitle, but it’s proven that, when the sun can’t give you as much vitamin D or, well, sunlight, seasonal affective disorder lamps really do the trick, replacing the big burny thing in the sky. I’ve not tried one yet, but I am willing to invest in the future (lemme know if you’ve tried one and what you think!).
Stop the fight and lean in
Light up a room
This is my candle choice for the autumn - and how cute is my candle holder, a present from my best friends Gem and Jono?
All that said, one of the main ways I’ve found peace with myself in recent years is to lean into a problem, situation or feeling. Fighting with your brain takes up so much energy! But also, according to the ever-wonderful Psychology Today, learning the skill of feeling our feelings allows us to listen to the brain’s signals that something is important to us. If someone stamps on our foot and we feel angry about it, it’s because our brain is telling us clearly that we don’t want someone to stamp on our bloody foot? If we feel depressed in winter, we need to be kind to ourselves and listen to what our brain and body are crying out for.
So, this year, I’m consciously trying to lean into the darkness to make things feel cushy, comfy, and very wintry indeed.
In honour of my love of the cosy season and mental self-awareness, and in the spirit of leaning in, here are 11 small and cosy winter gifts that I’m giving myself, all of which cost £20 or less.
*Would not be surprised if it was at least five times that!
Eleven treats under twenty quid? Yes please…
Right, I’ve gone around my house and picked out 11 things I’ve treated myself to that were under £20 (roughly), so I can share them with you. Call them ideas, inspiration or simply permission to stop being silly and be kind to yourself.
Disclaimer: this is not an ad (I’m no way near well-known enough for that!), it’s just one slightly depressive freelance mental health writer telling her gang that it’s all gonna be OK.
The 11 things in no particular order
A big ol’ blanket
Extra large so you can properly snuggle on your own or share it with a pet or partner, like this one from B&M Bargains. I like its chenille feel and the fact that it doesn’t have daft nose-tickling fringing that a lot of throws have.
An inviting living room
Preferably, everything you own in your home should match your brand colours, like my throw and ottoman do.
2. Pillows
They are usually available in pairs, like these from John Lewis, because two pillows are definitely better than one. But here’s the twist: rather than having normal cushions, put your pillows on your sofa and then cover yourself with your blanket. Ultimate comfort – and I find the extra support is great for resting tight shoulders.
3. Hot chocolate
Like Green and Blacks, available from most shops. Chocolate releases those happy chemicals called endorphins and, although I’m actually not a massive chocolate fan, I find the hot variety has a subtler flavour than a sickly bar of Dairy Milk, and the steam makes me feel happy. If you don’t have the stomach for a big mug o’ milk, just add a spoonful to your normal coffee
4. A huggable mug
Perfect for double-hand-holding that lovely hotty c we just talked about! Makes such a comforting difference to your next Zoom meeting, too. Søstrene Grene has lovely ones like this for less than a fiver.
5. A Disney+ subscription
I think Disney Plus is one of the best channels to subscribe to right now. It has great TV and films, cancel or pause anytime. You got your music blockbusters like Get Back, classic 90s films like Hocus Pocus and Home Alone, plus lovely TV shows like Only Murders in the Building.
6. Books, books, books
A lovely, cosy book, or a stack of books from a second-hand shop, is such a winter treat. Make a little nook like this photo so you’ll always feel invited, and if you can, don’t wait till bedtime to indulge in your favourite paperback – otherwise, you know you’ll fall straight to sleep!
7. Dark, dramatic nail varnish
I’m a dark autumn. Yes, that’s a thing. And so wearing dark makeup makes me feel like a vampish winter witch. I love this navy blue nail varnish from Sally Hansen, available in lots of beauty stores.
8. A fancy, snuggly coat
So that you don’t feel deterred from going outside, get yourself an ace coat and keep it right by that front door. I don’t have a link to anything for this one, because a £20 decent winter coat from a decent shop shouldn’t be a possibility. So, I recommend looking in your local charity shops for something a little bit vintage and a lot environmentally friendly! I have a 70s sheepskin coat that feels so warm and yet so cool, which was a pressie from my husband and I think off eBay (so that counts as free, right?).
9. A recipe book
Jamie Oliver’s Christmas book is soooo fantastic to refer to during the whole autumn/ winter season. The only caveat with this one is that I must advise you to make as many of the delicious winter soups and salads as you can, as a lot ot these dishes are pretty indulgent. Get it second-hand for about £5 at World of Books and see your mealtimes become so much more festive and comforting!
Kate loves Jamie
This book will save not just your Crimbo, but your whole winter.
10. A scented candle
Next do some very cute scented tealights for each season, which means you only burn a little at a time, and it still feels like a lovely treat. I’ve just invested in the Pumpkin Spice and Gingerbread ones.
Extra self-care recommendation: get up half an hour earlier and light one first thing in the morning for a proper mindful moment!
11. Fairy lights
Every room in my house has fairy lights. And then at Christmas, I just add more! Preferably, I try to find a little string of lights with copper wire, like this one from Dunelm, which doesn’t look too much of an eyesore when it’s not switched on.
T’is the season to twinkle like a motherf*cker.
So there you have it - feeling cosy yet?
In all seriousness, the darkness and cold in autumn and winter really can get us down and lead to winter depression, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This is because we can’t go out and about as easily as in summer, heating bills go up and having fun can feel hard for lots of reasons - not to mention the lack of sunlight that deprives us of much-needed vitamin D.
To combat this, investing in medically-proven Seasonal Affective Disorder treatments such as SAD lamps can target the light and vitamin problem directly, while waking our brains up with some lovely, bright light.
But if we also permit ourselves to lean into the season, while being kind to ourselves, I think we can head into the darkness with some self-awareness, peace, comfort and maybe even a little indulgence. Small purchases like the ones in my list above give clues to our brain that we’re worthy of happiness.
And if we buy those cosy winter gifts now – like, before the pesky clocks go back – we’ll head into the winter with a sense of purpose and self-respect.
Goo on, you deserve it!
Hi, I’m Kate - a freelance mental health writer based in the UK, with a penchant for all things cosy and all things copy (like that segue, didya?).
If you’d like me to plump up the cushions on your website and bring some extra little SEO gifts in the form of lovely, friendly words, get in touch with me! Your website deserves it, and so do you.