February 14, 2020 5:55AM

Amazon Prime that Vitamin D to your doorstep...We've heard it a dozen times from our irritating neighbors trying to strike up a chat as we nab the morning mail, or from our overprotective parents across the phone: "you've got to try those vitamin D supplements!" While we may roll our eyes, this vitamin really is the name of the game when it comes to Seattle cuisine through the dreary months. Avoid the wintertime blues and swallow one of these tiny bad boys with your morning supplements; vitamin D (often derived from the sun) plays a power role when it comes to regulation of calcium and healthy bones, maintenance of phosphorus levels, and facilitation of our immune system.

Get lit...Happy lamps are a very real thing, and beloved by many a Seattleites. These ultra-bright lamps are not your everyday nightstand bulb. Serving as a source of mock light for your eyes, mind, and body, shoot for a lamp of 1,000 lux or more, which is 100 times stronger than your average lamp. Taking a seat in front of the lamp for 20 to 90 minutes each day (preferably early in the morning) can help "trick" your body into thinking it's still receiving a healthy dose of daylight, increasing energy and happiness levels across the board. For those who hate their alarm clock, also check out dawn simulators, which increase in brightness as a rising sun would come daytime.

Get lit...Happy lamps are a very real thing, and beloved by many a Seattleites. These ultra-bright lamps are not your everyday nightstand bulb. Serving as a source of mock light for your eyes, mind, and body,

Hunt down some salmon and gather those wild shrooms...Calling all foraging fanatics! As comfort fare and carbohydrate cravings increase through the winter months, strive not to skip out on local produce to supplement the vitamins your body needs to feel fueled. Stock up on fruits and veggies, but also salmon (high in vitamin D3 and Omega-3,) herring (also high in Omega-3,) and wild mushrooms (packed with vitamin D2.)

Ready your neon '80s workout garb, and don't forget the leg warmers...We get it. Either it's too dark and rainy for a jog or a stroll after work, or you're simply just too tired to toss on your workout clothes after a long day in the office. If working out bores you or you can't muster the motivation, look forward to a more winter-friendly fitness activity. Hunt down a neighborhood indoor pool membership for a summertime feel but winter workout (like Snohomish Aquatic Center's balmy warm water pool at 102 degrees,) sweat out your stresses in an infrared sauna at the nearby gym, or check out reservations for these hot spring adventures to get you out of the house.

Refuse to reclude...If you've told your besties you're sick for the sixth time this month to avoid social outings, things might start seeming a little sketchy on their end. If you're too tired come the weekend when you can finally relax or don't have the energy to dress up and head downtown for a happy hour (we're with you,) simply plan social gatherings that don't require as much effort outside of the house! Maintaining conversation and social interaction with others is vital when it comes to keeping happy levels high through the dark months, so while there's a time and a place for a cup of tea and a Netflix binge, opt for joining a book club, picking up a winter sport like show shoeing or skiing, hopping into a Meetup group with people who care for dim sum or latte art as much as you do, or host a dinner party from home to keep you out of your reclusion.

Note: If you want to look forward to an event that at least makes you feel like it's spring, register for the annual Northwest Flower and Garden Show. Decked in thousands of multihued florals and surrounded by a warm venue, the exhibition of horticulture and gardening held in Seattle for five days each February is the largest garden show west of Philadelphia, and the second largest garden show in the country. Not to mention, you can spruce up your kitchen table with some bright tulips.

Refuse to reclude...If you've told your besties you're sick for the sixth time this month to avoid social outings, things might start seeming a little sketchy on their end. If you're too tired come the weekend

Call up your local window washers...The most challenging step on this entire list...here's how it goes: step out of bed, walk to the window, and open the blinds. That's it. That's the tip. While it may be raining outside or unsurprisingly overcast, opening your blinds still lets in a healthy dose of natural light and some semblance of an outside world when you feel cooped up. Not to mention, supposedly opening your blinds can help kill bacteria that can live in dust particles around your home.

Skip the summer vacation...So don't actually skip taking a much needed vacation, but rather, pre-plan the trip for when you know you'll really need it. Head to Hawaii come January or February, plan an easy San Francisco escape come March, or look forward to a trek through Arizona's national parks come early April. The wintertime breaks for warmer temperatures will help revive skin missing the sun and drooping motivation.

Skip the summer vacation...So don't actually skip taking a much needed vacation, but rather, pre-plan the trip for when you know you'll really need it. Head to Hawaii come January or February, plan an easy San

Keep growing...For both a little happy lamp and a healthy hobby through the Seattle darkness, order an indoor garden to settle on your windowsill to grow fresh herbs, sprigs of lavender, and even baby strawberries despite the inability to grow fresh produce outdoors. The caretaking, the mock sunlight lamp, and the fresh produce after a few weeks of waiting will keep your spirits lifted and your refrigerator fresh.

Keep growing...For both a little happy lamp and a healthy hobby through the Seattle darkness, order an indoor garden to settle on your windowsill to grow fresh herbs, sprigs of lavender, and even baby

All puns aside, don't hesitate to talk with your physician... Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real thing, affecting around 10 million Americans according to Psychology Today. A type of depression related to changes in the seasons, drops in levels of serotonin and melatonin alongside an imbalanced biological clock may leave many feeling depressed and low in energy. According to the Mayo Clinic, "It's normal to have some days when you feel down, but if feel down for days at a time and you can't get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your doctor."

Photo: Photo By Cathy Scola/Getty Images

Amazon Prime that Vitamin D to your doorstep...We've heard it a dozen times from our irritating neighbors trying to strike up a chat as we nab the morning mail, or from our overprotective parents across the phone: "you've got to try those vitamin D supplements!" While we may roll our eyes, this vitamin really is the name of the game when it comes to Seattle cuisine through the dreary months. Avoid the wintertime blues and swallow one of these tiny bad boys with your morning supplements; vitamin D (often derived from the sun) plays a power role when it comes to regulation of calcium and healthy bones, maintenance of phosphorus levels, and facilitation of our immune system.

How to stay happy and motivated through a dark Seattle winter

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How to stay happy and motivated through a dark Seattle winter - seattlepi.com