Top 5 Tech Gadgets to Help You Beat the Winter Blues

According to the American Family Physician, up to 26 percent of adults suffer from winter blues or  Seasonal Affective Disorder. This condition, marked by a dramatic shift in mood or affect that coincides with the onset of the dark days and cold weather associated with winter, may be common, but its effects are debilitating enough that many find themselves struggling to go to work, spend time with friends, or general participate in activities that once held allure for them.

The good news? If you’re struggling with winter blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder, you don’t have to simply wait out the winter to feel better. Today, there are numerous gadgets on the market that can help combat the effects of this all-too-common ailment, helping you make it through the winter unscathed. Before you try to battle this condition alone, check out these amazing tools that will help you get happier long before spring arrives:

Verilux HappyLight Therapy Lamps — From $39.95

If the dark days of winter have got you feeling worse for wear, there’s a simple solution: the HappyLight. This device, which comes in a range of sizes and models, mimics the appearance of natural light, helping you experience the flood of feel-good hormones that a dose of vitamin D provides. In addition to illuminating your home, in just a few uses, this clever device can make you feel more like yourself again.

The SunSprite — $165.73

You’ve heard of fitness trackers—now it’s time to get used to sunlight trackers being nearly as common an accessory. This solar-powered clip-on device measures the amount of bright you’re getting, helping you get just the right amount to keep you energized, healthy, and feeling great throughout the day—but not so much you put yourself at risk for skin cancer or a burn.

Phillips Somneo Sleep and Wake-Up Light — $199.99

One of the biggest problems during the winter? Waking up when it’s still dark out and leaving work well after the sun has gone down again. Fortunately, you can at least enjoy a more natural wakeup with the Phillips Somneo Sleep and Wake-Up Light, which gradually brightens, mimicking the effects of natural sunlight, and helping you get out of bed more easily—and with more energy—than you would in complete darkness.

Hyperice Hypervolt — $349.99

The National University of Health Sciences reports that there’s a surprising treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder that many sufferers may overlook: massage. And while some people are lucky enough to have massage services in the privacy of their own building, like the residents of NEMA Chicago, others just have to get the job done themselves. Luckily, professional-level massage devices, like the Hyperice Hypervolt can give you the spa-worthy relaxation you want, right in the privacy of your own home.

Sunbeam Electric Heated Fleece Channeled Blanket — $49.99

One of the biggest complaints among those with winter blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder? A persistent desire to be warmer than the weather outside allows. For those who struggle to stay comfortable when it’s cold outside, a heated blanket can provide all the warmth and comfort you desire, making it a little easier to make it through those cold, wet, and snowy months.

While you can’t avoid winter blues or a Seasonal Affective Disorder diagnosis, you can definitely make the condition’s symptoms more manageable. With these easy-to-use devices, those SAD symptoms will soon be a thing of the past. 

Guest post by Candice Schaffer

Have you or a loved one suffered from winter blues or seasonal affective disorder?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.