Seasonal Depression: 9 Ways To Ward Off The Winter Blues

They call it the winter blues for a reason. In the depths of January and February, when it's cold and gray and dark outside, it's easy to get caught up in feelings of sadness, exhaustion and general malaise. And in fact, there's more to it than just feeling "blah." Seasonal affective disorder -- a type of depression that affects people at a certain time of year, usually the winter, making them feel moody and drained of energy -- impacts millions of individuals each year.

But before you give up and decide to hibernate until the sun shines again, try these nine practical tips for beating the winter blues.

Tell us: What do you do to combat seasonal depression? Have you tried any of these strategies? Share your thoughts in the comments or tweet @HuffPostTeen.