5 Keys to Busting the Autumn Blues

As I look out my window and see the overcast, gray sky, I'm reminded of the seasons changing, and although fall is coming up, winter is just around the corner. While it's a wonderful practice to be in the present moment, at times it's good to look toward the future so we can use this moment for planning.

I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who said, "Failing to prepare is preparing to fail." When it comes to seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or just being negatively affected by less light and shorter days, this is a great opportunity to get your ducks in a row to stave off a depressive slide.

Below are five key tips to stave off any upcoming fall and winter blues.

This is about nurturing your life. It's about creating resiliency and, most of all, about getting in touch with what really matters.

Start putting some of this in your calendar as dates, and little by little you will have a support for what a lot of people experience as potentially difficult times.

As always, please share your thoughts, stories and questions below. Your interaction creates a living wisdom for us all to benefit from.

Adapted from a publication on Mindfulness and Psychotherapy at Psychcentral.com. Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D. is author of the upcoming book "The Now Effect: How this Moment Can Change the Rest of Your Life" and co-author of "A Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Workbook." You may also find him at www.elishagoldstein.com.