Published Feb 12, 2014. Updated February 12, 2026
Are those winter doldrums kicking in, leaving you feeling the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)? Maybe you just want to curl up and take a cozy nap, or you don’t feel as productive as possible — but you’re not alone. Two in five Americans say their mood worsens in winter – and daylight savings time doesn’t help. But have faith — the time switch is approaching in just a few weeks. And there’s a lot you can do to brighten your mood naturally. Let’s dive into my favorite natural treatments for seasonal depression.
Aromatherapy as a Natural Mood Booster
While you’re not going to cure cancer or save the world with essential oils, they do have a lot of value when it comes to influencing moods and lessoning symptoms quickly. For example, we loved using this natural cold remedy for kids as our daughter was growing up and this natural diaper rash treatment spray has been an absolute life saver (especially for runners chafe!) Learning a few basics about aromatherapy really can free you from taking medications – and there’s rarely any side effects.
PrintStop Winter Blues Room Spray
Mix up a batch of this natural treatment for seasonal depression and utilize it daily to turn around those winter blues.
Ingredients
- 4 oz. clean spray bottle with a fine mist setting (try to avoid anything that used to hold cleaning products or hair spray)
- 18 drops Orange
- 12 drops Grapefruit
- 1.5 ounces of distilled water
- 1.5 ounces of high-proof alcohol (cheap vodka works great but isopropyl or rubbing alcohol are not). (The alcohol helps the aroma linger longer, but you could also just use 3oz of distilled water if you prefer.)
Instructions
- Fill the spray bottle with distilled water and alcohol. (You want to use a bigger bottle so you have room to shake the ingredients well before each use.)
- Add essential oils.
- Shake to combine well.
- Spray mist a few times into the room. Repeat as needed.
Notes
- Some people or animals may have adverse reactions to essential oils so always use with care.
- Do not allow the mist fall onto furniture or into open beverages.
The Power of Citrus: Why These Oils Work
Orange and grapefruit oils have a nice, fruity, citrus smell which promote happiness and peace. Orange is also known to be naturally uplifting and can help with depressive thoughts. It is also anti-inflammatory, providing relief from both internal and external inflammation caused by infections.
You might not believe it, but inhaling these scents can have an almost instant improvement on your mood. When you breath them in, the molecules reach the olfactory system, directly wired to your limbic system where emotions and memories are managed.
Pro tip: Turn your morning shower into an aromatherapy session by adding grapefruit or orange essential oils. Just add a few drops to your shower head when you get in and you’ll have the smell lingering throughout the whole shower. But remember, citrus oils are phototoxic so if you apply them to your skin, stay out of direct sunlight for 12 hours.
Get Moving Outdoors
Increasing your Vitamin D level during seasonal depression is an excellent way to feel better quickly. While you can take Vitamin D supplements, one of the best natural treatments for seasonal depression is just spending at least 10 minutes a day outside, even if it’s cloudy. If you’re aiming for great personal health results, you should be taking 10,000+ steps per day. So just make sure that a mile or two of those are outdoors and you should notice an improvement in your mood.
Take a Little Trip
This may not have a lot of science to back it up, but taking a trip to somewhere warm and tropical definitely boosts my mood when I’m feeling seasonal depression. And it is a great way to reconnect with your family and have some fun outdoors. Getting to reset your senses can really change your perspective and sometimes even help you enjoy the end of your colder weather when you return.
So now I’ve shared one of favorite natural treatments for seasonal depression to get through the winter — do you have any other recommendations?
