Winter takes the sun away and brings overcast and rainy days. During these times, you see a lot of people more down in the dumps. For some people, it's more serious than others. These people are diagnosed as having SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder.

SAD is also known as "winter depression" or "winter blues." People who are diagnosed with it usually experience depression symptoms in the winter, and in some cases other seasons, every year.

A lot of cases go undiagnosed, especially in college students, because the symptoms are so common: difficulty waking in the morning, oversleeping, overeating, craving carbs (which leads to weight gain), difficulty concentrating, withdrawing from family & friends, etc. Some people go through this at any given time in college, but for some people, the symptoms affect them daily. Be especially conscious of this condition if you are used to living in a relatively sunny region of the country (say, Southern California) and are attending college in an area of the country with more pronounced and severe winters (the Northeast, for example).

Here are some great tips for fighting winter depression without hardcore treatment or medication:

1. Exercise: Get out there and get active. If you're used to exercising outdoors, try some exercise DVDs inside or join a gym. That'll fight the lack of energy, help you sleep better, and combat weight gain.

2. Schedule social time: Don't let the weather get you down. There's plenty of things that your friends, family, or significant other can do on a rainy day. Try visiting a museum, planning a movie night, watch a Law & Order marathon (my favorite), or have an indoor cook-off.

3. You CAN eat, you CAN sleep: Try to set a regular schedule of sleeping, allowing yourself enough hours to reenergize. Avoid sleeping in on weekends. When you wake up, make sure you have a nutritious breakfast, which will continue to boost your energy throughout the day (oatmeal is a great option).

4. Let there be light: Your lighting can be a huge factor in your winter depression. Opt for eco-friendly, bright light bulbs to replace your energy draining low lighting ones. Also, try watching things on TV that have sunshine in them. Sunshine is truly contagious.

If you feel like the symptoms are getting the best of you, don't hesitate to see a doctor. Therapy and medication could be best for you. However, if you only suffer from the symptoms occasionally, switch it up a bit, and you can fight it!