As August winds itself up, it is time to start thinking about the fall and then winter coming up.
A little bit like the squirrels, who are already putting away food for the winter, it may make sense to make sure that you have what you need to have a happy and energetic fall and winter.
The first thing is to think about getting a therapy light. If you have any questions about there being a seasonal tendency to your periods of depression (if you think you may tend to get more depressed in the fall and winter), then now is the time to buy yourself one or two bright, therapy lights.
A therapy light is not like an ordinary light. It puts out a very bright light that is more similar in brightness to outdoor light than any indoor light that you find, even in a very brightly lit room.
You have to sit pretty close to the light, so think about how you will set it up. Also, many of my patients find that 
it’s helpful to have one at home and one at work. The Blue Max Lighting Company in Canada makes several full spectrum therapy lights that are also excellent for reading and don’t look like anything other than a standard commercial light.
In addition to thinking about light, you may also want to give some thought now to the topic of how to stay physically active during the winter. During the summer you’ve probably been able to get out and enjoy the longer days, the better weather, in the fall and winter it becomes harder to stay physically active, but a continued high level of physical activity is essential to a good mood and good energy level.
So think about setting up a gym membership, buying an elliptical trainer (or some other home device) and be 
realistic about how much time it will take to get to the gym and to do your workout and then to drive wherever you need to go. For many of us, having something at home, if we can use it regularly, is a better choice.
The Diamondback 1260Ef Elliptical Fitness Machine comes with a very high rating by an independent consumer magazine. And costs about 2200$. Which seems like a lot – but your health is perhaps worth the investment.
Finally, now is a good time to begin thinking about the upcoming challenges of the holiday season in terms of maintaining a healthy diet. Sketch out some ideas about what you can do to minimize the problems ahead. On average, Americans gain about four or five pounds during the holiday season and then lose about four of those pounds in the spring and summer. If you can cut back your weight gain, it will have a long-term effect in terms of boosting your energy and improving your mood.