Any advice for getting motivated with seasonal depression?

[Dan Q]

Community service.

What kinds of things work best for you?

I do a ton of voluntary work, but I don't find that any of it sufficiently moves me into a different headspace to feel helpful at combating the winter sad-times. Which is possibly because a lot of the stuff I end up doing is quite remote and technical: maybe I should do more volunteering that gets me out of the house, perhaps (though it's a little challenging because I live in the arse end of nowhere!).

[WaybackGuy]

I definitely recommend in person service. My experience has included habitat for humanity, engineers in action, local food pantry, stem events like public museum festivals or school competitions like science olympiad and future city, etc...

I'm kind of introverted so I show up and just focus on staying busy and finding work to do to help, but often end up meeting interesting people I might not otherwise meet. It kills the time and I get to do something good for others.

Just sign up for stuff and go do things, you never know what will come of it!