Gardeners' World's Monty Don combats health battle that affects millions with easy method

Monty Don has revealed that doing a simple exercise each day helps him combat his seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Around one in 20 people suffer from SAD, which equals millions of people across the UK. Sufferers can find themselves experiencing low moods, a lack of energy, and feelings of despair during the darker months.

While the condition is often known as "winter depression", it can impact people living with it during the summer months as well.

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Monty, who experiences SAD from November to mid-February, has tried various remedies, including light therapy and medication. But he found it was flying to sunnier climates that was the "best" remedy.

However, the 69-year-old also finds that when he is at home in the UK, walking his dog each day forces him outside and makes him feel better.

On The Travel Diaries podcast, Monty explained: “In the past 20 years I’ve done a lot of travelling in winter so I get my hit of winter sun. In the winter I’ve been to South Africa four times, I’ve been to India three or four times, I've been to Japan, Australia, I’ve been to the southern hemisphere and I get sun, that sort of recharges the batteries.

“A few weeks of that has a profound effect. If you can afford it, or organise it, that really makes a difference.

“But on a practical level, on a day-to-day level, go outside. I’m talking now and it’s raining, and it’s grey, but I will take the dog outside because it’s better than sitting inside, feeling miserable, or even the sort of onset of feeling miserable.

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“You need to make yourself go outside. It doesn’t matter what you do, go for a walk, if you have a garden, do something, go to the shops, do anything. Go outside, ideally for 20 minutes, preferably for half an hour.”

Monty highlights that the light levels outdoors are "so much better than inside". He was surprised by the amount of light his lightbox emitted, only to realise it replicated the natural light of a March day. He also values experiencing the weather outside.

He added: “For me, and I think for most people, experiencing weather, rain, wind, sun, cold, whatever it is, is very helpful and restorative. Go out and get thoroughly drenched or cold and come inside and warm up.

“Or feel the wind on your face or the sunshine on your face. Listen to the birds, notice the sound of the wind in the tree or kick your feet through leaves, that engagement is very beneficial.”

The NHS says people who are suffering from SAD could experience:

• a persistent low mood

• a loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities

• irritability

• feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness

• feeling lethargic (lacking in energy) and sleepy during the day

• sleeping for longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning

• craving carbohydrates and gaining weight

• difficulty concentrating

• decreased sex drive

Anyone who thinks they are suffering from SAD and feels as though they are struggling to cope should seek help from their GP, says the NHS. The doctor can then assess your mental health.