Travel Weekly Blog

There's a piece in this week's Personnel Today (December 12 2006) urging employers to look out for signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in their workforce.

The Seasonal Affective Disorder Association (SADA) defines SAD as a type of winter depression that affects an estimated half a million people every winter between September and April; in particular during December, January and February.

Symptoms of SAD include lethargy, a craving for sweet foods and a desire to avoid social contact. Sound familiar?

As someone whose mood sinks as the days shorten, the British winter finds me wrestling an almost primal need to hibernate (with cake) until spring. And I'm not alone.

Most people find themselves a touch gloomier at this time of year. Not only do we have to contend with the lack of sunshine, but there’s also the little matter of Christmas; there are presents to find, food to buy, recipes to make, nativities to attend, parties to organise, cards to write, post office queues an hour long, not to mention workloads, families, crowds, friends.

So with the shortest day of the year (December 22) little more than a week away, I reckon it’s high time we replaced dreams of a white Christmas with dreams of a hot holiday. Imagine a sandy beach; the distant sound of waves gently breaking on the shore as the sun thaws your winter-chilled bones. Long, light summer evenings sipping chilled white wine with the scent of honeysuckle in the air.

No coats. No crowds. No queues. No sprouts.

Here in the UK perhaps? Or somewhere overseas? Where would you recommend?

Nicki Rose, web content editor