Feeling low in autumn is a form of seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder, appropriately nicknamed SAD. Its exact cause is unknown, but according to the World Health Organization, one in five people on our planet suffer from it.

“Women are usually more affected by it than men,” Aleksandr Tkhostov, a professor of psychology at Moscow State University, told RT. “Also, the older you are, the more likely you are to get it. Seasonal depression has not so much to do with cold but with a lack of sunlight, which typically makes people less active.”

Therefore, the key to surviving the autumn blues is lightening things up – literally. Doctors advise getting outdoors in daylight to keep dark moods away.

Painter Vladimir Vasko, for example, believes that Russian fall, particularly the part of it dubbed the golden autumn, is a perfect time for getting out of the studio.

“Autumn in Moscow is great!” Vladimir said. “It’s a season especially made for letting out your creative impulses. It’s traditionally been the favorite time of poets and painters.”

If verse or oil on canvas is not your recipe for cheering up, do not lose heart. There are many other ways to stop your seasonal blues from turning nasty.

For example, book a holiday somewhere sunny, wear bright happy colors to jazz up your mood – or just take up a new sport or engage in dancing. Experts believe there is nothing better to stave off autumn blues than working out.

Olga Knyazeva has been teaching the fiery moves of salsa for the past three years. For her, dancing is a great way of putting a spring in her step.

“It's all about the music,” Olga told RT. “Moving to music is nothing like shifting weights in a gym. Also, these dances are about a relationship between a man and a woman. When couples dance, it's such an adrenaline rush, so many positive emotions!”