There Are Some Cures For The Wintertime Blues

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The slippery sidewalks, freezing temperatures and constant shoveling have just about everyone feeling down.

But as CBS 2's Andrea Grymes reports, there are some simple ways to perk up this winter.

Psychologist Dr. Harris Stratyner said this is the worst year for "Winter Blues" he's seen in a decade.

"People are really feeling like trapped rats," he said.

Grace Gay, of Queens, was among them.

"Of course, I have (the winter blues)," she told Grymes. "It's so bad."

So what's the best way to lift your spirits -- and make Old Man Winter feel like a cherished member of the family? New Yorkers and tourists had suggestions.

"I do a lot more cooking in the winter than summer -- baking cakes, making really warm dishes," said Leanne Farrell, who was visiting New York from London.

"Let the sunlight through and play some ocean wave music and take myself to another place," said Tony Craig, of Brooklyn.

Stratyner suggested watching a movie or reading. He also recommending doing things that bring joy into your home.

"This is also an opportunity for families to kind of, on the weekend, be together," he said.

Stratyner also said winter is a great time to perfect a hobby or take up a new one.

The doctor, however, does not recommend drowning your winter sorrows in alcohol. But that was not stopping customers at Candlelight Wines & Spirits on Broadway.

"Snow, fabulous," said George Bosler, the store's owner. "Nobody wants to go out. They want to come home, stay warm and drink at home."

Of course, not everyone hates the winter. Josh Fields, of Greenwich, Conn., said he's embracing the cold season.

"You drink a lot of hot cocoa," he suggested.

"I mean, come on, this is New York City. We're tough!"

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