Eat Well, Live Well - Beat the post-holiday blues

Shop windows festooned with Back to School signs, that telltale nip in the air - summer's on its way out and it's back to the old routine. But if you've got a bad case of the post-summer blues, take heart - there's plenty of ways to spread a little sunshine into September and beyond...

- Forget spring cleaning - have an autumn clear-out. Clutter makes your home feel smaller and darker than it really is. You might not notice it when the sun's shining all evening, but once the nights start drawing in it'll feel oppressive. So blitz your shelves, wardrobes, cupboards and attics. Be ruthless - get rid of anything you haven't used over the last few months. Take your clutter to the charity shop or flog it on Ebay. Put any cash you raise into a special treat fund for a swanky weekend away, or your dream Christmas party dress.

- Plan some fun events. Start researching (and daydreaming about) next year's holiday now. If that seems like too far away, make sure you schedule plenty of fun between now and Christmas. Now's a great time to catch up with friends who've been on holiday or have been looking after the kids all August, so why not put a get-together date in the diary now?

- Keep those summer memories fresh. It's easy to feel like you've never been away once you're back battling the traffic and squeezing onto the train. Now's the time to put together that scrapbook, organise all those photos and get that priceless video camera footage on to your computer or a DVD. They don't just have to be from last summer, either - how about making this the start of a family history project?

- Resolve to keep up good holiday habits. One of the reasons we feel better on holiday is because we're getting plenty of fresh air and exercise. So if you loved your early-morning swim in the hotel pool, try a weekly swim at your local baths. If you found yourself eating lots of fresh fish and vegetables at a beach-side taverna, recreate holiday recipes to keep your diet healthy. And try to get outside at least once a day, whatever the weather. Taking steps to make your lifestyle healthier will also give you a boost when those inevitable winters colds descend.

- Bring light into your home. Just a couple of small lamps can make a huge difference to those dark corners. Consider repainting or papering walls in cheerful, light-reflecting colours like white, cream or pale yellow. If winter darkness really gets you down, consider investing a natural light box. Swap heavy curtains that attract dust for translucent blinds and light-as-a-feature muslin drapes. And if your net curtains have seen better days, get them down and give them a good wash - or ditch them altogether!