I re-located to UK last year and arrived during the winter. From being in a new country my mind was inundated with thoughts for weeks and months! I was kept occupied with all the essential completion of paperwork, getting to know the place, the people, the transport system, etc. that I didn't have time to get depressed! Seeing the snow for the first time even brightened up my life, and exploring all over kept my brain going!
We have now gone through our 1st summer, and I have purposely looked at volunteering the next few months ahead... This will help me to get through the winter and not feel the 'winter blues!'