In The Waste Land, poet T.S. Eliot insists April "is the cruellest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land." But most Torontonians would surely beg to differ -- at least April has lilacs, unlike Farch.

Yes, it's Farch: the period of time spanning February and March, when winter has more or less subsided but spring hasn't quite arrived. It's characterized by bleak skies, muddy slush and lethargy.

In the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, where the word is defined in full, Reg McIntyre even uses it as an adjective in the following sentence: "I hope we get some sunny weather, it is so farch outside."

While one of the more frustrating aspects of this season is the fluctuating weather and constant putting-on and taking-off of hats, scarves and mittens, the worst part about Farch is that everything is dark and grey.

"I'm a diehard runner, but even I find it hard to be disciplined at this time of year," says Dana Allen, manager at Canada Running Series, which hosts events like the Sporting Life 10K and Harry's Spring Run- Off. "When I wake up at 6:30 a.m., even if it's cold, as long as the sun is shining I can't get my shoes on fast enough -- it's the grey part of the year that's the big struggle."

Local psychiatrist Dr. Gordon Yanchyshyn agrees that Farch blahs, a form of seasonal affective disorder, stem from a lack of light and colour. But there are other factors involved, too.

"At this time of year, a lot of us react to lower amounts of light by having slumps in our moods," he says, "and, in fact, bright-light therapy first thing in the morning does help a considerable number of people, so it's definitely something biological. But there's also the psychological effect of long, dark days, at a time when things are often at their busiest at work. There's high stress, cold weather and you're more limited in what you can do.

"Intuitively, people try to avoid all this by cocooning and hibernating," he adds, "but it's better to get fresh air and physical activity instead of being sedentary, sitting at home with a bag of chips and a bottle of wine."

Yanchyshyn, who works at Bay and Bloor, wards off the gloom of Farch by cycling to the office every

day from his home in North Toronto come wind, rain or snow.

"I love year-round bike riding," he says. "I find it really gives me a lift. ... I'm lucky that I'm so close to work, that there are bicycle lanes on my route and that Toronto throws down so much salt in the winter."

Allen agrees that exercise is the best way to get over the Farch blues, but admits that it isn't easy to get motivated.

"Diehard runners will always find a way to push through it," she says, "but the people who only run occasionally or are just learning to run or have a New Year's resolution -- they struggle the most.

"There's no question that having a goal, like one of the 10Ks or half-marathons, helps get over this hump," she adds. "I've talked to so many runners who say that's what motivated them to keep training because they've paid their entry fee, made the commitment and they want to stick to that."

But when it comes to those for whom exercising is not an option, there's still hope -- you might be able to smell your way to happiness. Jan Benham, a Toronto aroma therapist who operates a clinic and shop in the Beaches, says that by incorporating the right scents into your home and daily routine, you can feel better.

"Aromatherapy massage is the best approach because it really relaxes you," she says. "It's the nicest way to experience the aromas and to have a sense of something uplifting and sunny. But another option is to have baths with essential oils, or even something simple like dropping some lemon into a cup of hot water."

Benham says that citrus scents are the best for combatting Farch, especially bergamot or clary sage. "But if you're not sleeping well, you should use lavender or ylang-ylang at night," she adds.

As well, those who tend to wear brand-name perfumes or cologne might want to give it a rest for a few weeks and try something simpler --or dabble in homemade varieties, which can be tailored to evoke different moods.

Of course, smell is only one of five senses, and according to Julianne Bien, a colour therapist at Spectrahue Light & Sound, it's just as important to visually stimulate yourself at this time of year.

"Every colour is actually a form of energy, and each one has its own psychological and therapeutic effects," she says. "I make sure I'm around colour and incandescent light -- never fluorescent -- all the time in my office, but I like neutral colours in my home, especially in my bedroom, because I don't want all of that chaotic energy there. But everybody's unique."

Meghan Telpner, a nutrition student who recently spent three months in California, came back to Toronto in all its Farchiness but was determined to keep her spirits up. She expertly follows all of these experts' advice.

"I burn lemon grass and eucalyptus oil at home," she says. "I have a really colourful apartment and a wardrobe to match. I meditate every day; sometimes I'll go to the [St. Lawrence] market and stock up on organic produce or, if it's really cold out, I'll do hot yoga and work up a sweat."

More than anything, though, she credits her sanity to early-morning strolls.

"I go for a walk in the morning without fail," she says. "The trick is never to check the temperature before I leave the house. Even if it's really cold and dark, there's something nice about the connection you have with other people who are also out that early. Whether they're walking their dog or cleaning snow off their car, there's always that eye contact and a little nod."

As Bien points out, though, the best approach might not be to fight Farch but rather work in harmony with it.

"I believe we should experience everything in the world, and being sad is part of that," she says. "You need to be down to appreciate the ups, and this time of year lets you go within, find out where your life is going and be more introspective -- then you can move forward, more prepared, into spring."

Which, as most Torontonians know, will be here for exactly one week in mid-May.

Vfarquharson@nationalpost.com

© National Post 2007