VANCOUVER -- Terrible weather is expected to darken Vancouver and much of the province this weekend.

Before you climb back into bed and draw the blanket up over your face, there are a few things you should bear in mind. Bad weather is depressing, but griping about it simply won’t help matters — getting outside will.

According to Joti Samra, a clinical psychologist at Simon Fraser University, some people probably feel left out in the cold this summer.

“People often really look forward to this time,” said Samra. “You have to cancel plans, kids are out of school, you’re just disappointed. You’re left out because the plans you had aren’t happening.”

But cancelled vacations are only the beginning.

“The more we think about, talk about, ruminate about the [foul] weather, the worse it feels,” said Samra.

She said there is one sure thing people can do to improve a cloudy mood.

“One of the best things we can do is actually expose ourselves to natural light,” she said, adding that the positive effects are felt regardless of the forecast.

David Phillips, a climatologist with Environment Canada, was taking no responsibility for Vancouver’s bad weather but said he could see why people on the wet coast were feeling down.

“You put up with your monsoon season and you wait for your reprieve, but it’s not happening,” he said. “It’s depressing weather; just psychologically downing weather.”

Although Friday might see a few breaks of sunshine, Environment Canada’s Weatheroffice (weatheroffice.gc.ca) is forecasting showers and highs of 19 C on Saturday and Sunday. This trend appears to continue until Wednesday.

But Phillips found reason for optimism.

“When I look at the next month ... we are seeing warmer than normal and we’re seeing drier than normal,” he said. “This system has to break down ... when you get to the good weather, maybe that will persist too.”

Like Samra, Phillips said people need to get out whenever they can in this kind of summer.

That doesn’t have to mean playing hooky to catch a mid-week glimpse of sunshine.

“We don’t mind the rain at all,” said Jennifer Webb, communications manager at the Museum of Anthropology.

Webb said attendance at the museum spikes during rainy days. She added that the setting is beautiful, regardless of weather.

Webb recommended that visitors spend time at the reflecting pool.

“If you’re depressed it may make you more depressed,” said Webb with a laugh, “but it may uplift you.”

mrobinson@vancouversun.com

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The good news about bad weather

• Front row seating is wide open at outdoor festivals.

• Ice cream is bad for your waistline anyway.

• There’s no need to water the plants.

• Patio seats at outdoor restaurants abound.

• No need to feel guilty about staying indoors to catch the newest Harry Potter flick.

• There’s no better time to sing than in the rain.