Sleep is important but you should only be sleeping for as long as your body needs it. Going to bed earlier can help you find the point at which you're waking up naturally and from there you can decide how much time you need to sleep.
Philosophy and self-reflection are really two very different things. Studying philosophy in my experience hasn't improved my mood. Reading and learning in general might, and you might find that reading about philosophy is a passion you didn't know you had, but you aren't going to pick up a philosophy book and just internalize a worldview that will cure your depression. Self-reflection on the other hand will also not cure your depression, but it may help you identify the deeper triggers in your SAD that you could potentially address. What if your depression is not triggered by the temperature? Your problem would likely not be solved by moving to a warmer country.