Winter - how to survive and not get depresssed

heavenlyheath

After the cold dark wet non summer we have had many of us are depressed already and add in the cost of living no hope for us

Pop off in your motor home to sunnier climes or off to your appartment in Nice?

Oh hang on a minute. Get under a blanket with a mug of Options and a copy of Yours.

I have a daylight lamp too, last winter I was using it before work as it was dark when I got up.

Currently making the most of the summer days by spending as much time as possible in the garden so I can remind myself of the feeling of sun on my skin during winter months.

Musicgirl I have a daylight bulb in the standard lamp near my sofa. It makes a huge difference to lifting the gloom in our North facing sitting room on a dark, grey afternoon when we're having a cup of tea but don't want the overhead lights on.

Am so with you on this! Feel bad for feeling bad! But dread the winter months more and more as I’ve got older. Don’t have any solutions other than the usuals so will watch this thread with interest as am sure there’ll be some fab suggestions x

When the clocks change it can be a bit miserable, going to work when it's dark and returning in the dark. In my job I look for opportunities to be outside, even if it's running an errand from one building to another. I'll always be the one to offer!

Going swimming and doing other enjoyable hobbies to keep fit can be more challenging when you've been at work all day and feel cold/tired so I'll have to make myself do what's healthy. I avoid TV at the best of times, but can get a bit lost browsing the internet which isn't great for being too sedentary, either.

Following the post with interest as I dislike the darkness.

Check locally to see if there are any walking/rambling clubs near you. As well as the walking/rambling side it is a great opportunity to make new friends who might be in the same mindset as you.

I don't like going out on dark, cold winter nights but don't mind staying in as long as we can still heat the house! The problem is that many people will be worrying about the cost this winter now.
Getting out during the day, particularly if it's sunny, is a must even if not every day. Joining clubs or societies, meeting people can give you motivation and keep you cheerful.

There is a stash of yarn in baskets here waiting to be made into something (not sure what yet). That will keep me busy on winter evenings.

Go to a local Quiz night. Join a local Social Friends group. Find a lonely person to telephone and have a chat with one evening a week. Join a singing for fun group or a book Club.

Go for walks with a friend if possible, enjoy any winter sunshine. Visit places of interest and treat yourself to lunch or afternoon tea somewhere nice.

Go out - take phone - take lots of photos - then send to friends family so they can see what they are missing; - those who live abroad very appreciative. Pictures of animals, unusual houses, quirky views etc, sunsets, dawns, the moon, one`s interests expand. If you are not sure what something is - ask Google. It never fails. Good luck

a few have mentioned Sad lamps,, can they or anyone give a link to any lamp they could recommend, or just suggest could be a good buy? Thanks in advance

Pheebee. There were so many jokes and good factual information shared during lockdown. Apart from the horrendous suffering, there were some lessons learned, which have been continued with WhatsApp groups. I like the idea of a ‘gratitude’ journal MissAdventure. I have a gardening note book, where I plan what I intend to do in the following months. All these things are therapeutic.

I’m inspired by some of the suggestions in this thread.
One activity I started during lockdown was to ‘screenshot’ any jokes, interesting facts or unusual bits of info regarding almost any subject(!) Anyway I have a small group of friends and I would ensure once a week to send a joke or interesting fact on a WhatsApp group I made. I’ve been surprised how many positive comments I’ve had back and one lady has started to contribute with interesting facts she finds on her online social media. Occasionally something I’ve posted has started an online conversation between the group and sometimes descends into misunderstandings but always causes a lighthearted response. I never imagined our WhatsApp group would be in existence so long after lockdown!

It is easy to compare ourselves unfairly with other countries that seemingly have far harsher winters than we do. It has nothing to do with the cold and everything to do with the damp, island climate that we have in the UK. Grey skies almost continually from the beginning of November to March are the biggest culprit, coupled with the short hours of daylight. I came across a French lady who had been living here for a year. She was moving back to France because she said that she could not bear the thought of another English winter. I had a Ukrainian friend and one day the temperature was -2°. She told me that it actually felt a lot colder than the -20° temperatures that are common in a Ukrainian winter. Again, this was because of our damp climate and the wind getting into every bone of the body. What can be done to help? Light boxes have been around for years and many people would not be without them. It is possible to get daylight light bulbs and l have them in my music room, which is where I spend a lot of time. There is also an alarm clock you can buy that gradually takes you from night to day and mimics the natural sunlight effect.

Start a gratitude journal, and make yourself think of just one thing a day that you are grateful about, however small it sounds.

I like autumn and winter better than summer. I find summer disappointing either wet or so hot it's uncomfortable.
Like others I love to walk in the countryside each day. It's so good to come home after a very cold frosty walk to my warm home, a hot drink and my book.
Being on my own the summer can be dispiriting as more people are out and about in couples. It's much quieter here in winter.
I love seeing the mist or snow on the mountain from my window and those sunny, frosty days are hard to beat.

Whitby59

I'm the complete opposite. I get depressed in the spring/summer. Nobody I know understands, and they think I'm weird for loving autumn and winter.

I understand Whitby. I'm much like you.
I love the spring though. The Summer hot weather and long hours is a no no.
I love and look forward to the Autumn and winter and the early dark nights.
To me, it's like hibernation time. All cosy, with the heating on ( if we afford it) feet up and watch the t.v.
I fill a lot of my evening times as well entering online competition sites until the hype of Christmas comes along which I dread.

Designate one day a week as Tourist Day, when you visit a nearby town or city, taking in some galleries, museums, maybe a cathedral? Make sure you schedule your journey to get home before dark. Outside on dry days, sort out all your garden pots, plant bulbs for Spring, cut back straggly plants. Indoors, have a pile of books ready. I’m not crafty, but I have bought a watercolour set, hoping to paint some landscapes from photos I’ve taken recently. My favourite Winter pastime is listening to a good audiobook while doing a jigsaw puzzle, for me it’s the perfect combination! I have a collection of soup recipes cut from magazines that I want to try out. I also enjoy swapping clothes on Vinted, that can keep you busy walking to the InPost locker! Maybe join U3A, they have a lot of outdoor group activities?

I also find the dark days can bring my mood down. I joined the U3a (University of the 3rd Age) which is for people of our age range. They have many groups that cover all kinds of topics and hobbies. For example:- holiday groups, members on their own, art, dancing, knitting, crafting, poetry, music etc.

After the cold dark wet non summer we have had many of us are depressed already and add in the cost of living no hope for us

I’m not keen on the dark nights but I do prefer the winter months. Being able to go out in the middle of the day ( melanoma survivor) being able to do housework without sweating. At the moment I have my living window open all day but my neighbours have three kids and the noise they make!! It’s constant. The living room is at the back of the house so they’re always out in the back garden, shouting, whingeing and crying and that’s just the parents 😬 Seriously though the dad when he’s at home is always shouting at the kids, they seem to be a handful but I am looking forward to the schools going back and the weather cooling off. The only thing that spoils winter is Christmas!

How about making the best of it, being glad to be alive ?
Too many friends have been lost in the last 12 months or may not see next Spring to feel depressed about any season- life is for living- carpe diem

I wish you luck Skydancer we enjoy our local pub quiz all the year round, particularly in the darker months, it gets us out and is sociable.

Same here! Swimming and saunas are great winter activities. ❤️

A very interesting post skydancer - thank you for starting it. It has produced so many ideas and I'll be dipping in and out of it as the months go by.