Low in january

Oh gilly I think we were separated at birth!! If someone admires my clothes I usually say 'it's only Primark'. I have mentioned on here many times that I have lost my hair and wear a hair system. If anyone tells me I have lovely hair I say 'oh it's not real, it fell out'. My DH says 'STOP DOING THAT - TAKE THE COMPLIMENT'. Low self esteem is the culprit. I must try to change - not sure that's going to work!

I am so pleased ( but obviously not for you all) that my own feelings are being expressed by others.
I can't see any improvement in my own situation in the foreseeable future and can't find much to be optimistic about, but maybe it is the dark days and spring will make a difference.
Here's hoping for us all.

I don't like "new year, new start" as I always, in my pessimisic way, expect the worst.

I totally understand you KatyK that is exactly how I feel too. I am a horribly negative person but I am scared stiff of trying to be positive in case things go wrong. I was also brought up to think that "bigging oneself up" is bragging/showing off so have very low self esteem too.

I am also one of those stupid people who cannot take a compliment of any kind. If someone said "I like your dress" I would respond by saying "you're joking, this old thing it was only £2 in a charity shop" or something to that effect.

I'm affected by the lack of light too. It's true after Christmas everything seems very flat and the dark nights seem to go on forever. I do admire those of you who try and be positive and set a little task each day to lift the mood. I must try and do it!!

I too have resolved to be a less miserable person. I am a total misery to be honest. I have always found that if you resolve to be happier, something horrible happens. I know how pathetic that sounds (and self pitying) but it has always been the case for me. I do, however, have many blessings and am going to try to count them, instead of focusing so much on the negatives.

I know what you mean *gillybob never had siblings but money was tight after Christmas and I did feel a bit peeved I didn't have a summer birthday . I got it right with my DC - all 3 were born in June! (2 are twins!) ! Wishing you a very happy 2017 I do hope you see a few of your wishes/dreams materialise this year

Not very far unfortunately Jayanna9040 but it all revolves around work anyway, so can only usually manage a few days here and there.

What I would really love would be to book the holiday of a lifetime and actually go !

Ok so which bit of the world can you afford? It doesn't have to be far or for long or an expensive holiday. I once went to Milan for less than it cost to have a couple of days in Bath.

I would love to go to Nashville (have loved Country Music all my life).

I would love to see something of the world.

I would love to study something I enjoy. (I threw away my high school education).

Plan something that you always wanted to do. For me it was travel. Tell us something you really wish you could do. Something achievable. I'd really like to know.

Maybe its just the feeling of getting older, maybe its because 2016 was a particularly bad year for me, I don't know, but I feel so sad for the things I haven't done and will probably never do.

Maybe I just need to accept "my lot" and try to look more positively at the good things around me, it's just so damned hard.

My father died in my teens and I felt the rug was pulled from under my feet. First day back at uni for an early lecture I was on the top of the bus at the front and there was a fantastic sky- if you knew Liverpool in those days the pollution gave you spectacular skies- and it gave me a lift for a moment. I'm no Pollyanna but I do look for something beautiful to register. I'm lucky in that I have a garden with lovely views and a beautiful cathedral in my city. But Gillybob it does help.

I actually made a New Years Resolution to try and be less miserable SussexGirl60 it lasted a few hours (basically until the effects of a couple of glasses of wine had worn off) and I was back to my usual, miserable self.

I say to my DH "How can you put up with such a miserable cow for a wife?" and he just smiles and says "you weren't a miserable cow when I fell in love with you"

Gillybob-'nothing to look forward to' just about captures it. I don't think my life is especially miserable but in January, it's hard to find the light at the end of the tunnel. Holidays seems to be the only thing people do to address it-either going on one, or booking one...there must be more than this..

My early January birthday tends to only make me feel worse cupcake1 . I was always a touch jealous of my sisters May birthday when she was made a fuss of and allowed a party. Mine was always "too close to Christmas" and no-one ever had any money left anyway.

Its November and December for me, I'm definitely not a fan of Christmas and dread the lead up and all out commercialism. I love seeing my family but feel so tired and drained when it's over as its left to me to do all the cooking, entertaining etc as they stay over and get waited on constantly! Yes, my fault I know, but I want everyone to have a good time. I usually pick up mid January (probably something to do with my birthday!) - the shortest day has been and gone and Spring and lighter nights are nudging closer. As others have stated on this thread I to have the urge to have a massive clear out. Declutter the house and declutter the mind!!

I feel exactly the same Sussexgirl60 . I always have a feeling of dread during December that prevents me really enjoying the Christmas break as I am already worrying about January . For me I think it's work and the beginning of yet another year of work that I really don't enjoy but can never leave . This year I have had ( and still have) that horrible cold virus together with that awful cough which is so much worse at night and just makes me tired and irritable during the day . Then it's off to work in the dark and back home in the dark. There seems nothing to look forward to .

What about the rest of the year?

Women's Institute is brilliant in January.

I managed to find time on new years day to take DGD to the local park where we walked and she played with others, it was bitterly cold but sunny and at one point I felt a little bit of warmth from the sum. I really made the most of it.
I am trying to find time each day to spend time relaxing out of doors although its difficult to find time off at the minute as I work as well as caring for my mother. My job is outdoors and I sometimes walk past local parks of enjoy the gardens, I found some snowdrops the other day, So lovely as mine at just tiny green spikes as yet.

I suffer from SAD and it got progressively worse over the years. The way I cope with it is I trying to get outside as much as possible because it is certainly exacerbated by lack of light. What I try and do is take a holiday either just before Christmas or in January somewhere warm with lots of daylight. Even though it's not for everyone I go on antidepressants from around September to February which helps me cope. I have tried getting one of those lights that are supposed to help but it just gave me headache. Good luck with finding a solution.

I used to suffer from this and found that a lightbox helped, but it has gone away completely in the three years that I have been on the Low Carb Healthy Fat way of eating. I don't know if it is because I am so much fitter (and thinner), but I suspect it is more to do with the food I eat (and don't eat).
Might be worth a try?

Decluttering in January is a fabulous way to help beat the blues. Loft, cupboards, start the spring cleaning early.
It is amazing how fast January flies by when you are getting ready for spring and it is good for the soul too.

I'm overwhelmed by the number of messages and helpful information and I can see that I'm not alone. I do think lack of light has a lot to do with it. Sunny today which has helped. I do work so getting away could be difficult but I'm going to take some vitamin D just to see if it makes any difference at all....and fingers crossed we have lots of sunny days-for me and everyone else that gets down in the winter.