November depressing month?

Once we get to the solstice the run up to summer begins so that should lift your spirits.

Every day is a bonus I think. What's not to like, think of the alternative.

Blossoming

Yes, BrandyGran: I find it hard to get motivated to do anything. I just want to wrap myself in a blanket and hide. Thomas Hood’s poem says it perfectly for me.

No sun — no moon!
No morn — no noon —
No dawn — no dusk — no proper time of day?

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member —
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds! —
November

I absolutely hate this poem and find it to be the most negative , depressing and unthankful poem. If you wrap yourself in a blanket and hide, you will not see any of the beauty in nature.

As I am writing this the sun IS shining. All you have to do is open your eyes and go outside where there are beautiful Autumn leaves in reds, oranges, yellows, rusts.... the sun is always out even when it's behind a cloud. I saw the moon last night and have always seen it. Health is what you put into your body and the exercise you give it, the care you take of it, including your mental health.
I can assure you there is both shade and shine, still. In fact we have enjoyed an unseasonably warm and sunny november so far in England.
There is fruit and flowers in some people's gardens still and certainly in the supermarkets. There are birds flying in the sky where I live. Of course, if I spent my life under a blanket I would miss all of the beauty there is. I feel this poem is a lie and depressing, an excuse to give up and hibernate which will only contribute to worsen physical and mental health.

I don't mean to be rude, want to explode the myth of "november" being a depressing month. Any month is depressing if you are depressed, but there are always ways you can reframe that experience and improve your MH. I choose to see the good in each day and to celebrate the small joys, whatever they may be.

Today's joys so far are cuddling my dog, seeing the sun come out, rain for the garden, beautiful coloured leaves, proper coffee and a home baked pumpkin and walnut pastry and a hug from my husband. I am grateful for those things and the title of the month doesn't change anything for me.

Do not really like November, December, January or February! Get to March & my mood lifts as it is easier to get out for a brief walk when not so chilly. Love Spring do not mind Summer if not too hot & like Autumn! Think the winter months remind me that I do not have much longer in this world & wish I was fit enough to get to see Family & Friends! Even more lonely in the winter months than the rest of the year! Sad sack me my Nan would have said 🥴

I can't bear the dull, dreary greyness of November.

No but January now theres a depressive month, At least November we are getting ready for Christmas so lights and gifts appearing in shops

Yes it has been wonderful, sunny, bright, colourful so far.

But since yesterday we have rain on and off, and the sun is hiding- November has arrived, finally.

i love november. i love the colours, the smells, the darkening days. to me it is a cosy month.

Most Novembers are dark, wet, often foggy and usually cold and they make me feel miserable. So far, this November has been glorious, we have been blessed with warm weather, very little rain and the most beautiful autumn colours in the gardens and woods. I've actually found it quite uplifting. The down side is I'm way behind with Christmas preparations as I can't believe it's just around the corner, it still feels like September!

My life is precious so I try to enjoy each day. This November has been lovely, unusually mild and quite sunny and I’m not being gloomy but who knows how many more Novembers will come around for me, or any of us.

It will be extremely difficult this year. Our children are gone to other states. My husband and I will be completely alone. It will be extremely depressing.

M0nica

My heart lifts at the beginning of September with the first sign of Autumn and stays that way all the way through the winter months.

Me too M0nica

November can be very depressing but we have had some lovely days here and the autumn colours have been splendid. I can usually cope and play golf up until Xmas but after that it's too cold and I am freezing all the time. Heaven knows what the bills are going to be like.

I’m going off summer now I’m older, long sunny days depress me more than Autumn or winter. They seem to say you should be outside making the most of the good weather.
Now I can enjoy all the cosy things of life, heated throw, new oodie and lighting candles.
This sums up my idea of bliss:-

I always say November is a waste of time and space, and would be happy to spend it abroad, or add 1 week to May, June, September and October.

But this year, it has been an Indian Summer- and gorgeous. Sadly because of climate change, so it is worrying- but it has been really nice.

The thought of the November nights drawing in usually makes me feel very glum indeed and everything becomes an effort. However, this year has brought lovely autumn colours and exceptionally mild weather. I had a lovely walk today under a blue sky with my baby granddaughter. I hope the weather doesn't turn as that will certainly bring on a fit of the glums.

The darkening evenings can be depressing but we have had some lovely sunny days which have made me feel better. I really like the evening of Boxing Day when I can think thank god, that's Christmas over - spring is not that far away. I'm turning into a miserable old codger!

November is only a difficult month for me temperature wise. Mildness has made this less difficult for me this year and I'm grateful

As soon as the leaves start falling my mood changes, I feel down, depressed even until the leaf buds start appearing on the trees and crocuses poke through the soil.

Brandygran I've just spent a very satisfying and relaxing afternoon working in the garden. It's been more like a warm spring day today. The birds were singing and everything felt peaceful. I hope you were able to spend restorative time in the open air.

I don’t mind November. I can stop having to mow the lawn, and most of the leaves are off the trees and have been swept up out of the garden.
November in my part of England means dark evenings, but a whole range of weather, from cold, wet and dreary to warm sunny and ‘let’s go out without a coat’ days. I dislike January and February more.
Still, we’re nearly half way through November, so December will soon be here to cheer you up BrandyGran.
Blossoming I can still recite the whole of that poem by Thomas Hood, all these years later. Thanks for the reminder.

I hate the dark evenings, but November is always a busy time for me doing Christmas shopping, so that helps keep me buoyant. January is when I sink into a depression.

My mother had a name for this time of year. She used to say "these are the dark days before Christmas."
I don't mind November, my youngest sister and my son both have birthdays this month. What I don't like is having to close the curtains at 4pm. I love the long days and short nights of summer.

Normally I can live with November, but I'm finding the current unseasonably high temperatures to be deeply worrying. Climate change very much in evidence, IMO.....

Not depressing for me. I am a hibernator and find different things to do, I always try and get some light on my face as it helps form the feel-good hormones

My downfall as a hibernator is a tendency to eat in between meals. I need to fight that