Coping with the dark Winter days

One of my winter hobbies is making wax melts - just for me, family and friends. At the moment they have Halloween shapes and fragrances like Spiced Pumpkin, autumn cider and snickerdoodle, which is everyone’s favourite because it has that warm, fresh baked cookies aroma. Next month I’ll move on to winter and Christmas fragrances. The smells are so inviting when they linger and welcome you home on a cold day.
I’m a summer person so all my indoor hobbies tend to be winter based like knitting reading, listening to classical music and cooking/baking.
When my drawbridge is up I always have plenty to amuse me!

Norah that is the way to spend winter. I believe that if you can go out every day for a walk preferably somewhere with greenery.
Making you home as warm and cosy as possible does beat the winter blues. Treats are important too so whatever you enjoy doing do more often.
I enjoy every season and winter has its merits too.

StripeyGran

Grans that enjoy the winter, do you have any tips at all? I like the idea of the coloured voile.

Depression is a beast and nobody chooses it.

I like winter. Cosy.

Layers of warm clothing, pretty scarves, cosy gilets (I tend to add to my collection every winter, pretty colours that I favor).

Table lamps placed all round, "warm white" bulbs are my favourite, quite lovely. Fairy lights in the garden and conservatory.

Fire glowing.

Warm stew, soup, baked items. Vitamin D tablets.

I walk many times a day (dogs), winter noon walking is calming.

I much prefer the cooler months too as summer can be so oppressively hot now, though I think I might feel differently if I lived alone though. At the moment I enjoy the odd dark evenings when I'm by myself.
I remember my mother used to say that once it started to get dark in the late afternoon she knew that she wouldn't see anybody until the next day and felt alone.
My son lives alone and finds the shorter days do make him miserable, though he does what he can to make the most of the daylight.

Taking vitamin supplements, particularly B Vitamins and Vitamin D, might help.

We tend to lack Vitamin D, especially during the winter months.

Bea65

I’m already feeling low and do suffer with SAD.. I did try a colour changing light ball but doesn’t do anything for me

Sorry to hear that. If we already feel sub par, the worry is that we will go lower.

I’m aiming to have a treat every day. 3.30 kettle on and pot of tea to combat the dark. When shopping buy treats for the back of the cupboard. Wash hands in soap bought on holiday to bring back a memory.

Really used to look forward to long, cosy, dark nights in a warm house with my late DH but now get quite nervous. I'm in a fairly isolated spot and close the blinds as soon as it gets dark and the lights go on whereas it never bothered me before and we'd generally not bother with closing blinds or curtains. Also on the rare occasions I'm out after dark it's really quite creepy coming back home and putting away the car in the pitch dark and walking round to the door even though there are some sensor outside lights.

The cold weather affects me physically, so many aches and pains. I wear that many layers I look like I’m joining an Arctic expedition when I’m all wrapped up for a short walk! MrB’s mental health suffers in the winter months, it’s genuine and no he can’t just get over it. I help as best as I can and I hate seeing him suffer.

Bea65

I’m already feeling low and do suffer with SAD.. I did try a colour changing light ball but doesn’t do anything for me

Try a moon lamp their lovely, and twinkle on the ceiling.

Autumn and winter are my favourite seasons. I hate the summer.

DeeDe

Me too …

Sorry was answering another …

I’m already feeling low and do suffer with SAD.. I did try a colour changing light ball but doesn’t do anything for me

Me too …

Oh I love the winter evenings, cosy by the fire, candles and soft lights,..
Then snug in bed …. With winter duvet covers.

I am definately a summer person and used to hate the winter, especially when it dragged on through endless January...

I used to get very low and depressed when the summer ended but since finishing work my attitude has changed a little.

I have built in changes I make to prepare for winter- a bit like winter cleaning. I take down my thinner summer curtains and put up my thicker winter ones. I have just changed my quilt too, from the light summer one to a heavier winter one.

I have designated winter and summer clothes too.

In the winter I play more music, watch more TV and get outdoors as much as I can on fine days. Walking is so much easier!

Due to having such a great summer and so far a mild autumn I don't dread the winter quite so much but I enjoy seeing the changing seasons and very soon I'm sure, the world will be turning back towards the sun and the winter will be over!

I am learning to embrace the winter, even though it hasn't even arrived yet. I feel ready!

Far not car

It’s November I particularly dislike. My son died at this time 20 year’s ago after 2 weeks of hell in hospital. Something about the light brings it back to my consciousness every year. January I don’t mind as although it can be cold there is a certain brightness which reminds me Spring is not car away.

It might have been a good summer, but it was still too short for me. I still haven’t done all the day trips I intended and as I’m out a lot at night, theatre trips, socialising and rehearsals etc, I certainly don’t enjoy driving in the dark.

I enjoy my heated throw and cosy nights and have started lighting candles at night when I’m in.

As I retired in April this will be the first time I don't have to get up early for work, or get home in dark. It's going to be interesting?

I'm not a fan of dark nights, I love the summer months.

Lathyrus3

As I’m concious this might be the last Autumn/Winter that I see, I’ve suddenly started to appreciate it and am going to make the most of the uniqueness of what Winter brings😬

It’s amazing how it’s changed the way I feel about it.🤔

I'm sorry to hear this Lathyrus3, but glad you are going to be positive about it. I found last autumn that going for a walk, a mindful one that is, made me 'see' the season so much more clearly. In fact, I wrote a short poem about it. It is a nice memory - I have just inspired myself to do so again, and see what comes up this time! Enjoy your seasons Lathyrus3.

Grans that enjoy the winter, do you have any tips at all? I like the idea of the coloured voile.

Depression is a beast and nobody chooses it.

I’m very touched by people’s good wishes.

Just to say I am actually very well and active at present and enjoying life immensely.

😁

I should have said I have 5 solar lights in my back garden. Admittedly in the darker days they are only one for a short while, but if we have a sunny day they remain bright for much longer. Bought them all at the National Trust.

I dislike hot weather and look forward to the end of Summer. Since the temperature dropped, I've been catching up with shopping and going for walks. I don't like the dark mornings but enjoy the cozy evenings.