Coping with the dark Winter days

JamesandJon33

And me . Is it because I have a winter birthday🐔?

I have an August birthday.

Actually, towards the end of August, that is just the end of summer as it tips into Autumn, yes, may be you are right.

And me . Is it because I have a winter birthday🐔?

M0nica

Grandma70s

Strange, isn’t it - I love the dark winter days and I dislike summer! Winter is cosy and comforting to me.

Me, too

And me too.

Late autumn and winter are the seasons to hunker down. You can reflect on the harvest of your year, do lots of indoor hobbies, and generally resort to the warmth of your cave. Once the Winter Solstice has passed, planning for the new year starts, holidays, the garden, next years projects. For me, it is that period between 1st November and 21st December that are the darkest but I try to throw myself into catching up with craft, watching films, reading books, and reflecting on the past year let alone go through my house and get rid of what no longer serves.

Endless summer would suit me. Warmth and light nights make me happy.

I'm definitely Team Summer, love the long warm days and sitting in the garden until 9pm. At this time of year, I try to ignore the changes in daylight and just get on with things, apart from a little sadness when the clocks go back. But what I really hate is the cold. I find it very demotivating and would happily hibernate until March - although with dogs to walk, that's not an option!

I love it that we have four distinct seasons here in the UK. Each one brings something different. My favourite time of year though is autumn. I like the colours and smells that you sense when out walking. Even when the weather is too bad for getting outside I love the cosy feeling of being at home. Many of my friends & family (including DH) hate the dark evenings and colder weather. I just embrace it.

Lathyrus3 I am with you there, sadly. I am being told to “think positive thoughts” so will enjoy as much of the season as I can. Hoping to see Spring next year, thinking about the first snowdrops then daffodils breaking out. They always bring me joy. I hope you too can take some comfort in little things to look forward to.

Yes, Madeleine, committing to something is good. It pushes you out the door and makes for an upward cycle.

Maybe you could complile a list of uplifting music for Gloomy Grans?

So I have ways that I have found over the years that help a bit. A mixture of routines and totally not routines!

I use my views that you don't let people down. So if I have committed to being in a play, and opera, a regular weekly meeting etc. I don't have to make an effort to do something, as I get up knowing that I have to be at X by 9am.
That then decrees what I need to wear or take with me and it is almost automatic. If things are bad I may leave early but at least have made an effort for the day. At the same time any lovely day meant abandoning boring jobs like ironing for a walk in countryside or a swift trip to nearby coast to watch the wild sea. I still find either of them cheer ing. Then back to saved good book, radio 3, and a coffee with curtains closed . Not always easy to do, and have days when coping with alot of pain also makes things hard . Plus of course being on your own, means there is no one to make encouraging noises and get you out. Of course J S zBach is my greatest uplifter. Be kind to yourself, and accept some days you can't do much and accept but hopefully the next day will be better

Two recently widowed friends, like myself agree we’re not looking forward to the shorter days and dark evenings by ourselves; we’ve formed a what’s app group and I’ve suggested we have a film night together at each other’s houses , there’s so much choice on streaming channels. We’re also going to a matinee theatre performance early November so that evening won’t seem so cheerless.

I used to struggle in winter though living in the south of UK it's milder than the north. Then I realised I need colour, seeing the brown trees and the white snow depressed me. So I make sure I have colour around me and pretty lights too. Red and gold always at Christmas.

AmberGran

Casdon I used to like taking a month off in February, which to me is the worst month. Can't afford to do that now. The only choice I have now is to be miserable for the next four months or make it as enjoyable as possible.

February is a good month to escape AmberGran. I’ve never done a long winter break myself, but I know somebody who does it every year, she goes for 8-10 weeks, self catering, and reckons it is no more expensive than being at home over the winter - whether she’s right I’m not sure but she says the food is cheaper and she doesn’t need the heating on, she goes to Spain.

Like Visgirl, I retired in early spring this year, so this will be the first year I don't have to get up in the dark to get to work, or return in the dark! I do find fall and winter dreary, especially since I live in a very rainy/cloudy climate.

Even this morning I woke up thinking it was rather dark still, and it was past 7:30. Makes it hard to get up and get busy when the comforts of the bed envelope you.

Getting out in the light daily, and having some hobby for the evenings ready can help alleviate winter blues. I think it's one of the reasons our ancestors had mid winter celebrations! Something to look forward to and cheer us up.

Casdon I used to like taking a month off in February, which to me is the worst month. Can't afford to do that now. The only choice I have now is to be miserable for the next four months or make it as enjoyable as possible.

I'm with Grandmafrench Make the most of the daylight hours, especially before it gets too cold, and make inside a cosy, welcoming place where you can curl up and hibernate if you want. Doesn't help people with SAD, I know, but apart from a good lamp I don't know what will.

I've got my big Autumn wreath on the door to welcome me home. The table lamps that come on automatically in the evening will be set for an hour earlier, so it doesn't get gloomy. My Christmas 'fake' candles have new batteries and are lined up on the mantelpiece. Food will be getting stodgier and warmer, with all our old favourites like suet puddings. My big, fluffy, snuggly duvet will be coming out this week when the bed gets changed. I'm already wearing my nice warm slipper socks. Apart from my sewing list I'm going to try soap making this Winter, something I've always been meaning to try but haven't got around to.

I'm not a lover of the cold but I'm beginning to look forward to the Autumn now. It's a lovely time to go for a walk too, with all the leaves changing colour and gardens looking different.

A short, cold, grey and gloomy day is not compensated by a welcoming house for me, I far prefer to be outside on a warm summer’s evening - it’s like comparing porridge with a smoked salmon salad to say the winter is as good as the summer.

If you possibly can, the best antidote to the dull, miserable days of a British winter is to escape to the sun. I completely understand why some people go for extended periods between January and March.

Autumn is a lovely time of the year when the trees are changing with gold and red shades. Nature is getting ready for the winter and rest and so must we.

I think it helps to have a positive mindset but some people find that hard when it's cold and light levels are reduced.

I’m not going to tell you that your dread of dark,Winter evenings is ‘ludicrous’, NanKate, nor dismiss your feelings!
Just as well we’re not all the same on Gransnet - it would very soon be down to the survival of the fittest!

Apart from gloomy and short days being a Winter feature, which can be magnified for those who love the outdoors, everything feels worse if you are often alone.

Comfort, cosiness, warmth, is what anyone seeks on dark and cold days, but a key feature seems to be the light….and a lack of it. The whole world, when bright and well lit can feel so much better. SAD lamps exist because the condition - for lots of people - does too. Seek out the light, always. Unless you really have to, don’t go out or stay out if it’s dark. Plan to take advantage of early mornings, be prepared to do anything necessary when the day is bright. Try to walk every day. Fresh air and movement, meeting friends, is bound to make you feel different. Dress ‘properly’ in comfortable layers - don’t be cold. (Shoulders level with ears against nasty weather is not a good look!)

Be prepared, if you can, to always get home before it gets dark. Embrace the warmth, draw curtains, arrange good lighting, look forward to warm food, a warm bed and something interesting planned for your evenings. Otherwise, ignore the changing season - or try to.

I’m longing to plant my pots of Spring bulbs but it’s still too warm/early here. My tulips are sitting in the fridge, probably until November, but you can doubtless plant a few pots of plants to cheer.

Don’t dread…..adopt some ideas that will make you feel positive and in control. Come back and tell us maybe that you feel better?

A SAD lamp absolutely does work, a good make is best

I am one of the lucky ones, I have a SAD lamp just in case but rarely need to use it. I love these cold dark months but my body always gets me ready to hibernate. I have fuel for the stove, plenty of candles, lots of food stashed away and throws and shawls and quiet crafts like spinning and knitting.

It is a welcome rest time for me, minimal exercise, no gardening. Recovery time to get ready for the next awakening

Funny old thing, low mood. We are to emulate the Scandanavians but be mindful that they have it worse than us.

And variations on " pull yourself together"

Would it be the same if a person had poor physical health?

i love the winter, i have never been a summer or even a sun person, i have had my heavy black curtain closed for the last 16 months due to scaffolding all around the building i live in, work was supposed to be for a year and now it is two years, men on the scaffold from 7.30am till 4.30pm, i got fed up feeling i was in a fish bowl.

I love all of the seasons. Maybe not all of the time, but glad we have them.

This is where we live .... just have to make adaptations. When my children I did not know there was life out there behind the curtains! Being sad will not make my life better, so really try to manage my evenings.

Gran70s I am with you. I love Autumn and Winter and dread summer and the anti social behaviour and noise that goes with it. I am convinced I have SAD in reverse. I have little sympathy for people who don't like dark nights because they have ZERO sympathy for those of us who are depressed in summer and hate light nights. They resort to calling us names such as killjoy, boring, weird, misery guts etc... Enjoy the fact you get 7 months of BST and we only get 5 months of GMT. To make it fair it should be 6 months of each.