That the weather is dramatically affecting my mood

I feel the same op. I loathe it.

I am generally a grumpy old fucker but with this I’ve decided to take the approach that you can’t change the weather, only your attitude to it and with only about 1500 weeks left on the planet I’m not going to spend 50% of it being depressed. I’ve found it rarely rains all day and here it tends to be ok first thing and then roll in, so if I get out for a run before it starts raining, that improves my acceptance of the rest of the day. If there’s a good day I max it out. Also i’m a proud dry robe wanker. The haterz don’t know what they’re missing. Transforms the experience of a rugby pitch sideline from “fucking shit- why did I have kids?” to “bearable”. Finally, I found some indoor but “leave the house” hobbies - bouldering and indoor tennis.

No blankets or hot chocolate.

I manage the grey darkness with lights. Three Himalayan salt lamps around the lounge/dining room cast a lovely warming pink glow. A lamp with an amber globe casts a warm yellowy light and as the darkness takes further hold I string warm white micro fairy lights into a couple plants. Sounds terribly tacky but actually looks very pretty and warms and lights my soul in the miserable weather. Works for my husband too, often I walk in and the lamps are on in miserable dark weather. In my bedroom I have warm white fairy lights scrunched into a vase (not my image but gives you an idea of the feel). Also a super warm and cosy throw in a warming colour on the sofa.

Yes, it's been a very wet year and summer got started later than usual with all the rain. On the other hand I liked that summer was cooler than some years. I hate hot and humid weather.

Maybe you have SAD op? I do...my mood is very dependent on the weather, particularly how bright it is and if there is blue sky....the damp, drizzle and grey skies make me feel miserable and exhausted.

It's utterly miserable.

candles/hot chocolate/snuggling/throws don't make it drier or less miserable and grey.

Yes! I get you. I feel similarly. I also think a lot of the cosying up and reading books etc is harder to do much of when you have kids. Being in a lot makes my family stir crazy. No solutions yet here just empathy!

Fuck hot chocolate, I moved abroad.

Throws and candles are no compensation for month after month of bleak.

SAD syndrome is a real thing, but you just have to keep positive , find different things to do, keep energy levels up😁 I think Autumn has arrived very early this year in a lot of areas in UK. We have often been sea swimming when on late Sept early Oct holidays, but not this year. I actually got a pair of fingerless gloves out Sunday. And a light scarf

Totally agree with this. I love spring/summer because I love being out & about, picnics, beach trips, sitting in the garden, bbq’s etc. BUT I also love autumn/winter because it’s so cosy, life can just slow down a bit, there’s no pressure to be out and about “to enjoy the weather” like there is in the sumner and it’s so lovely to have evenings in, a nice hot heart meal and watch films, bake, candles on!

Winter is less nice than summer every year. There is no way to counteract that

I think it's a mindset thing.
I personally love this time of year. I have no pressure to go out. I can think of nothing better than baking something tasty, shutting the curtains, lighting candles and enjoying some good TV.
I've just ordered a couple of new books, I've got the throws out. The leaves are changing colour and Christmas will be here soon.

The thing to remember though is that it's supposed to be like this. It's October, it's not summer. The nights are drawing in, it's not supposed to be light.