January really is crap

I’ve not hated it as much this year, as we booked in some post-Christmas treats. I went to the ballet with a friend and to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream with DH.

The sunsets have been amazing this year, and the night skies have been so clear!

I’ve had a massive declutter, and feel so much better for it.

And I spotted some green shoots poking through the mud the other day, so Spring’s just around the corner.

May is practically summer! Spring starts in March!

Personally i love it. Off to canaries for a bit of winter sun on monday. We havent had a full week off work since june last year & DH worked all over xmas inc xmas day. Its our winter treat and we both deserve it!!

I was born in January and I have never liked it, I always fall into a depression during the winter months and it hits hard in January. I only start to feel better in April.

That is why we celebrate Christmas until Candlemas. The Christmas period itself is too frenetic and then suddenly over. Far better to have a winter festival that lasts longer but is less full-on and celebrates doing and being as well as giving. We were away for Christmas itself so never got round to making our gingerbread house and doing paper chains, which we usually do, so we did those last weekend. Have promised DC we can bake Christmas cookies tomorrow.

It’s been beautiful here today. I was out walking the dog as the sun rose, the sky was gorgeous, the birds were singing, and it was all sparkly and crisp. I love this weather.
The days are getting longer too
January is a good time to hibernate (work aside).
Rest, recuperate, recharge.

Love it. Muddy cold walks and back to a cosy clean and tidy house. Curling up in front of the fire, eating well, rested after a decent Christmas break and no social pressure.

I think its worth budgeting if you can to spread the cost of Christmas over the year so its not all out in Dec and then if you get paid early, putting it aside and paying it back to yourself on the proper day so Jan is not as long. Or hide some emergency money to pull back mid month.

The ten day forecast is actually looking pretty good here. It’s cold sure but it’s winter and can be beautiful when the sun is shining. I find if I get out for a walk every day I feel so much better. Then enjoy the darker evenings, light candles etc.

That sounds nice!

I'm finding it a bit depressing at present

I'm not a fan of January especially with this cold weather, I'm really feeling the cold this year too!!

I'm all up for hibernating with early, cosy nights, good food and lots of cups of tea as it's too cold to drink water.

I'm definitely looking forward to spring when the local cherry trees blossom, that's when it feels like a new year to me.

We are still eating the Christmas treats had a baked cheese tonight with chips and pitta bread. Big glass of Bailey's makes everything better. Oh eating Ferrero Rocher and twiglets. Heated throw and Christmas spice soy wax melts.

I love the cold and frost, love the dark nights, this is my time of year, I hate summer and the never ending days, sweating and lack of sleep. This is my month where I seek revenge to all the summer lovers those who tell me all summer that "it's not that hot", I say to all you January and cold weather haters "it's not that cold" or "the colder & darker the better"

What I find tough is the way the whole world tends to get gloomy / grumpy at once and the contrast with Christmas. I also find Christmas a bit OTT. It would be good if we could just have a gentler approach to the Christmas season and eke it out for longer!

Failing that, I tend to block things out a bit too. I like to stay indoors, do cleaning and organising, not try to achieve too much. Certainly no massive resolutions or life changes. I like the feeling of a new year but tend to save it for April and work in financial years

@cardibach - I could quite happily never have another Christmas. 51 of them so far, I'm done.

Next year I’m booking two weeks off in January and going somewhere not necessarily hot, but where’s its not pitch black at 7:30am or 3:45pm! S.A.D is the worst!

Wrong, wrong, wrong,.

it's not like a dark icy November where you know you've got 3 months of possible misery.
Next week we are halfway through the month. By next month we're all focused on what sort of summer we'll get any Easter!

I hate it too, I’m just working to get through it and counting down to a hopefully warm holiday in a couple of weeks!

I just don’t feel there is anything redeeming about January, I am cold, wet, sick of the dark, lacking energy and it’s a long time to payday because we get paid early in December. I go to the work in the dark and return in the dark which doesn’t help.

At least February is short! I can cope with March, feels more hopeful.

Oh I know it's rubbish

Ugh

Just waiting for it to be over

We've had crisp, cold days with bright sunshind for the last couple of days and are due the same tomorrow. I can see snow on the mountains from my house. I'm not a big fan of winter, but lasagne, fairy lights and dog walks don't sound too bad to me really. At least you can have lasagne. I'm gluten and dairy-free

I have a friend who lives in Grand Cayman. Seriously considering a visit in Feb.

Christmas is the only good thing about winter. January is like Narnia - always winter and never Christmas.

I booked flights to Lisbon for £49 where it's currently averaging 15-16 degrees and will be there for a few days in two weeks. Granted, the DC are older and we can do this.
Feb is just as bad. Going to Krakow.
Just had my birthday two days ago but it doesn't lighten the gloom of these months.

I always feel a huge sense of relief in January, Christmas is aaaaages away again. I'm the happiest I've been in weeks, about the only cheery one in my office anyway!

It's not brighter at 7 am. It's dark and cold and miserable.

Maybe it depends where you live, but I live in the south of the uk and it’s noticeably so much brighter as soon as we get past Christmas.