January really is crap

People always tell you to look for the positives. Well I'm very positive about spring, summer and autumn. Winter though, nope. Endless grey skies, no sun, wet, cold, the leafless trees, and above all it's dark in the middle of the afternoon. Often it doesn't seem to get properly light at all. The only thing to be said for January is that the days are getting longer, minute by minute.

Oh and my TV programmes I enjoy are back - pottery Throwdown, call the midwife, traitors so it’s nice to curl up and watch them with a nice mug of tea

I don’t love it, after the sparkle and bustle of December, but I try and lean in and make the most of it. I have enjoyed the weather this week, bitterly cold and bright. I don’t find it appreciably lighter yet though, but I am in Scotland. I have enough money (not loaded by the way, but enough) to still have a nice standard of living despite wage having to stretch longer. I try and have a few things in the diary, cinema, lunch dates etc to look forward to. My youngest child just has one more year at school after this one so from 2027 we will probably book a holiday as well.

shortest day is long gone and with each passing day it stays a little bit lighter for a little bit longer.

^

True. I was twittering earlier to the kids about how much lighter it was, compared to just six weeks ago

I love January too for all the same reasons. All the madness, mess,chaos, overeating etc at Christmas is over and it’s a fresh year, fresh start and new page for me. Love cosying up indoors and chilling out after Christmas, seeing the lighter nights come in, and knowing that we’re moving towards spring!

We have freezing fog to look forward to tomorrow. Can't wait for that.

^

🤣

The last couple of years I have tried to embrace January. Have a few things in my diary, and enjoy the calm (although I do love December and Christmas).

We leave the fairy lights, nativity sets and Christmas cards up until Candlemas (2nd February). The house still feels cosy and twinkly without quite so much extra clutter as during Christmas!

We're feeling a somewhat poorer this January as my husband was made redundant just before Christmas, so we're making a particular effort to count our blessings, to keep ourselves cheerful and content.

We live in a very tree-dense area, so notice beautiful extra views at this time of year. I love that the days are already getting longer, and we enjoy looking out for the first snowdrops.

The birds are easy to attract in mid-winter, so having a bird feeder within sight of the kitchen window gives us lots of happy moments watching the birds.

We make the most of blankets, hot water bottle, hot chocolate, and even outdoor treats like the fire pit, and hot picnics breaking up chilly walks.

We celebrate 12th Night and Epiphany, then mark Plough Monday by going for a walk near a farm, then have a Wedding Anniversary later in the month, then celebrate Candlemas on 2nd February, so the month is broken up by happy occasions.

We also try to invite friends around more often for meals - people are less busy than in December, and it's a happy way to pass the evenings without adding much expense.

About 20 years ago I realised I had SAD. It went beyond hating the cold, damp days and very early sunsets and by January I would be struggling badly. February was very tough.
Before kids I always booked my main holiday of the year for end December/January, usually to the southern hemisphere where I’d be guaranteed sunshine and heat. Can’t do that anymore so for the past few years I’ve done the following to keep my mental health on track:
Dry January, because it helps my mood.
Early nights.
A good walk every day, rain or shine, with the dog.
Four gym sessions a week, mixing cardio and weights. I am religious about this because again, it helps my mood hugely.
Book a night out/nice restaurant for mid-January. Something to look forward to.
I got a SAD lamp and it does help.

@cardibach yes I understood it could be a rhetorical question I was just being silly. Cardiff, lovely I didn't get to visit there.

In a serious note, I do get why people don't like winter it's not for everyone and can be depressing. Summer makes me feel anxious and I really don't do well in anything over 18, bloody menopause

I love January. I think it’s my favourite month. It’s such a chilled month of nothingness.
The light changes. It’s a new beginning, the clutter of Christmas has gone, the shortest day is long gone and with each passing day it stays a little bit lighter for a little bit longer.

I get SAD but February is usually when it bites (after too much winter!!)

things that I try / might help:

• SAD light
• burning scented candles when I work from home to pretend I’m in a spa 😂 always ask for some at Christmas
• booking a holiday - have just booked 5 days in Italy with DC in Feb half term. Cheap flights and air bnb
• Theatre and cinema trips (use discount sites and papering agencies)
• reading more
• making wishlists for telly, books and travels for the year
• walks in daylight, even just round the park. Prefer blue cold days to oppressive grey or wet ones
• with little ones, had great outdoor forest style playgroup would go to once a week, was super cheap as run at a children’s centre
• snowdrops from mid Jan - love Anglesey Abbey and go every year, they do a kids trail
• decent thermals and pocket warmers,
• pastries and hot chocolates
• walks around a frozen lake throwing ice onto the ice (makes a crazy noise!)
• walking on a frozen massive puddle, kids still talk about it years after
• burns night - we do haggis dinner, a family ceilidh is fun too
• Lunar New Year - loads of free activities
• light trails - some free ones in London pop up
• use any indoor memberships we have
• soft play / badminton at local gym
• family games night

still effing hate it but gets me through

The massive plus for me is that I am about to turn 66. Finally qualify for my state pension and bus pass.

Hope springs eternal

'Spring is in the air' - really? Really? The temperature is in minus figures during the day here and I'm certainly not noticing the days getting longer. Cold and dark when I get up and cold and dark when I get home.

I watched my local football team mash a higher league team in the FA Cup tonight. It was -4c, my nose froze. We live in a country that has seasons, enjoy.

Well put. I feel exactly the same. Insane Christmas spending and expectations are thankfully over and we can relax.
Sales in the shops.
Spring is on the air, days are getting longer.
The big plus for me is also my birthday end of the month and a perfect excuse for a week of winter sun.

Apart from going to work, I'm hibernating and mainlining Christmas chocolates and The Traitors. Fuck Winter!

Today getting off the bus, just a 10 minute walk and I was freezing! It felt dangerously cold. I worry for all those poor people sleeping on the streets, you could die in this weather. I don't remember it being this cold in January for a long time. Can't wait until it warms up again.

I love January 🥰
The light is so beautiful on sunny days. I love cold weather and winter fashion is so much better than summer sweaty clothes.
There is zero expectation to do anything and go anywhere. It’s a month to contemplate and have slow and cosy days/evenings.
The sales are on so you can cheer yourself up by getting something you have been eyeing for a while. Days are getting longer.
It’s quiet and things are slowly moving towards spring.
I take January over July and August any day.

Nope I hate it too I would happily hibernate until the 1st of March. Too cold, too poor, too dark. I’m a teacher and the children have been off the wall coming back this week, forgotten how to sit in a circle.

🥳

@cardibach maybe you should just cut your losses and emigrate somewhere hot if it makes you so sad and miserable.

I hate driving in the fog.

See, I love a bit of fog, that clammy mysterious swirl, especially in the dark. It probably helps that I live in a rural and pretty village and have the benefit of the smell of woodsmoke and a floodlit church spire to enjoy.