To find January depressing?

I think it was just a turn of phrase rather than it making her clinically depressed!

Op said it was "depressing" which is more than disliking something. If I felt like that about something I'd do something about it! Life is too short just moping about it. Today I went on a lovely walk with a friend. Nothing too far. Just a chat & a walk. Back to work on Monday & it will be nice to see everyone again. I felt like the OP a couple of years ago, dreading going back to work in Jan. So I changed my job to something I genuinely love

Hate November and December. Damp, dark, dreary.
January is great, Spring is this year. The days are getting longer. It might snow. Perfect. Good days ahead. Dark and dismal behind. What’s not to love?

It’s ok to dislike things. No one is relentlessly positive about everything. I don’t spent my January moping around crying that it’s January, but I am happy to declare that I hate it and am glad when it’s over!

I hate January too. I'm skint, cold and the days drag on and on and on. I'm with you OP!

It's what you make of it. It's coming around every year so why be unhappy about something you can't change? You can only change your attitude to it. Do something you enjoy every day whatever the month is

I like January but am less keen on February, the “cruellest month”. First week of Jan is still Christmas, so we still have the tree and decorations up. We keep lights and greenery up to Candlemas in February, so that helps too.

my birthday month! I am lucky if I get acknowledge on the day: everyone is skint, it’s cold; everyone is going dry January, vegan January, on a health kick so no one wants to celebrate the way we celebrate there’s. I normally just get vouchers cos it’s just been Christmas - which I don’t necessarily mind but it feels lazy!

i run my own business which is always horrendously busy in January but with not with money making which means after a quite December I am still skint!

it would love to right it off

I think it’s perfectly normal and usual to feel this way, the term January Blues exists for a reason! It’s because Christmas is so hyped up and it’s at the end of the month too so no time to come down from any of it before the new year hits. Plus people put so much pressure on themselves to create resolutions and stick to them, they’re often massively unrealistic ones. When they quit a couple of weeks into January, they spiral and feel even worse.

I try to look at it positively. It’s getting lighter in the evenings day by day. It’s still cosy enough to have my fireplace fairy lights and candles lit in the evening. I enjoy reading with a hot drink in the evening lots too. Plus it’s a chance to have a fresh start, stick to some reasonable resolutions.

I actually quite like it. It was the most beautiful, cold, clear day today with hardly any people or cars around and I just loved the stillness of it. It was so calming.

I also don’t buy into January being the new year so no longer feel the pressure of setting goals or starting fresh. I allow myself to slow down and rest, then I feel re-energised when Spring is on the horizon. I prefer to follow nature’s timeline.

I wonder if those who are saying use it to stay at home, read, craft, relax etc aren’t at the stage of life where they have full time jobs plus young energetic kids who have the same hobbies and the same need for amusement, exercise and fresh air in January as they do in every other month of the year?

I find you have to make good use of it. I always have a clear out, make frequent use of my cinema membership, cook some nice but easy food and definitely DO NOT do dry January. Plus The Traitors is on.

I don’t like it either. We have a holiday booked for 3 weeks in February but I’m wishing we had decided to go a bit earlier. December is OK because I like the lead up to Christmas with the festive markets and get togethers with friends. January is cold and dark and it’s either raining or if it’s dry then it’s slippy underfoot so it’s still not enjoyable.

I will have a look at your thread @countdowntonap. See if I can cheer myself up!

I’m trying to lean into the wintering approach this year. Much more wholesome and less pressure etc. Basically Around slowing down, rest, self care etc and getting ready for spring. It seems like a nice approach to it.

I do but I think I've improved my coping strategies over time. I've had to accept that for me it simply doesn't feel like the "fresh start" season that other people talk about, I get that in September when the summer heat finally cools down. I don't feel like starting anything new at this time.

For me whilst I can't hibernate with a blanket and hot chocolate like I want to I try not to expect too much of myself, make plans that cheer me up and keep up the roasts and hearty dinners. You have to figure out what you need from this season and what works for you.

@Ladybird69 me too. January seems interminable so I'm planning on doing something useful every day to see if it goes any quicker.
I'm hopeless at crafts so will do reading and holiday planning. I've also joined an orchestra so there will be practising for that.

Fingers crossed January flies!

I think it’s normal tbh. The holidays are over and it’s grey and gloomy.

I haven’t read the whole thread yet but I so need it. January seems to last forever and the rest of the year flies by. I’m thinking about just giving into it this year and trying to fill the month with craft and projects etc . Not forcing myself to get out and about.

Same I have two kids with birthdays in January and I love knowing the new year has begun and im due a new baby in the spring!

I have found January difficult in the past and I know my husband definitely does, so I totally get where you're coming from.

I love all the build up to Christmas through November and December, so January always feels like you're back to earth with a bump! It's cold and dark and about 20 weeks until payday and everywhere is telling you you're too fat and need to be exercising more (when just a few days before they were encouraging you to indulge)!

But I do like the fact that we start to get more daylight, cold and crisp mornings aren't all bad (it's just when it's wet and windy that it's really unpleasant), and you can get back into a routine after all the Christmas craziness.

I think it helps to have little things to look forward to to help get you through. One year, on my first day back at work after the holidays, I booked a holiday for October because I just needed something to look forward to. But just planning something nice at the weekend or picking up a cake for pudding, just because, can help give you those little boosts when you need them too.

Sounds wonderful 😬

Love January, I always find it feels more christmassy weatherwise.

Just got back from walking the dog, beautiful sunshine, crunchy frost underfoot, the best kind of day there can be.

I am down south, but have to admit when I lived up north the days could seem a lot more miserable!

I don't normally particularly like or dislike it, just another month. However this NYE my nose was hurting, got up yesterday to a cold sore up my nose and it hurts so this January hasn't got off to a great start.

Hi Op I agree it can be depressing but look on the bright side the days are getting longer and soon it will be Spring!

We're not meant to set off at a gallop in January. We're still in the heart of winter.

I find January hard too. I still feel sluggish and like we're still meant to be conserving our energy.
I just came across a quote that says something like The calender says 'new' but nature said 'not yet' . I'm going to crawl out of hibernation in February and not put too much pressure on myself through January.

Priorities other than work is to wrap up warm sometimes and get outside