To feel so much better now November and December have gone.

I don't mind January. We had a really great Christmas, but I was happy to see it go.

This is the first year in quite a few that I am feeling optimistic (last January I was having chemo!)

I'm using this time to:
Organise stuff at home and do a clear out
Work on my fitness and see my PT once a week (gained a lot of weight through treatment I want to lose, and generally to feel stronger)
Practice new meals to add more variety into our diets
Use my remaining annual leave - I'm taking myself to London to go to an exhibition at the V&A next month
Find more non-screen based hobbies - trying reformer Pilates next week and we've got some new board games to play
Save some money!

Perhaps if you live on your own and have no close family. I am one of 5 people in this house. The other four want the Christmas tree and the turkey and all the shite which goes with it.

You would have to sit in the house with the curtains drawn, no telly and no radio, never leaving, to avoid everything Christmas related. From about the 1st September.

Amazing, isn't it? No more listening to Mariah Carey or Noddy fecking Holder when you're buying bread and milk. The volume of Christmas tat depresses me, but it's rapidly being replaced with Valentine's tat and Easter tat. The nights are getting shorter though and in a coiuple of weeks we'll see a real difference.

January is marvellous. November and December can do one.

But you can notice it but still not do anything.

People talk about 'the pressure' as if it's an irresistible force that compels you into doing things you don't want to do against your will, which I really don't understand.

Surely you do the things you want to do and ignore what you're not interested in?

I love Christmas but also enjoy the calm of January. Not having to think of and buy presents, not hosting anything, fewer social engagements. I also like that we're heading towards lighter days, feels very positive.

I enjoy November and December, but am glad it's over. It's so full on that come January I'm kind of glad everyone is skint.

I don't actually mind January, haven't found it a struggle but I got my bonus in December so that helps. I've also got loads of sport to look forward to watching and that thought keeps me going through January (6 nations starts in February).

I've started the year with a really positive mind so I'm hoping it stays! It's time to reset and look forward to a new year.

i agree with you completely.

I still love Christmas but agree that it’s very full on - the ads started way too early for a start. I work in retail & we get the first Christmas bits at the beginning of September. January isn’t too bad & I do love the gradually lengthening days. Hate the financial situation though!

'Just noticed how I love walking into shops and all the cards, wrapping paper, and the Christmas music has gone.'

Yes! Absolutely love it. I feel so much lighter and calmer in January, I love it. I really can't stand Christmas and all the hype. Yes yes avoid it and do your own thing but it's EVERYWHERE and people won't shut up about it 🤦🏻‍♂️

And I know there are Easter eggs and Valentine's Day cards in the shops but the hype around those two events is a teeny fraction of what you get all through November and December

This absolutely.

January is the shitest month and I have had only a small dusting of snow. I think we should all sack January off and hibernate!

Though I enjoy November and December (and every month, to be fair), I love the relative calm of January and February. I live in a city that tourists flock to over Thanksgiving/Christmas and it’s so nice to get my city back in January. It actually ends up being a very social month for that reason. My friends and I have so much planned because we can actually move around the city again.

I like most aspects of Christmas, although recognise what you're saying @Netcurtainnelly about pressure and expectations!

I'm with @Miranda65 in appreciating the longer days 😄

I hate the whole fucking lot. Everything from November to March can fuck off - the only good months IMO are from May - September.

Yes I’m enjoying the calm and quiet. I’ve lots of nice things in and things on but it’s at a slower pace

I love November and early Dec but the run up to Xmas is horrific, and seems to be getting worse every year. I know it’s just my stage of life (primary age kids, hosting parents, endless responsibilities and diary dates) but it’s exhausting.

I’m quite enjoying the back to work vibes this week but I loathe February so am dreading that.

I think people are either a Christmas chaos person or a January calm person. I don't do Christmas so having it take over for 6-8 weeks of the year is very boring.

Christmas also seems to be the season for complaining. MN is a constant barrage of complaints about presents, food, relatives, partners, etc. It's exhausting just to read about.

I love it when that's all gone and peace returns in January.

I find Jan so depressing, tbh I do love Christmas and I love Dec, the house is looking amazing the fridge is full and the atmosphere is great and if people want to stop in we're ready and everyone is so much more relaxed, whereas now in Jan the house looks shit with no decorations the fridge is empty, the overflowing bins waiting to be collected, the illnesses setting in from everyone returning to school, college, work etc is awful and all those people who didn't call Christmas are visiting, staying over and expecting a full on entertainment day, evening night, and really can't understand why I'm not more enthusiastic.

But it will have been replaced by Valentines Day and Easter.

There's always something they're trying to sell you but if you're not interested there's no more reason to take any notice than there would be to look at nappies if you don't have a baby or meat if you're vegetarian.

100%. Not just for the relief that Christmas is over, but also because it's starting to get lighter.
January is a time of optimism and planning for the rest of the year.

Yeah I agree op. Waiting for the garden centers to bring in new stock after the Xmas trees have gone.

You don't know most of it isn't compulsory?

If you have DC you should probably buy them some presents and obviously eating on Christmas day when the shops are shut for a couple days needs some forethought but apart from that, you only need to do what you actually want to do.

Hardly anyone sends cards any more.
You don't have to put a tree up if you don't want one.
Other people can expect all they like but that doesn't oblige you to do things for them.

Just because other people are talking about it and doing Christmas things doesn't compel you to join in things you're not interested in.

What's stopping you having the Christmas you want? Just do what you want and ignore anything you're not interested in.

No.

It's January. The worst month of the year. Tax return month. Feeling poor (Christmas+ tax) month.

It's the anniversary of my child becoming ill and very nearly dying. It's the month of waiting for the results of regular health tests on said child which could plunge us back into those days again (or worse).

There's no excuse for not restarting my diet.

I feel fat because I ate like a pig over Christmas.

The weather is crap and the days are dark.

The only good thing about January is that once it's over it'll be 11 months before it comes back