Thread for anyone struggling at the thought of long dark evenings #hotchocandhyggetypesnotyourthread

[Hobnobswantshernameback]

I hate the long dark evenings.
I know they are inevitable.
But every year is worse. Think it's also coupled to menopause symptoms where my general mood and anxiety levels are dreadful.
During the working week November to T he end of February I barely see daylight.
I try and get as much as I can but it's tricky to get outside during the working day
i take vitamin D. I exercise as much as I can.
I do try and embrace the seasons. But I just feel really daunted this year by the thought of it being dark so early
anyone want to commiserate or share any coping strategies
And no I don't want to snuggle under a blankie with a hot choc
just in case anyone thinks that's what I need 😂

Oh absolutely. I hate it. I love the very first few weeks of autumn but that’s my limit. I want long, light, warm evenings. I want to spend my weekends in my caravan, enjoying the outdoors.

I hate that I have to change my dog walking schedule and I also hate hot chocolate!!!

My only relief is that I do love Christmas and ours is always chilled and fun with no family drama! (I know I am very lucky in that respect).

Just think of the good things such as:

• Not being able to hear your neighbours’ crotch goblins screeching and shrieking in the garden all day (and their parents drinking all night before a fight!)
• Not getting all hot and sweaty whenever you leave the house
• Not have the bloody sun wake you up at 5am

I reckon its alright until Christmas. Something to look forward to.

It's January that does it for me. Years ago I had a thing where I didn't go out at all during January. Work, home, snuggle, hibernate. Then February comes along, but February doesn't count as it's only four weeks. Then you're into March and can see the flowers starting to grow again.

It's not so bad. I hope you don't struggle too much op.

@NellesVilla
erm
I like light mornings and evenings
I live in an area mainly populated by students and young professionals so they tend to keep pretty regular late nights year round
no small children in my street
i like warm weather
Not sure you're quite getting my drift

last year we went for some sunshine to t Canaries at the end of January
it saved my sanity
plan is to repeat this year

It's absolutely miserable, I hate it with a passion. Going to work in the dark, coming home in the dark, I don't understand how anyone can love that. I'm not even bothered about it being sunny and warm in the summer, it's just the light I want. This is where I start counting down the weeks until the shortest day, I find that helps, a very small light at the end of a long, dark tunnel 😊

If you refer to children like that, why the fuck are you on a parenting site?

I have autumn and winter. Damp, muddy and miserable. I do feel my mood start to turn slightly when January comes round as I trick myself into thinking that the next Spring must be just around the corner even thought we still have the majority of Winter to get through.

I do that in January too
just the slightest glimmer of longer days as the month goes on

Ah I am with you!!!

I am sitting on a sunlounger in 25c sunshine (deferred 3 times due to Covid) and couldn’t be happier. And no, it’s not just the holiday thrills (though that is lovely) I have diagnosed SAD and even tried remedies like supplements and light boxes and lumie clocks do f-all to stop the general sense of gloom for me. I’m also very much into painting and the light in the winter is bloody awful.

I am dreading the return home in 2 days. Most people come back from holidays and sigh at the return to work or chores or whatever. For me it’s just the weather.

I like walking round in bare feet. I hate socks and boots and layers of clothing.
i like being woken up by the sun (and feel drugged when I have to get up in the dark)
I cannot stand getting out of the shower and being cold and damp.
Feeling pointless opening the curtains as it’s dark when I leave and dark when I get back
I love feeling warm to my bones - and the stupid fuel prices this year won’t help.

I find January and Feb the worst. Utterly oppressive.

i often have the thought that I should have emigrated somewhere but once you have DC and a partner with a family it’s very hard.

I agree OP, and to add to the misery many people are going to spend the dark, damp evenings sitting in the cold as well. There are going to be far fewer people 'snuggling' in front of the fire this winter.

I’m with you OP. I hate the lack of light.

The dread starts at the beginning of the school year in December, but the clocks going back really ramps it up.

Things which help me include a sunrise alarm clock, and having a good daylight lamp on my desk when I’m working at home.

This is why I am in a warm place now - but I have limited leave and the prices of holidays are eye watering at the moment so I can’t afford another one for a long time.

many years ago pre-DC I was with an utter wanker of a man, but his redeeming feature was parents with a holiday apartment and I went for long weekends in November and February and a week over New Year. Every year. It was bliss. I felt myself waking up and becoming more lucid. I just want to go to bed and stay there from end end of October onwards in the U.K.

The first countdown is to the shortest day.

I hate this time of year. I just see no redeeming features.

Roll on March.

I’m on a 6 week countdown to mine, this is the 4th year we’ve done it and it’s been an absolute life changer (yes we did it all through the mad lockdown years too)

Another autumn/winter hater here. Driving to and from work in the dark, sitting under electric lights and watching the rain and sleet come down for four or five months of the year is purgatory. Add stodgy crumbles and yawnarama stews into the mix and it’s utterly grim. No amount of candles, hot chocolate and snuggly blankets can make up for it - it’s a time to be endured until the earth comes to life again and I can breathe, enjoy the hours of proper daylight, long walks in the evenings with the dog, and feel the sun on my face again. Bliss 😊

This!!!
I hate this time of year.

I countdown to the 21st Dec when the nights will get ever so slightly lighter and then countdown the weeks until the clocks go forward in March.

Spring is definitely my favourite season.

Blimey there really is no need for the horrible tone about crotch goblins and brats
seriously
its meant to be a helpful chatty thread

I have done a workout and headed out to try and get some light
even managed a bit of sun on my face between showers
really Will aim for this every day
and book a holiday 😂

I'm totally with you. I often think I was born in the wrong country. I can't see anything appealing about waking up when it's cold and dark, putting on layers of clothes , getting dark again at 4pm, getting in a cold car, grey dull skies ( cos let's face it how many bright crisp days that the winter lovers go on about do we actually get?) I love the long days, warm evenings, blue skies, being outside without layer upon layer of clothing. I hate the wind, the rain, fog, mist, I hate getting wet, I hate being cold. And forgot that old crap about there being no bad weather, only wrong clothing. What a load of tripe that is.

I've often thought about a winter break somewhere warm but the thought of coming back to winter after fills me with dread.

I count down the days from now until the shortest day and then I can start looking forward to spring coming, but Jan and Feb are still hard to get through.

I hate the dark nights, they make me feel anxious and sad, the lack of light really does a number on me. Once Christmas is over there's just that feeling of nothing to look forward to but weeks of cold, dark misery.

I've booked a holiday for the end of March. Double anticipation but it is a long time to wait.

Every year I curse my January birthday too.

I don't like Christmas either.

I think if you have a job where you are able to rejig start and finish times so that you can take a longer lunch break, that really helps - like you say OP, just getting the sun on your face once a day if you can makes a difference, and if you can get it for longer by taking a decent walk in the middle of the day, I think that's a real game changer. Often not possible for lots of reasons of course