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 😂

We've been so incredibly lucky to get through winter snot and vomit free so far - given I have one DC at primary school and a toddler I can't believe our luck. It's really helped the winter blues actually!

I've been avoiding outside because I hate the cold but I took the kids to the park for 40 mins yesterday and it lifted everyone's mood.

Hopefully booking a February holiday this week
All the rain is just breaking me
We've had one sunny day since Xmas eve
Keeping plodding

So fed up with the rain. I can handle cold, but not this endless pissing down.
Went out for a walk today because the sun was shining; managed 10 minutes before it disappeared.

I am eating too much and spending too much to distract myself.

@Lentilweaver you need to listen to The Archers. Kate did a run down on how rain affects the atmosphere for some kind of feel good factor! Actually rain in green spaces does feel nice.

I'm still recovering and trying to catch up with work.

Also I found this website but it's a bit depressing. I have been 'surprised' (aka pissed off) at how little increase there's been in daylight. This website appears to give all sorts of info - CW the increase are bloody woeful in January by my reckoning!

I don't live in london btw. But you can search your own stats on the site.

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/london

How is everyone feeling? How are we all doing? xxx

I'm struggling, I am doing all the things I can, but I just hate it. And I'm even spoiling my daylight hours feeling resentful that it will be dark in x hours.

Just feel tired and poorly and broke, and the dark makes it worse. One of my DC has a birthday soon so I can't really say that I hate January either!!

I’m really struggling this week - have a sort of background anxiety in the evenings once the curtains are closed, feel almost a bit not quite real. I’ve trie spitting some soft/fairy lights which help a bit but am finding it hard. Also jumpy about the kids getting ill.

The rain is really getting to me - it’s rained every single day for over a month here now, and it’s no fun walking the dog in the dark and peeing rain. I’m longing for the day when I don’t have to layer on the waterproofs on the dog and me just to step outside. I’m trying to get out during my lunch break but again it’s no fun in the rain - and then sitting at my desk in wet clothes is a bit miserable.

All these people who lurve the crisp cold days of winter obviously don’t live in the UK.

Pissing down here again for my half hour walk to work 😞
on a positive I have booked a holiday
five weeks to some ☀️

Pissing down here too. I am trying to whizz through work and take the afternoon off to go see an exhibition to cheer me up. I find doing something in the evening often makes me feel less sluggish.

Hello again fellow Hygge-haters.

I can’t complain too much, since (as I mentioned at the start of the thread) I moved to a sunny country to escape the miserable U.K. winter.

it’s been milder even than normal here so far, but very, very rainy. That’s good in the sense we’ve been in official drought conditions for about two years, but I’m personally finding it maddening.

We went to visit friends in Germany for a few days before Christmas and my god - the Christmas markets were pretty but it brought all the reasons we moved flooding back. Bloody bleak.

My hatred of layers and being bundled up has now extended to shoe laces. I actively resent any outfit more involved than a kaftan and sandals.

We had several sunny days over Christmas, and we do get some sun most days, even when it rains, so I’ve been trying to get out in it as much as I can. Last week, on one blissful day, I swam in the sea. Unheard of for me in winter, as I will not go in cold water. There must have been a warm current though as it was oddly mild.

Fed up tbh. I don't mind a stormy raining evening when we are all in bed and the heat is blasting. I don't like endless rainy days when the toddler is bored sitting in the house and we can barely afford to put the heating on. Fuck cossie livs and fuck winter (I also have PMS )

Ha I moved from a sunny country and a city which is 25 degrees year round because I fell in love with London! Trying to remember that I do still love this city; am just temporarily fed up.

I did see the first daffodils yesterday and that made me feel a bit better. Early this year.

@MeinKraft (excellent name!) do you mean cossie livs? Is that how the youth say it? If so I love it!

Yes to getting out in the evening. I've moved to a village so that generally means the pub and I'm not that great with alcohol. Mind you the town I was in wasn't much better!

@stilldumdedumming yes cossie livs, the new platty jubes

Hi @CrapBucket I understand when you feel you're doing all you can but hate it. January can get like that, just after Xmas, and then darkness. Happy birthday to your DC

@Hobnobswantshernameback Holiday sounds nice, I wish I was going

@MeinKraft (great name btw) Oh yes, everything went up and one must be careful with heating, I know, me too. Endless rainy days make me feel like it's never going to get better and then Im surprised when it does.

@Lentilweaver I find that, as well. Evenings tend to be challening and then it's good to plan ahead. Seeing an exhibition seems nice

@SirChenjins Oh no, it's not fun at all. I dislike it when my clothes get wet, I have to change

@Maestro12 Soft/faerie lights might be good. I hope your kids stay healthy.

@TheLeadbetterLife Hyggge-hater sounds amusing, can't say I like the term either xx I find that Christmas markets were/are pretty but not much to do as everyone seems to have 4 friends with them there. I hope for that to change perhaps 2023? Who knows

Totally fed up with weather and lack of light/colour. Not helped by swapping from late shift to early shift mid week. Everting just seems a huge effort today.
keep telling myself it’s not long now until the daffodils bloom, the bulbs are already sprouting leaves.

Is it me or is today just shit? Hate the ice - makes me reluctant to drive as we’re on country roads, so I feel even more trapped than usual. The bastard fucking low sunlight is shining through every window straight into my brain, and yet somehow I still need the lamps on. Heating the house is costing an arm and a leg. The dog is recovering from surgery and DH has a bad back, so I am nursing them both. I have a list of things to do but no motivation to do them. The house is a shithole because really, who’s visiting? And I’m overspending on online shopping despite nodding agreeably in the style and beauty forum’s ‘no buy’ thread.

And I swear it’s all because of sodding winter.

@WhenisitmyturntobePM do you live in my house?! Totally overspending myself. It’s shoes and earrings, for me. Weather is minging and my back is shot.
daffodils are buddings so spring is within reach.

Yes, it is particularly shit at the moment. I phoned 3 different friends yesterday who live in different parts of the UK and are all utterly fucked off with the dark and cold. Its hard to do anything when everything is so miserable.

Sorry posted too soon - I hope your dog and DH both recover soon.

4.30pm and it's not dark yet. We're over the worst ladies and it's all light from here on in.

It’s definitely crawling towards daylight - thank goodness.

I just want a hug 😅

Bitterly cold but dry here today
managed a five mile coast walk feel so much better for it
days are definitely lengthening