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 😂

I absolutely hated the U.K. winter for all the reasons above. I moved to a sunny country a few years ago and am so much healthier and happier now.

Even here there’s a couple of months each year when it gets cold, and I hate being trussed up in thermals and socks and hats and weighing up the costs of whether to put a radiator on or make a hot water bottle.

thankfully spring arrives in February and it’s 23 degrees and sunny right now.

Definitely agree with this. On my wfh days and weekends when I can get out with the dog during the daylight hours as well then it definitely helps. It’s nowhere near as good as the spring and summer months of course, but I definitely notice the difference compared to my onsite days when there’s little or no chance to get out.

I know exactly what you mean. There was a year I even cried at the prospect of it. At the time though my vit D and Iron were critically low. I bought SAD light, Sunrise alarm, researched the importance of vit D and discovered I needed more than the NHS and my GP suggested. Winter sun holiday when it was super dire.

I got rid of the SAD light and try to be outdoors when bright without much success.

The tag line quite literally says "for parents by parents" although those who aren't parents are usually welcome. Those who refer to children is such offensive terms are somewhat less welcome.

HTH.

@TheLeadbetterLife which country is that?

I really don't see the point in moving the clock back giving us even longer dark waking hours.

Me neither 😞
but they've been arguing about it since as long as I can remember so I can't see anything changing soon

Yup. I’m not mad on the heat, and I love the climate and foliage of Autumn, but when the clocks go back I feel really down.
I need light! I am tackling it by changing my work hours so I start at 7.30 and finish at 3.00, and I’m lucky to be able to do that. The worst thing is leaving work in the dark, so I’m hoping getting that last bit of daylight will help. I will also go for a wander outside at lunchtime, even though where I work lunch is for wimps.
I do think getting outdoors in all weathers is key. Also hate the whole hygge thing it makes me feel hemmed in and murdery!

Oh FFS. The whole “Why would non-parents come here?!” thing has been done to death.

I hate the clocks going back. For me it means that winter is on it's way and, of all the seasons, that one is the worst. Cold, dark, ice and snow is my idea of Hell.

Focus on booking your holiday and all the lovely things you want to do at the destination. Do loads of research and go on Google Maps.

I find a good old sunny bright TV show cheers you up a bit, something set in an exotic location or just something silly and funny.

i drink a lot of booze.

Or just eat nice things? Cook nice things? Go out to nice restaurants? Have a take out?

Go and see Blackpool Illuminations? Or somewhere equally sparkly and lit up at night?

Again, I drink a lot of booze, so…

I should really live in a warm country.

I’ve tried to find some appealing about winter evenings supposedly snuggled in front of the fire, but nope!

I need light mornings, long sunshiny evenings and warmth.

Like a PP, once it’s January I try to fool myself into thinking that spring is around the corner. I hate winter, not a fan of autumn and it gets worse every year.

I'm so with you. I have wasted this morning feeling sad about how dark it is going to get! I'm going to get out soon. You have inspired me, thank you.

I really hate that it gets dark by 4. Summer evenings are the best. I spent so many evenings going for walks and watching wildlife. Now it's dark and damp
My coping strategy is
Have a clean and tidy house as it makes staying in nicer
Make sure I have something planned for weekends
Something good to watch on tv
Do a free course from Open University and get some books from the library. I get a few non fiction books too. Keeping mentally stimulated really helps. I don't think I'm cut out for a slow dark life.

I've grown loads of tomatoes this year
am making some pasta sauce to freeze today so at least I can taste summer in the winter

Portugal, Algarve region. As far South as you can get in Europe! The clocks went back here last night but even mid-December we'll get a good extra hour's daylight in the evening compared with the UK. Makes such a difference.

So day one of operation survive the long dark Evenings
vitamin d ✔️
took the longer route to work to get a bit more light
going to bunk off a bit early to make sure I get some light (doable this week so will make the most)
will make sure I get outside at lunchtime

I hate this time of year too. It's okay at the moment and I can cope up until Christmas (which I do enjoy), but January and February are just... ugh. I hate being cold and wet and everything being muddy. I want to stay at home and do nothing but the DC get a bit stir crazy so we have to do something or we'll all go mad. January is my least favourite month by far, February only less so because it's shorter.

But DD's birthday is early March and once we get to that everything starts feeling a bit better. Hers is the first of the year for us and then everybody else follows in quick succession throughout April and May, then to July for DS, by which point the weather is lovely again! It's all about having something to look forward to.

We are one day closer to Spring!

I spent some time yesterday making a list of things to look forward to doing in the evenings, it's nothing exciting just books to read, things to watch and sock patterns to knit.

I used to really love this time of year and the run up to Christmas. However since I became a single parent I hate the long dark nights - feel very trapped in with the kids and it all starts to feel a bit disconnected/surreal. I also find the dark increases me anxiety.

Ive bought some battery fairy lights to try and lift the gloom a bit this year - but am dreading it!

How's everyone doing?
I had a couple of days leave one of which was sunny so spent most of it outdoors
dreading back to work this week as this is my first full week post clocks changing and I can easily go a full week without seeing daylight
goals this week

1. get outside at lunchtime even for ten minutes every day
2. x3 workouts
3. try and eat a bit better

I've been trying to do things regardless of the dark. So the day doesn't feel shorter. I'm not enjoying it though!!

I used to feel this way. Then, I lived in an equatorial-ish country for a year during a sabbatical from work, where the weather was unrelentingly sunny and warm every single day. I have never felt to claustrophobic, angry, irritable and panicky in my life. The sheer suffocating monotony of “good” weather actually felt malevolent. Inescapable.

Never a truer word was said than that summers are only enjoyable because of winter. It’s not fun, but life would be so much worse without it, for me at least. And so I’m grateful for it.

It’s been about 15 years now and I have indeed begun to enjoy the hygge approach to winter!

Cheers for that
I'll go and embrace my Hygge forthwith 🙄