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 spoke to soon - very mild here today too, but so damp and dreich. The mud underfoot and the endless rain and grey skies are really getting to me.

I hate it. I try to look on the bright side, buts it's shit. I keep trying to convince dh that we can retire abroad. Bring on spring

So after a week of too much time in artificial light my dry eyes are back
luckily I have access to drops etc
but Its miserable
and no a hot choc and a blankie won't help 😂😂

Maybe your eyes just want to watch a movie snuggled on the sofa. Or look at some piles of leaves. Yay.

Fucking shit innit.

If you poured the hot choccy into your eyes do you think that would help?! There must be some benefits to a sugary milky hot drink (🤢) that we’re missing…

I bloody hate this time of year. There is nothing nice or magical about it.

I really really struggle with sad, esp at this time of the year, I wanted to burst into tears when it was dark at 4ish.
Sad lights have been helping a little but roll on summer or a lotto win so I can move or at least go on holiday to somewhere sunny!

I spent yesterday with a friend and her eight foster kittens, which really did wonders for my mood 😀Maybe kittens are the answer?!

I do believe kittens are the answer to everything. Add kittens.

It’s really warm and muggy here today, dull and everywhere is muddy. The puppy loves nothing more than running through puddles and the older dog can sniff muddy puddles from a mile away, I spend half my life washing and drying dogs in winter. Only 40 days until the solstice. Something in my brain makes me feel a little brighter after the solstice knowing lighter nights are on their way.

From countryfile magazine

This year the official winter solstice, also known as the 'hibernal solstice', takes places on Wednesday 21 December 2022. In London, the sun will set at approximately 15:53, marking the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year.

True enough, the winter solstice is the shortest day and it seems reasonable to assume that on this day the sun will rise later than on any other day and set earlier. This, though, is not the case.

The earliest sunsets in the year occur about a week before the solstice, and the latest sunrises around early January. The days as a whole do get longer on 23 December because on this day the returning light in the evening finally outweighs the still diminishing morning light.

The earliest sunset, 'about a week' before the solstice.

There are 33 days until 14 December. I might get an advent calendar for this!!

I use the winter dark evenings to sort out bits in the house. Think spice drawer type of excitement!

Who wants to spring clean when the weather cheers up!

If I am bored of decanting cumin seeds I will embark on an equally exciting challenging jigsaw or read all the books I bought for long summer evenings but had more fun things to do.

Check out the ISS tracker, many more possible times to sight it flying past in winter.

Can you check out any NT gardens or similar who are stringing out thousands of fairy lights?

Bowling is good winter fun to get out.

If you have a garden fire pit cooking outdoors or mulling a pan of wine as the sun goes down lifts the spirits.

But the night sky wins, you can get an app to point to learn constellations. A clear winter night is amazing for looking up, that is the pay off for sunshine,provided it's clear which it is surprisingly often.

Cloudy sunsets are always prettier than cloudless ones (sunrises also).

@frozendaisy I do most of the above - these are just part and parcel of normal life really, not a panacea for the long winter months (except the mulled wine, the sun goes down when I’m still at work sadly and the remainder of the evenings are spent ferrying DS to things and walking the dog). Also not sure where you are but it’s been cloudy and wet here for weeks now, with only the odd clear sky (resulting in the delightful task of scraping ice off the car at 6.46am the next morning) and although it’s nice to look at the night sky on my app after a while it becomes a bit less interesting (to me). If they work for you then brilliant though, I’m v jealous!

As someone upthread said though, the worst thing for us winter haterz is the lack of light - that’s what takes the edge off the enjoyment of the types of winter activities others enjoy. It’s not a conscious decision to be miserable. If I’m able to get out during the day and into the daylight then the feeling of relief is immense - like the feeling you get when you realise the paracetamol you’ve taken has worked and your headache has gone.

Oh that’s a brilliant idea - I would definitely buy that advent calendar!

Checking back in
actually sunny here
yesterday I went to the football and had the sun on my face for a full half an hour
it was bliss
going to try and soak up as many rays as I can

Sunny here too - what a difference! It’s lovely to see blue sky again 😊

It’s still very mild here, no direct sun though! DH has been at home all weekend (he works mad hours) and it was really lovely to have 2 lie ins. We went for dinner on Friday night, out for lunch yesterday and he came with me so I could swim this morning. I love wild swimming but I never properly swim by myself iykwim, I wish there was a wild swimming group near me, it does wonders for my mental health.

That advent is genius. I might see if there is one.

I moved house this weekend. It is still going on. It was hard work and I had forgotten my db is dyspraxic and lots got smashed - including crockery my grandmother had given me.

Anyway during moving day got the sun on my face on the wide steps of the garden. Bloody perfect.

I am likely to go MIA this week but will keep up and post more .

Just had a quick online and found this steemit.com/art/@woman-onthe-wing/winter-solstice-return-of-the-light-countdown-calendar-an-original-homemade-creation

I love that idea of counting out the sun’s rays 😊

Quick wave to you all
pitch Dark and raining here
been a tough week in work too
roll on the weekend which promises a smidge of sun
am going to start Xmas shopping as a distraction
DS is away working where there is ☀️☀️☀️ The irony is he prefers dark and cold 🤦‍♀️ His pictures at least are making me realise I will!!!!! Be going on holiday in February!!!!!

It's dark and pissing down with rain at 7.30 am in London. We have had a lot of winter viruses in the house lately as well :( And I haven't been able to do my daily walk.

In better times, I would go out for lunch at a cosy cafe but trying to save some money at the moment. Aaargh!

I have moved! From quite a dirty town (that I grew up in) to a large village. I'm unsure about the whole thing but it does mean I have new bits to explore. I found a churchyard with a view and sunny benches yesterday.

It also means I've gone from a south facing home office where I could track the suns path east to west, to a north facing home office. I will need strategies!

How lovely!

I feel your pain, also had lurgies here and also can't easily afford helpful treats. I am putting pressure on myself to do things that help, like going for daytime walk, making sure house is clean and tidy, but I'm exhausted and really just need to rest. But then I'm living in darkness. Yuk.