What do you do on the dark winter nights?

[DutchessOfMuck]

Currently waiting impatiently for the wax in old candle jars to melt. Then going to wash them and make fresh Christmas/winter candles. Thats my thing for tonight.

Just being nosy really and hopefully can pick up some things to do that I hadn't thought about.

What do you do to pass the long dark winter nights?

Hibernate as much as possible 😣

Work til 6, swim 6:45- 7:30 usually five nights a week unless I’m going out somewhere (2-3 times a month). Dinner by 8:30, bed by 10 as I get up at 6 and am always knackered.

Not a lot else during the week apart from necessary chores, reading for a bit or watching the odd light hearted bit of TV.

Making dinner, cleaning/tidying, homework with the kids, activities that they go to etc, but wishing it was warm and light. I hate the cold, the damp, the viruses, bad driving conditions, poor light quality, the vitamin D deficiency (I don't get on well with supplements), not being able to go for walks or to the park in the evenings with my DC when they need to burn energy off (often due to additional needs). And why does kids' sleep go off a cliff edge in winter too? Probably because they are not burning their energy off as much so don't get as tired. I don't view winter as cosy or snuggly or any of that crap, it's an ordeal to be got over with ASAP. I'm counting down the days till the solstice now and then we can begin to look forward to summer again. I'm almost certain I have SAD.

Watch tv
walk
run

same as i do in the summer. Rain wind snow… i still go out

Yoga classes
Jigsaws

Cook, Reading, mumsnet, Twitter, odd night out with friends , bit of TV- but not lots -

House renovations and DIY which I don't have time for in the summer as my garden takes priority then, after work.

Read and listen to music.

Write letters to friends.

Beach fishing - as soon as the cod arrive inshore.

Make up new fishing rigs to replace the ones I inevitably lose whilst trying to catch those elusive cod!

Make furniture polish, leather dressing, hand cream and lip balm with the wax from my bees.

Lie in bed, windows open, listening to the owls and other lovely night sounds.

Oh, and stargazing and moonwatching😀

Ti's the season for arts, crafts and hobbies.
Lego, crochet, trying out new recipes, bakes and breads, gaming, bingeing on box sets, board games.

This year my number 1 goal is to scrapbook old family photos and dig into my family tree.

Cinema/theatre (I go and watch a lot of the live streamed operas and ballets from the Royal Opera House and plays from the National Theatre)

French evening class once a week

Yoga class once a week

Read

Post-covid we still have very flexible working hours, so I am thinking of working some evenings so that I can have more time to myself during the day to go for a walk in the daylight.

Get home at 6pm, dinner, some cleaning, play with toddler and put him to bed by 8pm, then usually knit and watch a tv show with husband, or knit and read a book. Pretty much the same as I do in summer to be honest. Maybe the only difference in summer is that dinner and playing take place in the garden, and we'll sometimes go for a short walk before bedtime. I tend to go to bed early as well as I wake up at 6am.

Put the fire on and watch outlander

Lots of lovely evening activities 💖 tonight I done a YouTube exercise video. It was meant to be for beginners 😂😂 I felt the burn. Then I had a pamper bath and now having a glass of wine.

@toor I've watched the first 2 seasons of Outlander. Thanks for reminding me, will pop it on my list to watch the rest. They filmed a lot of it where I stay.

@purplemama1990 you are lucky that winter doesn't disrupt your life very much. Thanks for the early night tip, definitely need more early nights.

@BuwchGochGota good shout on the swapping walks to daytime. I couldn't get out today as the weather was absolutely horrible.

@Hedgesfullofbirds we life similar lifes it appears. Although my night life screams like banshee 😂 the owls and cows do keep me awake. I would love to keep bees and its something that I am looking into. Are they easy to keep?

Snuggle on the sofa with DH and watch tv/ Netflix/ prime etc
Read books
Read MN
online shop
Brush my cats
whatsapp friends/family

@Judijudi sounds lovely. I remember in January on mumsnet a poster put a great tip. If you want to buy something dont. Instead wright it on a list. I've done this from January until today and after looking at my list today there's loads I would remove. I was so thankful today for that poster for the money I have saved on unnecessary items.

Tomorrow night I am planning on going through each room to see what needs to go to the charity shop.

My mood usually gets so low during the winter nights. Determined this year will be different and I will post here for accountability. I really don't want another winter pilling on the pounds and doing nothing except feeling like a old sloth.