Is anyone else finding this autumn extra hard?

[dongbibi]

I don’t know if it’s just me, but this autumn feels especially heavy. The darker evenings seem to have come out of nowhere, and I can’t quite shake that low-level tiredness that hangs around all day. I usually love this time of year — cosy nights, candles, all that — but right now it just feels like everything’s a bit of a slog.
Maybe it’s the back-to-school chaos or the constant rain, but I’m struggling to find the energy for anything beyond the basics. Even simple things like cooking dinner or sorting laundry feel like such effort.
Anyone else feeling the same? How do you lift yourself out of that autumn slump? I keep thinking I should make more plans or go for walks, but all I want to do is curl up on the sofa and ignore my to-do list.

Erm, no. It's not even dark yet and the weather is mild.

It’s wonderfully mild here in my wee corner of Scotland. Just been out in the garden with my dogs in just a strappy top. Back to stretch & folds with my spelt sourdough now xx

The temperature has definitely dropped in the south east today. That said, currently its still 20 degrees in my flat. I suspect it won't be for much longer!

We were away for most of the summer and missed most of the lovely August uk weather. When we get home at the end of August the first couple of weeks of September are usually warm. That wasn’t the case this year so I feel cheated!
I feel the same as you op everything is a slog, I feel lethargic and have been low level ill for a week now.
I usually love this time of year.

We had such a mice summer weather wise. Embrace autumn, go out for walks

Im feeling this too and worried I was depressed but generally its just lethargy and lack of motivation. I swing from thinking I am lucky I can WFH to thinking that is to my detriment as I can waste away on the sofa. Worst thing at yhe moment is my social battery is kerput, cant be bothered seeing anyone and when I do I am bored after about 2 hours - hate the feeling.

My work colleague and I were talking about exactly this today!

We independently booked a couple of little trips to give us something to look forward to.

Sitting on my sofa now with DH wfh and I'm lethargic as hell. Cba to do a thing.

No, it feels like autumn is only just beginning, maybe in the last week. It’s still not cold, though.

No, October's the best month of the year - lovely sun and stunning Autumn colours.

Same here . It’s been so dry and mild it doesn’t feel like autumn .

@Luckyingame What do you find hard about spring?

It's my second favourite season after summer.

Quite the opposite.

It's lovely out there. Warm enough to run comfortably. The leaves are changing colour, there's loads of wildlife about. Mid October and we've only had three very slight frosts. I followed a half grown hare along a lane earlier today😊

Can you try and find some joy? Candles, throws, early nights, books, some lights.

Vitamin D, multi vitamins.
A nice sweater -cashmere / merino wool, either new or from eBay. Thermal leggings~ they have those in B&M.
Comfort foods likes soups and nice bread, stews.

@Toutafaitwhere are you that’s getting lovely October sun? It has been dull and dreary where I am for most of the month!

Im ok so far but im expecting a slump!

I have been taking supplements and generally making g a huge effort with my health so maybe that will help, I don't know, time will tell.

Determined to pull myself out of my slump! I don't dislike autumn/winter, I think it's important to find the joy in every season so you don't wish your life away however I was very sad to see summer go!

Today I am getting back to Pilates - I had a period without a car and got out of the habit so had no gym or classes for a while which may be contributing to this slump. I was challenging myself to keep the heating off but its been on to check the system is working ok and is lovely - the cold may have been driving me to hibernate more than needed in this day and age.

Embracing candles, day and night for cosiness, leaning into that.

I have been wondering if the early start of Christmas in the shops causes some of my discord. I avoid it as much as possible but its quite jarring that just as the kids are going back to school and we are going into autumn, there is this 'deep-winter pending' reminder thrust upon us which doesn't match where I am at mentally. I love Christmas shopping with a festive coffee, but at the right time!

No doubt about it though, brighter days make a huge difference. I'm feeling positive this morning, its on the slightly less gloomy side out there!

Anyone taking vitamin D - make sure it is in a soft gel form. Not the white tablets you get from Boots etc. they are full of fillers. You also need to take K2 and magnesium.

taking vitamin D alone won’t help as much as taking all three together. The K2 takes it to your bones and the magnesium keeps it there.

Also, when you take your vitamin D, eat it with some healthy fat because vitamin D is fat soluble

It’s important to get out regularly. A daily walk in the morning or at lunchtime can help with that low feeling. See some natural light and get moving. Even if it’s only 20 mins.
It’s always a struggle but it does help to manage low mood. Along with good nutrition (get those 5 portions of fruit and veg in and protein)
Enjoy relaxing too. Tv, books, crafts
Some floradix or multi vit might help too.
Make sure your home feels nice to be in so declutter and clean if you need to, add a few touches like blankets, lamps and candles and embrace the cosiness.

Sorry I'm quite enjoying it, actually the weather has been pretty good but I'm ready to put my big jumpers on so I kind of wish the sun would piss off tbh

Not aimed at me I know but I'm on the South coast and it's barely rained since the second week of September. The temperature has dropped the past few days but it's been pretty warm

I think for a lot of us it was a great summer. As soon as autumn started it was like the weather and the day length just shut up shop. I try to give myself something to look forward to, maybe not every day but once a week or so, so I'm constantly anticipating a 'treat', even if it's just a day shopping with a friend or a nice cake for tea or a walk with the dog somewhere new.

I find that anticipation can help kick the 'every day is the same' issue, which I always get at this time of year. Can't do much about the day length though, sorry!

What I'm missing is being able to take the dog for a proper walk after work - that's it now till Spring. I'm trying not to blob on the sofa instead. But she won't do an on lead walk round the streets and we soon exhaust the 2 well lit off lead walks available.

Also our house is so dark in the winter - it's north facing at the front and while the back of the house stays light - the front is super dark all day and needs the lights on all day. Our old house was lighter even in the depths of winter.

I guess the "new start", how everything "not good" seems to show and come out in the Spring.😐

I have been addressing Spring depression since very young age, and so it comes that November is my favourite month, March the bad one.

Can you put flourescent light up collar and harness on the dog and use a headtorch? If your dog has good recall that's what I'd do.

It's not a bad thought. She's black so would need well lit up. And she doesn't run off she generally sticks with us.