How do you get through the -ary months?

[Lelophants]

I know we’re all into the hype of Christmas right now but once that’s done it can feel exhausting and soooo gloomy. What do you do to get through those months? Starting a new gym membership doesnt do it for me lol. I have a friend’s birthday end of Jan so try to arrange something fun with her but apart from that?

January and February if it wasnt clear!

Love both those months! The key is to book a holiday and make plans. Things like dinner with friends; an overnight stay at a spa; dog walk on the beach and then a pub lunch with the kids.

I use the weekends to hibernate at home and genuinely enjoy the 2 months of peace and quiet, knowing that spring is just around the corner

I don't have school age children, so can go on holiday at some point in January or February, and deliberately work between Christmas and New Year instead of taking leave.

Growing up I had two grandparents who lived a distance from us, and so a visit to them was something that made the winter months much better.

Oh Im so pleased you love them! What do you love about them? For me November and December are my cosy and festive months so I need to work out what these ones are!

Yes, planning something definitely keeps SAD abit more at bay however I have to make an effort not to slump into miserableness!! I actually like a really brisk long walk with cold cheeks, and maybe planning something for the garden/allotment aswell. But yeah, those months could do one for me!

Honestly! I love them because the are so quiet! The first half of the year is where I can save more money as it much quieter thank god! No where to go and nothing to do 🙌

I've learned to eat well especially if I've over indulged over Christmas, and take a good multivitamin supplement otherwise I can feel horribly low due to the dark mornings and nights. I struggle getting long dog walks in around work but I've now got a studio bike at home and will be making good use of that. Weekends are perfect for long walks and afternoons with a good film on in front of the woodburner.

I like the idea of this! What kind of things do you do? I guess my issue is I have two young kids. 🤦🏻‍♀️ But maybe I should try and arrange with the grandparents some time for me and have a plan in place.

Hot week away in January and skiing in February. Only way for me to get through them. I find March really long and cold but once daffs come out feel much better.

In January I go skiing with friends (not as expensive as you might think) and in February I buy daffodils for my home office.

I think this is another problem I have. I get into bad habits over Christmas and eat too much sugar meaning sugar highs, massive lows, feeling depressed, then using sugar to boost back up.

Make this Christmas different then
It is not too late

I have to say I love all months though!

I loathe them both so prob the last person to be helpful, but dh is an avid birdwatcher and is always SO excited that time of year which is sweet, even if I don't share it! Apparently fewer leaves on the trees = easier to see them. Makes sense.

Otherwise, if I could I would 100% go away, either on holiday or to visit friends/family. And I do buy £1 bunches of daffodils as soon as I see them!

Planning a summer holiday or a spring city break somewhere, you need something to look forward to.

It's also a time to re-evaluate your lifestyle and health and kick the bad habits that are dragging you down. I'm a gym goer so a strong believer in 'summer bodies are made in the winter'. However I've just joined a hiking group; not started yet but bought the boots and intend to start in January....eeeek. Well outside my comfort zone but can't wait to expand my tiny world and meet some new people!

DD and DGD both have birthdays in February, as does my sister, so there’s usually something to look forward to. This January, I’ll be spending half of it on jury duty.

Another lover of the ary months here. The light changes- buds are coming out on trees and they form tiny reflective surfaces so the light is refracted and there’s a sort of haze. Cheap daffodils in the shops mean you can put loads of cheery yellow in the house. You can get the house all clean, decluttered and simple after the Christmas glitz. Vegetable soups and curries to cleanse the system after the rich meals. No-one thinks you are weird or anti social if you stay at home watching box sets/reading your way through the whole of Jane Austen. New diaries, lots of space to plan and set goals. New plants coming up in the garden. It’s fabulous!

Look forward to spring and summer and whatever else the new year has planned for you.

We take alot of winter walks by the beach or in a nearby forest too. It's my way of saying 'screw you horrible weather, you can't beat me!'

Lots of long runs and hikes, preferably. In the day time if I can, as much vitamin D as I can cram in. But evenings are fine and it’s nice to get out in darkness. It’s really nice to be out in the countryside or hills at night, and really calming. So much easier to go out and watch the sunset or sunrise without having to get up in the middle of the night!

I just go for walks, play boardgames etc…anything free. I have two dc but they are 10 and 13 but they still need to be entertained a bit. But I don’t do anything crazy, no dinners out, no holidays, just nice and quiet and simple.

January is a slog but make the most of a sunny day. 2 weeks into February and the days seem to start to get longer.

I actually like the fresh start of a new year, taking decs down as Christmas feels old very quickly to me, and getting back to work / school after hols. New diaries, Jan sales, early signs of spring outside.
I’m the same with September after the summer… but I have a young child and work from home so (while not wanting to wish her childhood away obviously) it’s getting back to a bit of peace and quiet and order for me 😂

There’s usually some good TV in the New Year. The Traitors starts on New Year’s Day.
Like a PP, I’ve joined a hiking group which starts in January so I am looking forward to that. Committing to doing some activities in a group helps me to stick to things.

I also love this attitude! How do you see the other months?