To wish people wouldn't be so negative about January

[kingscote]

Had somebody already in work going on about how she's dreading January because it will be so boring and she'll have no money to go out and everyone will be off drink etc etc

I bought a magazine yesterday which was the January edition and it was full of dreary articles about diet and exercise.

AIBU to wish people would stop turning January into some kind of national month of sackcloth and ashes?

Yes, some people like to see the start of a new year as a time to make changes. But it's the general going on and on about it in a gloomy and negative way that really gets to me.

I deliberately made January fun. My husband and I often have holidays then (not this upcoming January, but usually), we got married in January, and my birthday is in January. I like it.

January for me is:
New Year & New Year's Resolutions
My birthday.
My best friend's birthday.
My DD's birthday.
Celtic Connections.

So please don't ban January!!
I realise that not everyone is so lucky.

I'm not miserable in January but I do tend to feel in a sort of limbo.

For me, the year doesn't really get going until February. Not sure why but I've always felt this way.

I can't wait for January..two weeks in the Maldives! Yippee!!

My birthday is middle to late January and my entire life everyone has constantly complained how poor they are, they can never do anything with me because they are ‘dieting’ and it’s so upsetting every year. I hate Christmas with a passion; but I don’t moan about it haha

My birthday is January 27th.

Holocaust Memorial Day.

Not only are people skint after Christmas, whining about the weather and buying crap presents if they haven't got me 'a little something at Christmas', it's a solemn day of remembrance.

I prefer to have a half birthday in July.

YANBU, in many ways January feels like a welcome relief after December. December is horribly busy everywhere, especially the roads, where the dark, short days combine with the awful weather to make every car journey more hazardous, as people race to get their Christmas shopping done. December is also a time when everyone feels pressured into socialising more, but because it's also flu season it's the worst time to be doing that. Everything is calmer in January. It's a fresh start, and although the weather can often be very cold it rains less, the days start to grow longer and you know that spring (the best season of all IMO) is not far away. For keen gardeners it's a time for making plans and getting indoor DIY jobs done, before the growing season begins. Bring on January, I say!

I love January. I've always had jobs that require my full attention in December (pubs, clubs and retail). January is my time to wind down and relax. It's peaceful and no one expects anything from me. I read my new books, catch up on tv and make myself warm and cosy. My birthday is on the 22nd so normally just go for a meal with whoever can afford it. I also book 2 weeks off around then as it's also our anniversary on the 31st.
I'm used to it now but I don't let the fact that I get regifted unwanted presents and hardly anyone celebrates my birthday with me spoil my mood.

When I lived in the UK, I rather liked January, the wind-down after Christmas, and Valentine's to look forward to.
Obvs the New Years resolutions are a PITA.

Now I'm In Australia January is the full-on holiday period, and February the sackcloth and ashes, with FebFast, though that's cast positively as liked with charities as well as looking after your liver. I'm guessing the sunny season changes it.

The real hard yakka, in Victoria at least is the time after the Queen's Birthday, first week in June. and nothing until the Melbourne Cup first Tuesday in November. And shit cold weather. This is why Christmas in July is a thing, as well as festivals to take your mind off it all.

Yabu - work are paying early this month because of Christmas which means my January Universal Credit payment is going to be nearly £700 lower than normal....so I have to figure out how to pay all my bills, live and pay for my son's birthday next month with £700 less.... January hasn't begin but is already very crappy!!!

I see both sides BUT January means we’re heading towards the end of winter. Stick with me on this. By the end of January you can certainly see a change in the amount of daylight at the start and end of the day for sure (granted not a lot). I also buy those little £1 bunches of daffs that appear in the supermarket come mid January too. Holiday gets booked too.

I love January.For me November is the worst month,especially now the hype and run up to Xmas starts ever earlier.Dark wet nights,everyone rushing, feelings of pressure to start preparing for the 'perfect' festive season.
January is calm,reflective,and cosy and a time of new beginnings without any unrealistic resolutions.And I much prefer some proper winter weather to the wind and drizzle of late Autumn.
But then I'm lucky enough to have a warm ,comfy house and don't spend a huge amount on Xmas -still have a good time but have pared back generally.And like a Pp as a keen gardener I'm always looking forward to the new season ,and with days slowly lengthening again there's a quiet excitement that spring is nearer.

I don't mind it. I'm one of the few who don't get paid early so I can manage money wise, and the days start to get longer instead of shorter!
I also have a lot of stress in the run up to Christmas at work so I'm glad it's over!

I have severe chronic depression so I have to "manage" potential disaster zones like January, otherwise I will fall off a cliff (speaking from bitter experience). So this year I have held off on starting writing my new novel - the idea is solidified, the characters and plot etc, I know where and how I want to do my research, but I'm waiting until the kids go back to start work. I've been rushed like hell for the past few weeks with Christmas orders on my Etsy shop and I'm thoroughly fed up with all that, so I'm putting the shop in holiday mode after Christmas and focusing on writing. New year, new project. So I actually feel quite excited about January rather than dreading it this year.

I love January! A fresh New Year to make plans for, lights are getting lighter again, counting down to Spring and looking forward to holidays :)

Am looking forward to not going out, detoxing, saving money and exercising lots. It’s all about balance - I would be totally burnt out if it was December every month! Also, my boss is leaving today which is sad because we are great friends but I know January will bring about new opportunities for me at work so am going to dive in head first!

Another fan of January here, although it's only been in recent years that I have realised how much I like it. DS' birthday is at the end of November so now that whole period feels very busy with lots to sort out, and I seem to always be doing something else too (eg taking on more work etc). January feels like a long breath outwards - no plans, no birthdays, nothing I have to do apart from go to work, nowhere I need to be. It's like a pause button. I think it's really important to have times like this, especially after a busy period, where you can just be for a few weeks, let your mind wander, rest, and start to make plans for the rest of the year.

I know I am lucky to not be facing January with no money and poor prospects or with SAD or difficulty with the weather etc etc. And I am sympathetic to those folks.

But I still like January. And this year we are moving house so even more of a 'new start's feeling. Plus if I get my bfp around new year after long months of trying and a miscarriage in 2018, then next year will definitely be looking up!

Elfinablender
The only redeeming feature of January is that it's not February.

^this

My boyfriend is dead. January is the start of an entire year without him. I will be as miserable as I please.

I'm going into January thinking it's a time to recharge .. I will be broke anyway so planning a month of early nights and a bit of a mini hibernate .. the darkest day is behind us and we can spring up refreshed by the end of it !!
I usually moan about it but I'm not going to this time

Herja im so sorry

I look forward to January as all the madness is over for another year, I love having a brand new diary to fill with new adventures and thoughts, I look forward to planning Summer holidays and working towards getting my body ready for wearing less (v difficult with chronic debilitating illness), I look forward to seeing how my DS is going to change and grow.

I try to be a glass half full type of person so try to find positives to focus on.

I love January.
Horrid Christmas is over.
The house goes back to being tidy
We do Sunday lunches with the friends that we haven't seen over Christmas
Days are getting longer and Spring is round the corner
Great telly
The promise of a shiny new year ahead

YANBU I actually don't really understand how anyone can 'hate' a whole month as a PP said.

Weather is not really much different than December or February, it's a new year, new beginning and for us a few birthdays amongst family and friends - which I assume most people will also have.

HMBB

I agree.

Hate is such a strong emotion, I can't imagine spending a whole month feeling such a negative emotion.