To ask for tips on how to get through the winter blues?

[Afternooninthepark]

I know we are still in summertime and my favourite month of September is still to come but I’d love some tips/ideas on how to get through the winter.
Each winter I am getting worse, I hate it.
Now, I don’t mind a really crisp day with lovely blue skies and sunshine but more often than not it’s just grey and dreary, day in, day out.
I feel so lethargy during these winter months and am absolutely knackered by 3/4pm. I dread the clocks changing and the darkness closing in by 4pm.
I really do not want to go on antidepressants but need some tips on how to get through to April without becoming the sluggish, grumpy, melancholic person I always morph into from October to March.
I eat well, walk the dogs every day, dont smoke or drink and try to enjoy Winter but I just don’t. It affects me physically and emotionally.
Any tips how to bounce through winter without feeling like a miserable, sad ole Eeyore?

High dose vitamin D
Plan some nice days out or a weekend away
Embrace Hygge
Find new wintry recipes to try

Am in exact same boat, sorry I can’t offer tips but would love to hear others’ ideas!

Vitamin D
Sunshine lamps to wake you
Still get outside as much as possible
Exercise
Plenty water to drink

Get a light box

Yes. Get out once a day.

I know exactly what you mean. I hate winter and the darkness is depressing.

People can fuck right off with their hygge nonsense and words like "snuggle" "hot choc" and "blankie".

My mood starts to go rapidly downhill when the clocks go back and I turn the corner on 21st December when the shortest day comes and goes.

Agree to the high dose of Vit D. Start taking it soon, at least by the end of September. I have a lightbox at home which puts out a very intense light like sunshine which helps on dull days. 30 minutes should be enough. Getting out in the fresh air when it's dry and bright really helps. Doesn't have to be much, 30 minutes walk in the morning when the light is brightest. Mindfulness helps.

Take care of yourself OP, it's a rough time of year for lots of us.

Thanks everyone. I’ll get some vitamin d tomorrow and start googling light boxes.
otra as soon as the clocks go back in October I’m counting down the days till the 21st Dec!!

Last year was the worst ever - combination of menopause, having lots of work done in the house and not being able to get out, and damp dull weather. I was in bits.

This is the lightbox thing I have.

www.johnlewis.com/beurer-tl-30-ultra-portable-daylight-sad-light-white/p2611498?s_kwcid=1dxDSA-THA-PP39700045864823427&tmad=c&tmcampid=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwho7rBRDxARIsAJ5nhFr3SJgeDW1IiJwaMavihRZDcE0b7bYU6qis8hNX8Gzaz3EKamJcYUMaAp4GEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

It's about the size of an iPad. You don't need to look directly into it, you can prop it on the arm of the sofa when you're on the laptop or something.

Last year I was constantly googling how much the days started getting longer by after 21st December. About 15 minutes per week extra daylight through January. www.timeanddate.com/sun/

I am also a Christmas-hater, when you're feeling like shite the last thing you need is people telling you that you're a scrooge for not buying plastic tat.

If you can afford it book a week in the sun in January. The Canary Islands are ideal - not too long a flight. This breaks up the winter and gives you a boost of sun for Feb and March.
A light box and vitamin D are also good tips.

I suffer from this so last year I requested an outside lunch duty (I'm a teacher) which forces me to go outside in the fresh air everyday. I felt lots better for it.

I’m terrible for this, and was only thinking today how much I am dreading this winter. I found last year really tough. I already take vit D, exercise and eat well. Am out with the dogs every day. I still suffer. The only thing that makes me feel a bit better is to have a long haul holiday booked for Feb to somewhere properly HOT, to have something to look forwards to. I am praying for an Indian summer in September so I can store up more sunshine.

@OtraCosaMariposa I'm so glad there's someone who feels the same about winter as I do.

Embrace Hygge

I bought a light box last year. It also has a wake up function so the room gets gradually lighter before my alarm goes off. I found it really helped to wake me up as I struggle with the dark mornings. I also left the light on whilst I did my make up to get a blast of bright light.

Trying to get out at lunchtime for a walk / exposure to daylight is the other thing I try to do. It’s easy in the winter to spend all day indoors with no exposure to natural light. I increasingly hate the dark days every though, am dreading the clocks changing.

Hygge doesnt stop depression. Danes have the highest use of anti depressants per person in the world.

I'm in university so I no longer suffer from winter blues. I'm too budy to think about it. I'm dreading finishing because will be lost without them. I've decided I'm going to take up painting or a language at night classes. Is that an option OP?

What do you enjoy doing? I try and make an active effort to book things in that I like doing in advance before I start feeling blue e.g. tickets for the theatre or a trip to see a friend. Something to give me something to look forward to!

Going to try taking vitamin D this year too

Long dog walks, even in the rain. I also have a sunrise alarm clock. I think being quite routined is useful, that and lots of list making helped me with the horrific brain fog. But also being kind to yourself on the days it all goes wrong.

I took magnesium and vitamin b complex supplements in addition to vitamin D and calcium and found it helped my mood and energy levels a lot. But I still feel more fatigued in winter and wish it was possible to just hibernate.

I think also letting yourself have the odd day under the duvet hiding and napping if your lifestyle allows it (kids, job etc) and not feeling guilty about it.

I'm going to try Vitamin D too. I've signed up for Spanish classes but I was planning to do that anyway.

I have this too - because of my disability I can't walk far, so the problem is I can't really go outside much because if I'm sitting I get too cold, whereas in summer it's completely different and I can sit out. It's depressing and horrible.

Pitch black when you wake up for hours, waiting for the sunrise.
Dark at 4pm.

I don't have any suggestions to add but I wanted to say you're not alone. I struggled badly with last winter and was counting the days too. I do find once we're into January I feel somewhat better as we've broken the back of winter and it's getting lighter and nights drawing out.

Try reading the little book of hygge - it really helps through the winter months :)

I know this is a little controversial but would you go on a sunbed for 6 minutes once a week? I dont tan off them but they do wonders for my mood when the weathers grim.
Less controversial with many backed health benefits, can you get to a gym with a sauna? I think lightbox, sauna, vit D, and just keeping yourself as busy as possible / hibernating with hot drinks and a book would all help. Invest in the best outdoor gear you can afford.
I like to think of the animals of Alaska that endure their relentless horrid winter then scramble to make the most of their fleeting summer. Theres a really beautiful, heartwarming documentary that really resonated with me about making the most of things. Plus it has Pikas

My DH insists we go on a winter sun holiday (cheap Canaries deal usually) in January. It really helps him get through winter. We've done this for quite a few years now and it does help.

I cope by having a weekend away to look forward to in November, then there's Christmas, then if we have some snow in Jan/Feb I'm OK - I can sit out the grey dismalness of March.

Other things I do - make sure there are bulbs coming up in the garden, and winter flowering shrubs. Candles on grey days, and buy big bunches of flowers if the weather is miserable. Light and greenery indoors seems important.