To ask what "little things" help get you through the less exciting winter months?

[Ilovepearjuice]

In particular, January and February?

I'm definitely a person affected by the long, dark, cold evenings. Once the festivities and twinkly lights of Christmas and New Year is over, I always go through a very glum period and Jan/Feb seem to drag on forever.

Please may I ask what little things you do to get you through those winter blues? What brings you joy? Trips away, purchases, activities... Anything!

I want to make a list in advance and plan ahead, so that I know I always have something to make me feel good and hopefully others too!

@Redsquirrel5 we have Australia Day too, although it’s lamingtons instead of pavlova in our house (and then spend the following month cleaning up the dedicated coconut that seems to cover every inch of the kitchen)

I quite like the quiet, duller downtime really. We are abroad but Jan-March/April is still cold and rubbish generally. Before my dc, we’d always book somewhere amazing to go away end of Jan-usually Thailand or skiing, it really gave us something to look forward to. Finances aren’t as available now 🙈
I too keep all the twinkly lights up, thick, fluffy throws, frosty early morning walks with a flask of hot chocolate for toddler and I, we take the dog and sit down for hot chocolate breaks 🤣 I make lots of stews, curries, slow cooker meals. Snuggle down with films & tv series (don’t watch much tv in spring/summer)
We go to the cinema or shopping on rainy days and nice lunches somewhere,
Get our wellies and coats on and out for long dog walks then back for a roast dinner.
Last year I started lighting a candle in the morning at the table at breakfast with my toddler, in fact we’d keep candles on most of the day. We’d read books at the table with afternoon hot chocolate & biscuits. Lots of baking.
Basically I just try to embrace it now, I used to be such a summer person and I still find the shorter days and darker nights hard when it comes to January, but I went with it all, really looked at nature and most of all, got outside, in all weathers! Now I’m sort of looking forward to it

I always go for a week in the Canaries, first week of Feb. Gets me through January nicely.

I love this thread

Also

Wine
Potatoes
Other hearty food
Long walks when it’s dry and there’s daylight
Films
Furry blanket on the sofa
Hot baths - make sure you get lots of lovely bubbles for Christmas

I wrap up and go out on my bike as long as it’s not actually raining - nice grippy tyres for a bit of off path in the park and along the riverside, Then back to shower the mud off and settle down with a cup of tea and toasted bun. Glowing inside and out.

I paint, so am always happy to have time indoors without distractions ( a good daylight lamp extends the useful day in the winter)

Fun Artful boxes, interesting tea and books, hikes where you come in and have to have tea and hot water bottles to warm up, pastry and anything with butter.

Oh and a holiday between October and Feb

@Askingforfriend

I live in No Cal. Grew up in So Cal though.

I collect Lego sets all year round, then build them in the 'dead time' after Christmas.

I challenged myself to do 'Dry January' last year and made it through, which was rewarding and I felt physically much better.

I think Bridgerton saved me from complete gloom last winter. I’m hoping for some this winter.

I arrange meet ups with friends like a walk and brunch or coffee.
I book a trip into London to see a museum, gallery or exhibition.
Dinner with friends.
Go out for lots of walks then appreciate the cosiness of home, books, tv, tea and good wholesome food.

I have a disco ball and regularly transform my kitchen into a nightclub. It’s so bloody fun.

www.amazon.co.uk/SOLMORE-Activated-Automatic-Sequential-Christmas/dp/B07DWPDV74/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?crid=3SPXQF8OQRWKV&keywords=disco+lights&sprefix=disco+ligh&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1636071371&sr=8-9

Book holiday to Cape Verde. Sorted.

@Askingforfriend

Misread your question....Truckee, Tahoe, and that area.

[quote BeaucoupFish]@ifIwerenotanandroid
💐
That’s lovely hope you are feeling better[/quote]
Thank you, that's kind.

All seems to have gone well so far. Got another check coming up, which is never nice, but with luck it'll be OK too.

My tree doesn't come down until after new year, I love the tree up for NYE and then I keep the lights going well into Jan.

I celebrate the return of the light 21 dec. Have flowering bulbs all over in house. Spring is on its way !

@Lagomtransplant I think you are my kind of person

Exercise here. I also live close to (proper) mountains so cross country & downhill ski most weekends.

I keep the twinkly lights up, and sometimes the Christmas tree too.
Candles, blankets, warming food in the slow cooker before a nice crisp walk to the park or woods or something with friends, or to a pub with a nice fire 🔥

This winter should be easier than the previous one as we can (hopefully) travel.

Tropical holiday booked for Jan/'Feb (Maldives :) )

Hol booking has dual purpose of making sure you don't overdo it on the food/drink at Christmas which makes you more sluggish.

Make sure you're warm enough, merino thermals/heated blankets/fire etc.

I like jigsaws/Lego/gaming - all absorb hours easily and you don't feel like its "wasting" a day like you would in summer.

Get 20 mins walking outside every day if possible, air can get stale in the house. Take a 5 mins break outside if its sunny to let it shine on your face.

I have Alexa announce the sunrise/sunset times so I can follow them slowly getting longer.

Last Feb I got married and was in Sri Lanka for honeymoon. We have vowed once my dc have gone to uni (2 years) we will save hard and book a holiday like that every February. It made January tolerable because we were liking forward to it and most of Feb was in the sun....bliss!

Now though wrapping up and getting out for walks in the Shropshire countryside near me, lighting the log fire and burning scented oils.

We've booked to go to Gran Canaria this Jan although for proper hot weather Cape Verde would be better.

Also last year I discovered that daffodils in a vase cheer me up much more than I expected.

I’m the absolute opposite - I breathe a huge sigh of relief when Christmas is over (am absolutely not a fan).

Bloody love 1st January and all it’s exciting ‘newness’. A shiney new beginning! Spring is on the way!

I also plant hundreds of bulbs at this time of year - seeing them peak through the soil is joyous and (I quote) ‘to garden is to believe in tomorrow’.

Can’t wait for The Festive Season to be over!

I exercise. I love this time of year. I prefer running a and dog walking when it's cold. No midges, no hay-fever, I look better in winter clothes.

I have also just taken up swimming so I will do that too.

We leave our fairy lights all year - it's a very old period house so this suits the decor.

I sort out all the cupboards, go on a diet - except for Sundays where we have a lovely bottle of red wine in the afternoon if we are at home).

My birthday is February so after Xmas is always the run up to my birthday so I've really never minded it.

Get outdoors, proper walking boots and a good coat and just walk. It's beautiful in January.