To feel low about it getting dark early

[mintywinter]

I can't explain it really cos it's not logical, but these dark evenings seem to be making me feel anxious. Maybe everything seems worse this year with the cost of living and the constant bad news. I also feel less like going out in the evenings when it gets dark so early.

This is a real thing as we need melatonin and vitamin D from the sun. It's important to go out in the day light when you can and get a bit of exercise.

Also embrace the dark, you can't beat it so join it. Tea lights, fairy lights, open fire, (whatever is at out disposal) warm drinks, home made soups and stews, great TV, curling up with a good book, snuggling under warm duvets. Sleeping better! I sleep so much better when it's cold and dark.

my birthday is November and I hate the dark evenings. I don’t think when you was born will mean you like the season you where born in.

I don't like either of them, don't like it too hot, don't like the dark mornings/evenings

Permanent Spring sounds good 🤣

I was thinking last night as I went round drawing the curtains at 4.30pm how much I enjoy the dark evenings when they come - though I also love the lighter evenings when they come - and that if I started a thread on here saying 'AIBU to love it getting dark mid-afternoon' there would be a resounding Yes you are :)

Seasons come and go quite quickly thankfully.
I find it worse dark and cold rather than just dark.

Envy people who live in warmer climates.

Yes, the dark doesn't bother me but January and February become longer and more intolerable every year. I find myself obsessing over the wildlife & birds, and how cold they must be.

I read whether it's summer or winter. I much prefer cold drinks to hot drinks and light summer meals to soups and stews.

I hate jumpers or any clothes with long sleeves. I also hate wearing socks.

I have a 4.5 tog all year round so no need to snuggle under a warm duvet. I certainly would never snuggle under a duvet on the sofa.

I also don't particularly sleep any better in the dark or cold.

Spring can't come soon enough for me

Don't really mind grey days but hate how early it gets dark. I was going to go for a run today, had more work to do than expected but now if I go I'll be stumbling through mud and trees in the dark on the way back. It's only 3pm FFS.

It may as well be dark in the morning. It's not as if that's an enjoyable time of day when it's light.

I object to the cold much more than to the darkness though.

I find that I have to go completely OTT on embracing the cosy hygge vibe of evenings featuring candles, blankets, soft music, warm drinks and jacket potatoes to shake me into enjoying it after the clocks go back, otherwise I get miserable about the end of summer to

I'm not a fan of this time of year, I'm a summer person and love the evenings when it's still lightish at 10pm.

Roll on March!

Happy (as a Londoner) to keep it permanently on GMT.

But as for people trying to impose longer, darker mornings on us as if it's common view and a common desire held by everyone, it's very cheeky.

It's only on Mumsnet that there's a certain bunch of people who every year bring up this same topic.

Normal people do not want to get up and start their day in pitch black all year round. It's completely against the natural body clock.

November gets a bad rap from me too, but unlike many people I prefer January and February. The Christmas break is a welcome time to relax between the two busiest periods of my year. But something about this holiday seems to hold time, order and even days of the week in abeyance in the way the Easter break or summer holidays don't. (I'm not sure if that even makes sense, as writing it down doesn't seem to convey the sentiment I'm intending too well). I enjoy the return to order, the refreshed energy of the house once the dusty decorations have been packed away, and best of all, the gradual lengthening of daylight as it gets just a little lighter each day.

The waxing of the year from Winter solstice sees an upturn in my mood. Spring is my favourite time of year bar none; I enjoy looking forward to it and knowing it's just around the corner. But autumn, the turning back of the clocks and the increasing darkness until Solstice can be a really rough time for some people's mental health. SAD is very real. There are some people who are similarly affected by long hours of daylight in summer, but as far as I can see this is nowhere near as common.

I have a real love of Tromso in northern Norway: it's a lovely little town with warm, friendly people. But the thought of spending longer than a couple of days there, in the season when the sun sets and doesn't rise again for another month fills, me with horror.

@FamilyTreeBuilder I agree about December. Although it carries on getting darker in the mornings, after the 19th December (not even the 21st) it starts getting lighter at night even if only by a few seconds, and it cheers me up enormously. It might still be dark, but it's going in the right direction.

@Tillow4ever it happens every year. We have sunny, even hot weather in summer, and there are always people who complain bitterly, tell us we're wrong and they can't wait for autumn/winter.

@Gymnopedie it’s different complaining about the weather and saying you can’t wait for the season you like than sneering at the person for liking the season you don’t like. Eg if in the summer I said “I hate all this hot weather but I’m sure the sun worshipers will be here in a minute to tell us how wonderful it is to be out in our shorts/summer dresses etc”. Simply stating that you hate the time of year roll on autumn/winter/spring/summer isn’t implying someone else is lying about their feelings around the season because they like it or that they are wrong.

it’s possible to disagree without being rude or nasty.

I agree with you OP. I find the greyness of the sky and the dark evenings affect my mood.

Both my local small supermarkets have overhauled their lighting to save money. I absolutely appreciate the necessity of this but I've been taken aback by how dark and gloomy they feel. Add to that increased prices and gaps on shelves and it is a really depressing experience.

I work outdoors in all weathers day in and day out so this time of year feels a bit overwhelming knowing what is to come in terms of weather.

I've a theory that your favourite season is based on the season you were born in

Your theory is utter bollocks. It is my birthday today, and I hate November and love summer.

Hate it 100% makes me feel claustrophobic and gloomy. I do all the pretty lights, candles, fire stuff but no still hate it. Roll on 21st Dec when the nights very , very slowly draw out again...

I'll say. July baby and hate the heat. Can just about deal with long light evenings.

There are some people who are similarly affected by long hours of daylight in summer, but as far as I can see this is nowhere near as common

I read a theory that SAD is caused by not enough melatonin and people who don't like long hours of daylight have the reverse problem - it causes them to have too much.

Happy birthday @RampantIvy !

Judging by your comments you're not really enjoying your birthday much

It could always be worse. My friend's is on Christmas Day ...

Thank you @MarieIVanArkleStinksI am actually @nancydroo, but I would enjoy it more if I was sitting outside in the sun rather than bolting everything doen because there is a howling gale outside

I find it depressing too. On a nice summer’s evening after work I often go for a nice walk. Definitely wouldn’t do it in the dark, it’s just not the same. So I end up doing a lot less exercise too.

I love this time of year but I understand, in a different way, how you feel. I feel miserable in summer. I hate the heat, I hate wasps and mosquitos, I hate sweating. I can't imagine anything worse than someone suggesting a picnic on the grass or at a bench in 26 degree heat. And it's a genuine misery I feel. Unlike so many others, I just want to stay inside when it's hot outside. It's this time of year that I feel content, happy, comforted, cosy.
I hope some of the suggestions here help, op. It's not nice feeling so down at specific times of year.