To find this time of year really sad

[Beverlysparty]

The schools will be re opening soon, the mornings already have that cool damp feel, it's dark at about 8.30, there's Halloween stuff in Tesco and winter clothes starting to appear in shops.
AIBU to feel really miserable at this time of year? I just hate the end of the long, carefree days and the return to bloody boring routine.

I have a theory that this is the time of year when we are evolved to gather the harvest, hunt, store up provisions for the winter etc. but the majority of us don't do that in our modern society, so we feel rather lost and unfulfilled at this time of year.
Maybe balance it with prepping for the colder weather in little ways?

Yes, I hate it. It feels like Sunday evening and you know you've got school the next morning. I'm a teacher and I hate it so there's the dread of going back to work, plus the getting dc out and off to childminder before barely making it in on time, the cold, the rain, the 13 grinding weeks before the next break....

Nope! I’m delighted! I can’t wait for September and the freshness of a new school year. I can’t wait for the nights to properly draw in. If I had my way it would be Halloween all year round.

Ive always suspected that I’ve got some kind of reverse SAD. The summer depresses me and I dread it year round. I hate heat, I hate long days, I hate the sun, I hate wasps! More than anything I hate wasps! It’s a welcome relief when the big spiders start making their way indoors.

As someone who still works as normal in summer rather than having carefree days , I do find this time of year a bit weird. Lots of other folk on holiday so my projects a bit on hold and feeling like you’re just waiting for things to kick off again…”silly season” as it used to be called when I worked at a local newspaper and you ended up writing a pile of old shit at this time of year because there was bugger all going on.

autumn/winter clothes are MUCH nicer though TBF.

I think whatever season you prefer, this posts really shows how sone people talk themselves into misery.

Presumably you’re not in Scotland or you’d have said the kids were back already. So you’re a week away from school.

New term can mean new teacher, new topics, new classroom, that feeling (that kids certainly often like) of being “bigger”. In some cases, clubs start again - and yes, I know not everyone can afford them. Halloween is something that a lot of kids enjoy and it doesn’t have to be expensive - it’s free entertainment with free sweets thrown in, if you take them out to look at decorations, and a set of cat ear headbands are cheap -especially if kept from last year.

Of course you can argue against any one of those things. Maybe my child likes the start of term and your child struggles with change. But it’s not about analysing specific examples. It’s about a state of mind: do I focus on the changes that I like, or all the ones I don’t? Of course you’re going to be sad if you keep looking for what you don’t like.

Yanbu at all. I was in the doldrums before going back to work to begin the new term. I love the longer, lighter days, the greenery and flowers, the weather that lends itself to outdoorsy stuff.

We really only get a short time of it...it's almost like a tease.

Absolutely. I was thinking this yday at a BBQ, that there aren't many opportunities left this year to invite friends and neighbours over and I wish we'd done more. And then I think about how few summers I might have left, totally depress myself.

I don't like August much anyway. Much prefer May/June when summer seems long and the evenings are light, and when the weather is great its like a bonus rather than expected.

Then I think it's lucky I'm in the UK with long days in the summer and Christmas in the winter. Australia is lovely, but the days are never long and there is nothing good about the winter. Its not really that cold - but also not warm enough to enjoy it in most places.

No I do not hate this time of year. At the end of August after weeks of trying to juggle two very energetic boys and a full time job I can finally look forward to waving them cheerily off to school. WTAF are parents supposed to do with kids for the majority of the summer holidays? If you don't have the money to put them into camp (which mine hate anyway) then you're stuffed. Parents only get approx 4 weeks a year of annual leave - the summer holiday we take as a family is lovely but the remaining 4 or five weeks are just bored kids, me stressed, husband not really helping, as he's so focussed on his job and actually they start asking to go back to school roundabout this time.

September and October are nice months, I like Autumn. It's the prettiest time of year.

@PuppyMonkey “As someone who still works as normal in summer rather than having carefree days”

Yes! I’m past the days of holiday clubs (that sound awesome but run 09:00-15:00 on the other side of town!) but I certainly felt more “carefree” in the term time when I knew exactly what my childcare was 🤣

It's already warm and sunny this morning in rural Lincolnshire, and I'm off to a barbecue. Was gorgeous yesterday, too. Have seen no reference to Halloween anywhere.

Might as well enjoy what the late summer days are still offering, rather than anticipate gloomy days ahead. But then I like the cold and dull months too, as it happens.

The "hot choccie and snuggles" crowd get their cold, dark and miserable weather every fucking year. Without fail, because we live in the UK and winters are wet, cold and dark.

Those of us who struggle through winter/autumn bank on a decent spring and summer to recharge the batteries. When it's tipping it down every day for what felt like all of July and August, that's impossible. I think here in Scotland we had 2 or 3 days in June which I would consider summery.

I feel for you because I feel the exact opposite to you. As soon as spring starts and the clocks change, when it's light on a night and people usually begin getting motivated for the spring/summer is when I withdraw. I become sluggish and de-motivated and long for 21st of June when I know the lights are going to start drawing in. I become ecstatic when the clocks change again in October when I know it will be dark when I leave work. Autumn/winter is when I shine. It's very strange the change in myself but I have been this way forever.

I like the 'new beginnings' feel of September. I suppose at least partly as I've been in education (pupil, student, teacher, now TA and student again) for 44 years. I like getting ready for the new academic year, maybe a new outfit, new stationery etc.

I also prefer autumn weather to summer as I don't like the heat.

There was a similar thread about this a little while back and I wholeheartedly agreed with the OP. I always feel a little bit melancholy as summer draws to a close. I used to walk on the local towpath a lot and would notice the vegetation starting to droop around mid August and it made my mood similarly droop! I'm much happier once we're well into September and I've accepted that autumn is here and brings its own particular loveliness.

I find January/February sad. Just a slog until it gets warmer.

I have SAD alongside regular depression and ASD. I’m dreading this winter so much. Although we were among the lucky ones who had a red hot June, that feels like a long time ago and I spent most of it in the office. It rained for the whole of my annual leave at the start of August of course.

I hate the dark nights, having to clean up mud after every dog walk, being cold all of the time, worrying about the cost of heating. I love swanning around in shorts and a T-shirt or a floaty dress and hate “cosy” clothes and I really hate wearing coats.

Being “cosy” gives me a feeling of malaise and I need to be able to run for my mental health but I can’t when it’s too rainy as I wear contact lenses and when it’s icy its too dangerous.

I used to hyper focus on Christmas to the point where I earned the nickname “Little Miss Christmas” (from the Mr Men series) but now DS is 14 the magic has gone and how the hell are we going to afford it anyway? I suppose I like country pubs with roaring fires but can’t afford to go to those either.

God, how am I actually going to get through this winter??

I love summer because J bounce out of bed at 5, fully energised and happy. I’m like a kid,I just don’t need much sleep. It’s almost like mania.

By October I have to be virtually dug out with a shovel. Definitely have more energy in the summer.

It's currently approaching my favourite time of the year 🍂 I love the cold days and can't stand the sun! I know how you feel though, I feel like this once autumn is ending

I used to love Autumn. I always had a feeling of new beginnings, long after my college years. And I do enjoy September and October when the days can be sunny and warm. But this year I'm dreading winter. It was so cold last year, our heating broke down and we froze for 3 weeks until it could be fixed. The cost of fuel was a real problem for us and anyone who thought we could just wear extra clothes is living in cloud cuckoo land. So yes OP, I'm feeling sad and since Autumn has already started here (Cornwall!) it's going to ge a long time until Spring.

No I love it. September feels like a new beginning. I love Autumn and Christmas and the build up September onwards brings to those things. I always remember Sept and Oct being quite sunny, with nippy mornings. Great food. I like getting back into routine after a chaotic few weeks (which I also enjoy for their change of routine). I just love the changing seasons, and Autumn is my favourite.

Only time of year I struggle with is Jan-Feb after that NY spirit is gone. Those feel like long months!

I wonder if the preference for one season over others is anything to do with which month we're born in, or is that just ridiculous?!!

Autumn and spring are my favourite seasons so I say bring it on.
Summer is (usually) too hot for me so between summer and winter, give me winter any time.

Love this time of year! My Birthday is round the corner ,and I feel energised by the warm summer months .Like the Summer but so hot! This year is not so bad . Last Summer almost fainted with the heat.All different I guess

Depends where you are. Here (NW) it will just piss down and be windy. Shit for dog walking, driving and pretty much anything. Hate it, especially as we haven’t even had a summer this year.

Yes the "snuggling on the sofa" crew can do one. It is just so twee and surely it's what everyone does (if they can) on a cold Autumn/Winter night, you're hardly going to snuggle on the floor!

Anyway, for what it's worth, I just jog along with the seasons, I have no major preference, but if forced to give one, I would have to say that I get a feeling of peace when Summer is nearing its end. I think it must be the quiet around the place when the kids are back at school and things develop a normal daily rhythm again.

Other than that, we are in a sense lucky to have seasons. We can plan for them, whereas some countries are either hot or cold/cool all year round. I would not like that!