To not hate January…

[nicegirl73]

It seems to be such a big thing to so many people. On the radio. They’re always saying how bad January is…

is January really that awful to most of you?

I honestly just feel like it’s a month like all the others, no worse no better.

im curious

I love January. Christmas is over and that is an enormous relief. Everything is quieter and more peaceful. Best time of year for cooking and baking - soup, stew, curry, casseroles. We've had a lot of cold sunny weather the past 2 weeks which has been gorgeous

I enjoy all seasons but absolutely dread the heat, so I'm enjoying Winter while it lasts!

For me it's a bit of both.

I love the calm after the storm of crazy December. I clear away the Christmas decorations on New Year's Day and immediately I feel calmer. The beginning of the year feels fresh and clean, I can clear my head and make plans.

However I hate the dark mornings and really struggle to get up. If I wasn't working I wouldn't mind it at all though as I'd lie in longer and miss the cold, dark starts.

I love it. Calm and pressure free. Fresh start.

I like January as we are past midwinter solstice, the year has turned towards the light and it's getting lighter each day. The first week is still Christmas, we are enjoying treat foods and the house is decorated. We drink hot chocolate and mulled cider. We are looking forward to a local wassail at the beginning of February. The snowdrops are starting to come up.

It’s different to all the other months but I quite like it for what it is.

I like being active outside, so the warmer, lighter months are my favourite. But I usually have the time and space to clear out cupboards, find new recipes, get on with home improvements, and all the other back burner jobs in January.

I like it. It feels right are Christmas stuff

Hate it- YABU (not really you can feel any which way you like) but to me it’s cold Dark and I’m skint and fat from Christmas - bring on lighter evenings and warmer weather.

January is a palate cleanser month.

I love January and find it calm and uplifting after all the anxiety of having to do umpteen supermarket shops, cook Xmas dinner for my family, go out on NYE when I didn't want to, all the school Xmas concerts and driving in the dark.

January is my month. I can eat lovely nutritious food, I love the light, the amazing sunrises and sunsets we've had in the last week, planting seeds, and keeping everything crossed for some snow!

My birthday is in February, I don't celebrate it any more, but when I was younger, I loved the six week build up from Xmas and when I was in my 20s I always did my birthday diet for those 6 weeks.

Love it.

I'm off out into the garden today, already walked the dog and done a weights workout at home.

I like all the months tbh- would hate to live somewhere without seasons. I enjoy the rhythm of the changes. The relentless rain in autumn did get me down a bit but it hasn’t rained for 10 days now where I live and we’re not due any for another week so a nice dry cold Jan I can live with. Can get the garden tidied up at last now everything’s not soggy. Can do long runs without needing to carry any water, the beach is nice and empty. Have been organising a few improvements to the house. I like to create some momentum around my life and then I’m fine.

I used to hate January and February but decided that disliking such a big chunk of my life was a bit wasteful so now I plan a ton of good outings to keep me going. Cinema is especially good at this time of year. I walk with friends several times a week and I can’t remember the last time we called off for poor weather, we just adapt our clothing and have a gentle whinge before getting going.

YANBU. I'm not keen on the cold weather, but January is such a relief after all the hideous nonsense of December. Time to plan for the year ahead, which is great. And can finally start to notice the days getting longer too, which is wonderful.

I’m a summer person but I don’t find January too bad. It’s normally by March or even April, when we’re still getting storms and it feels like it’s been winter for a year, that I start to get really low.
If we could count on a “lockdown spring” every year (ie sunny from late March) I’d be fine! But often we’re having snow storms in April, and I feel like I’ve been without light for ever (in Manchester).

I like January. Feeling satisfied after a good Christmas, signs of Spring emerging.

Had a lovely dog walk in the woods yesterday and am taking my book to a coffee shop later.

Wish people on here could be a bit more Stoic about winter instead of claiming to have SAD.

Exactly. It’s just a month. I think some people find the quietness too much to bear. I enjoy the calmness, walking, reading, eating healthy food.

I feel the cold but otherwise don't find too much wrong with January. But I don't do any of the shit that people often moan about: dry, vegan, dieting, gym, no-spend, no-anything-nice blah blah.

I love January because I have a DC with a birthday and five friends also have birthdays so it's far more sociable and fun than any other month.

Agree with PP re palate cleanser month… I like the calm after December and time to regroup and reset. I normally do dry January and finding it easier than usual this year fsr; also watch what I eat and exercise more so by end of jan I feel in a good place.

It has its good sides and bad sides, like any month. I like the post-Christmasness of it - new books to read, still got chocolates left to munch on, and taking advantage of sales to get my children's birthday presents (both February birthdays) and the days are starting to get longer.
But on the other hand the days are still really short, it tends to be pretty cold (got down to -30 in the first week of Jan where I am!) and between Christmas and two birthdays I feel like there's no money to spare.

It’s an easy media subject when nothing much is happening I think. Call in and tell us Do you hate January?!”

I love the fact we started a new year, clean slate however i get SAD so this is like being in the middle of a dark tunnel and im counting days to Valentine's then .March when i can see fun and light coming back.
Better at taking the rough with tbe smooth now im older.

Hate Nov to Feb. 1st March is the best, feels like are on the way to Sprng and Summer, and the worst is behind us.

I love January. We’ve just had a few days of sub zero temperatures (relatively rare in our part of the world) and I loved going outside when it’s dark and looking at the stars.

So glad to read such balanced and varying opinions. It seems most of you also don’t hate January.
I agree it’s so nice to stop overdoing everything with Xmas.

I actually quite like the feeling of a fresh start this month, I agree that the dark mornings are a struggle but I like that there’s less pressure compared to other months.