How do you cope with winter?

[Wintercopping]

Posting for some traffic and advice.

Being in the UK for nearly 20 years; grew up in a country near the Ecuator with no seasons.

I wonder if I ever going to get use to the English grey skies and darkness; especially in winter.

I do meditation, yoga, take magnesium, vitamin D, have a SAD lamp. What else can I do? DH and kids don’t seem affected by it.

We can’t move for the moment; our jobs are here and would like youngest to finish school, currently in year 9.

I love winter time not for xmas but the weather and the dark gray days.
I love all the weather mumnet hates.

Oooh, someone else with a hatred for March!!! I absolutely hate Jan, Feb & March. It feels like the beginning of a new year just drags on.

I truly thrive from August - December. Even if my depression sometimes does rear up during the darker months, I still prefer them to any other months!!

I try to live seasonally.

I eat seasonally so look forward to foods each season. This means I artificially restrict my food choices because, given the global market, food not in season is available all year round.

I alter my life to suit the season. I don't try to live like it is Summer all year round.

Agree I need to go out more not matter what the weather. I will try ti make the house more cosy too, do an autumn cleaning sounds like a good idea. I do gratitude meditations too

Pretty well thanks, but I'm from western Europe so always had the experience of changing seasons.
I think the key is to embrace it, change habits and rituals accordingly. Something that we do naturally, like eating hot soup, using blankets, reading comfort bookd and watching christmas movies...

Otherwise, the thing that really makes a difference for me is to go outside everyday. I have a dog, so no choice, but its the best.
There was a winter when I did not have a dog, and since I work from home, I was sort of fantasising about going through hibernation like a bear, hardly leaving my flat. Well, it was actually a bit boring and came february, I left my flat for 2 months to be a "digital nomad" in Eastern Europe.

I am considering buying a small table and work in the garden a few hours a day on the days I work from home. It it is not tool cold and not raining

You never get used to it. Take your supplements, cook hearty winter dinners that remind you of 'home', candles, music and dark showers.

My daughter loves autumn, but struggles with the darkness, so distracts herself with thoughts of Christmas.

Better outdoor clothes.

I don't believe "there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes" - but better outdoor gear changes things A LOT.

I've got waterproof trousers, fleece, sturdy shoes etc - really takes the edge off getting out and about every day.

Socks, get good socks. Cold feet are miserable.

A really good coat. I think mine is a "duvet coat" - it's brilliant. Also thermals from Uniqlo if you feel the cold.

Going outside with a purpose, whether that's tidying the garden ahead of winter or walking to the post box, whatever, as long as it gets you out.

I've started a group running course during the past month - I'm the last person to want to run but it gets me moving and stops me sinking into the sofa. Still hate it but feel good afterwards. GoodGym is an alternative if you need motivation.

Embracing coffee or high quality herbal teas, seasonal food etc.

A good indoor hobby to look forward to in the evenings.

I still don't enjoy it - especially with young kids - but I'm better at finding good in it.

For me it's just a change in routine. I have young dcs and we switch to indoor activities after the October half term. So we spend our weekends visiting museums, theatre shows, art workshops, soft plays etc. There are always lots of special events on for Christmas etc. We sometimes go to the park but only if it's dry. It means we look forward to those activities because we don't usually do them through the summer (when we get our fill of outdoor trips out). But then school and work take up most of the day during the week and we don't notice the seasons much, the weather only affects the journey there and back.

I'm not a fan of Autumn and Winter. Last year I used the clock change times Oct to Mar as a reboot to my health and overall glow up. Like a makeover period; cut out alcohol, got lots of sleep, set up an exercise program, took care of my skin and hair and ate well. In theory, I'd step out of my hibernation pod chrysalis at the end of March and look and feel amazing. It worked. I was 1.5st lighter and a regular at the gym before the chaos of new starters in Jan.

I'm continuing on this Autumn and Winter, planning at least another 2st loss.

Warm white light bulbs as white light is too depressing, really nice curtains as we see a lot of them, heated throws, box sets that we sometimes watch at the same time while texting each other, fuck ton of carbs and wiggling inside the horses rug to hug him because he's all soft and warm. Best done before he throws himself in a whole spa worth of mud.

"I wonder if I ever going to get use to the English grey skies and darkness; especially in winter."

Probably not. I've lived here all my life and the cold weather still gets me down. I force myself to walk or run every single day. I don't enjoy it but I think it drags me through until April.

I'm at the stage I think I might like to live somewhere without seasons. I understand why people retire to Florida or Benidorm now.

I like walking in the dark in winter as long as it is not raining. There is something really comforting about seeing houses lit up for the evening. Especially around Christmas when people have their decorations up as well.

I hate January though.

Btw there is a lovely thread on the Christmas board based around Nigel Slater's The Christmas Chronicles. Full of things to love about Winter.

I dislike winter. I feel much happier, lighter and more energetic in the Spring and Summer.
However, I kind of feel in tune with the seasons. I see winter as a time of rest. Nature is sleeping, animals hibernate, plants stop growing. I think humans should follow suit and take it as a time to slow down, be cosy and rest.
Although I long for Spring, there are many things I can enjoy in winter. Wrapping up warm and going on a brisk walk, sitting by the fire with a book or watching a good film, making comfort food like roasts, shepherd's pie and apple crumble.

Get some really good knitwear. in whatever lovely bright colour or pattern takes your fancy. I tend to default to black./grey/navy/grey for everything but it makes a difference to how I feel to think about it and wear something brighter.

I am one of those people that mn hates!
I don't like winter much as I have a condition that means I am virtually always cold but I find* *making the house as comfortable and cosy as possible really helps. Yes this involves candles, blankets & cushions etc. I always feel like the pressure is off at this time of year, people like to stay at home more and there are fewer invites to do things after work.
Basically I make my home as toasty as possible and hibernate until spring 🤣

This is a good idea too. I am going for bright colours

Will look for it. Thanks

I feel you OP.
I could more than cope with late Autumn/Winter if there were far more dry, crispy cold/ freezing dry aired days with blue skied low Winter sun.

No waiting for the radiator heat to push through the cold humidity before heating the room. No weird sensation of it seeming colder inside than out due to it being below a certain temp, but heavy aired...then going outside in the cold only to get too warm due to moving about.

But the long dark hours and damp grey can be soul sucking.
I keep my living room hygge like semi dark, rarely switching on the ceiling light and making use of table and floor lamps instead.

On the rare ground and low roof London frost days with bright sunshine, I layer and Sorel boot up and forgoe post night shift day sleep and get out there until near dusk. There is no better quality London light than crisp, blue skied, low Winter sun.

December 21st, the Winter Solstice and the sunrise is one minute earlier each morning and the sunset one minute later each sunset. I also look out for the odd purple light that can occur on a Winter sunset.

Post christmas, I look for the green moss on the tree barks and leaf buds on trees especially as February has beem warmer than usual for the last few years. And of course, the sunset is getting later with March and its Equinox approaching, signifying the clocks going forward and the arrival of Spring. And March can be either freezing or balmy, whilst it shakes itself out into true Spring. That's why I love it.

Look for the little things in time and nature and take it one day at a time.

It sounds like I may be alone, but I actually quite like winter in the UK😮. But I do think it makes a difference where you live - I grew up in the North West where it is much greyer than here in the East of England. I also agree with PP that it makes a big difference to get outside on the middle of the day and go for a walk or run.

But I like that there is less going on and less pressure to do stuff. I really appreciate that I haven't had to do any gardening for the past few weeks. I like curling up inside and watching TV or reading a book. However, there are times when I feel quite cooped up with the DC around

I don’t mind hibernating a bit but I still have to find the energy and motivation for day to day shores, work and get out of the house.

I hate winter with a passion and as soon as I can afford to semi-retire I'm off to warmer climes!

For now much like others, focus on Christmas, added an extra evening yoga class, go to bed early and get up early, make the house as cosy as possible, get away for a weekend in the sun - very last minute to catch the good weather, 2 nights in a modest AirBnB southern Europe/nAfrica somewhere vaguely warm. I'm not fussed about sunbathing or sea swimming, I just to feel the sun on my face and not be rained on!