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 get out as much as possible for walks. Wrapping up warm and just walking around the local park or to the shop can lift my mood in winter.

As others have said, I lean into it as best I can. I have SAD, but I'm not letting a good portion of my life pass me by because of it. So I force myself up and to rally. Takes about a week of effort, and then I feel better and it just becomes routine.

Up early and exercise. That starts the day off well, plus a big walk with the dogs. I'm rural so there's some really nice wildlife and scenery around here.

I love big jumpers and scarves, so getting togged up is nice. We always make sure we have some weekend breaks; Whitby, Edinburgh, York, the Lakes. Every Christmas Market we can reach, we explore. Love the atmosphere and the interesting little bits. Village Fairs. We celebrate the Solstice too.

We make a lot of our decorations. For Autumn and Winter. The kids absolutely love it and we listen to nice music and bake as we do it. Cook plenty of new recipes, experiment with new things. Lots of candles around and the fire lit so the home feels warm and welcoming.

We go to Norway for Christmas so that's a huge point of excitement. The kids check the weather there every day, and MIL sends gorgeous photos of the village. Proper snow. 😍

Winter is a slog. We have a livery yard so it’s pretty hard work and hiding away for the winter months isn’t an option. The grey really gets to me and makes me feel very depressed.
I use a sunrise alarm, make lots of hot chocolates and lattes and make good use of my electric throw!
December cheers me up because I love all the Christmas lights and decorations.

I just counted and we have 28 of those rechargeable usb tea light candles. They are on a timer so goes on around 5 pm. They are great!

I grew up in the Caribbean. I hate autumn in particular and also winter.

I go on holiday to warm sunny places in November and February. I wear lots of scarves!

To cheer myself up I get my nails done professionally from September to March.

Not really sure tbh. Our weather will never be equator weather. Could you get one of those lamps that mimic sunlight (used for seasonal affective disorder)
Failing that you’ll have to do as other suggest and jet off for some sun if you can afford it.

I am the opposite and this is my time of peace and contentment when I feel invigorated and alive. I love the long hours of darkness and cooler temperatures (not that it's properly cold here in the SE).

In all seriousness, I may start a thread in spring asking how do you cope with summer, for the many like me

Yes to holidaying somewhere for winter sun if you can.

And you have to grab the bright crisp days and go for days out when they are there.

Ygetting out in daylight everday. Even if its grey.

Make sure you have a really cosy space indoors which is richly coloured.

Get some indoor plants that flower in winter. My Christmas cactus is just coming in with vivid pink flowers. Cy lamen can work indoors. I had a little hellebore that flowered on my windowsill all winter.

What keeps me sane:
The eun up to Christmas.
Wintet food: stews, roasts, casseroles, soups.
Autumn leaves...the colours
The parties...halloween, bonfire night, Christmas
And lots of hot chocolate

But yes...wish i lived on the equator!

Run*

embrace the darkness and wrap up with the cold

Me too. I hate the long days. I hate the heat & not being able to sleep properly. It's so tiring.

I cope badly. I hate it, and count the days till the clocks go forward.
I could Permanently luve in Springand Summer.
Winter dosent work for me.

Drink tea, keep the abode very very warm, working in a hotel as a maid, so when I clean, the heating goes full blast :D

Same! I just about cope up until Christmas, but the thought of January and February is already scaring me 🙁