To ask for tips in not feeling down as we approach autumn?

[Rougeblush]

Perhaps I should post in Mental Health but I think a lot of people feel like this to a lesser or greater extent!

Every year as we head towards the end of summer I start feeling a sense of dread. While I’m happy to get back into a routine of DC at school and work not being interrupted by holidays etc, I always start feeling low around this time with the days getting shorter already.

It seems to be worsening as I age, and this year not helped by the fact my eldest DC is off to university - while I’m thrilled for this next stage for him, I’ll miss him so much.

Would love to hear advice on what people do to minimise the autumn sadness! I know loads of people love September, but I’m not one of them 😂

Well, this is helpful! 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣

Clothes! I've already started buying my winter wardrobe - sweaters, wool trousers, boots, hats and coats, mainly from Vinted. I can't wait for cooler days to wear it all.

The short days and dark evenings give me mixed feelings. I love the cosiness of the fire being lit, hot chocolate to drink, crisp days, twinkly lights and Halloween and Christmas to look forward to. But I also feel an increase in my anxiety and depression at this time of year and it gets even worse in January.

I’m watching with interest. I also feel dread and hate the winter. I find September/October beautiful, but it’s always marred by a sense of foreboding that winter is on its way! I hate Halloween/firework night/not even a big fan of Christmas really, which is a shame as I have kids who love it.

I’m mostly ok with autumn although the winter mornings are tough going.

However, I do share a pp’s dislike of spiders and have a very arachnophobic DS - so I’ve got the peppermint spray in and will be repeatedly spraying doorways, airbricks and skirtings etc next month to at least deal with that.

Some people just can't help themselves can they?

I’ve been thinking about trying to live more seasonally. That probably sounds wanky.

But we need to have things we enjoy about each type of weather so whole chunks of the year don’t bring us down.

Crisp days? It rains a lot.
Twinkly lights, winter wardrobes, Halloween and Christmas can get to fuck.
You can drink hot chocolate any time of the year.

I agree with the posters who say getting outside during the morning / lunchtime helps.

Get outside. Every single day.

Last year I changed jobs which made it harder to get out for a daily walk and I was surprised how much that affected my mood.

In autumn I like getting back into a healthier eating and exercise routine after the excesses of the summer, and that helps my mood a lot too.

I feel the same @Rougeblush

The melancholy has already started with the darker nights and the sun lower in the sky (even though it’s still hot and most definitely summer here!). It’s a feeling I get every August whether I want it or not.

My advice is to embrace it. Know it’s normal to feel sad at this time of year but also know that life is about letting go at the right times and is a series of ups and downs. If we had summer all year round, we’d have no ‘ups’.
Trees let go of their leaves in autumn and we have to let go of summer. ‘Wintering’ is part of life.

Practical tips to help:
Get outdoors every single day whatever the weather.
Embrace the cosy of winter. Slow cooker meals, crumbles, hot drinks, cosy blankets, candles, fires, cosy clothing etc.
Get a light box and use in a morning (never at night)
Try for winter sun
Celerate the winter solstice (Dec 21st) as the days start to get longer again.
Read ‘Wintering’ by Katherine May 🧡

This is great advice 👆

At the most basic level, spending time outside helps to improve your mood, especially if you can squeeze some time in in the morning.

If you take it up a notch and actively start looking at nature, you’ll start to notice all sorts of things that will make the winter feel a little shorter - the first snowdrops in January, new buds on trees in December etc - all signs that warmer weather is not that far away.

Autumn itself can be spectacular for woodland walks, if you have any woodlands or parks nearby.

Also, if you have a garden, or even just a few pots, plant some bulbs in the autumn. It always cheers me up to see the first crocuses or daffodils 😊

I usually suffer from SAD and I find taking St Johns Wort so helpful. I start in September and find this nips it in the bud. Its not that I don't like the autumn/winter - I do, but for some reason, it doesn't like me.

Appreciating how great Autumn is helps me. I used to see summer as the best season, loved the sunshine and longer days and then got low mood when it was coming to an end. As I've got older I've started to look forward to Autumn, beautiful days where it's not too hot or cold, crunchy leaves, watching the beautiful Autumn colours emerge and conker's falling from the trees. Everywhere in nature is quieter, really peaceful walks and no sense of rushing or beating the crowds. I know it's not for everyone but I also love bonfire night, I like Halloween. I like being able to wear my fluffy dressing gown and slippers and having a hot chocolate comfortablly. I like wooly jumpers and scarves. I like being able to see sunrises and sunsets at a reasonable time. We then head into winter, excitement for Christmas, beautiful Christmas decorations, really cold, crisp but sunny days and the odd bit of snow.
Getting out for walks in all weathers is a huge mood booster.

I love autumn, the colours, cosy nights in, the clothes, walking in the crunchy leaves... however, I despise winter it makes me feel so depressed!

I’m one of those weirdos who loves autumn and winter. I’ve also found as I get older, I’m 51 now, that there is a lot to be said for a living in the moment approach to life. Get outside as much as you can ans adopt the Scandi attitude of no such thing as bad weather, only wrong clothing. Try and find things that bring joy to your life - for me it is the golden light in September and the leaves slowly turning orange. Or even the way so,e coloured glass looks with the sun shining through it. If you have a dog or even young kids, you can find joy in watching them play in piles of leaves. Treat yourself to something nice to wear or something nice for your home. If you like cooking then invest in a new cookbook like the ones about Italy or the med and soak up summer through food until it comes again.
probably all rubbish ideas, but these are things that help me get through some days.

Oh and fairy lights - not just for Christmas but around the house on mantelpieces, draping from cupboards etc. and candles too. Everywhere.

I see the fans of twinkly and cosy and embracing autumn have landed. 🤑

I don't like fairy lights and won't have lit candles in the house. If people give them to me I spend the year donating them to raffles.

I hate winter but I’m ok with autumn, even the drawing in of nights. It’s the cold I can’t handle. It makes me really depressed and is a vicious cycle. I don’t want to put on socks and boots and 50 layers so I avoid going out (even to things I enjoy) and that makes it all worse. January and February are awful and March is worse in many ways because the bastard often refuses to get any warmer. On and on it goes.

While it may be true that there’s ’no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing’, @stclementine , that doesn’t help when I fins winter clothes uncomfortable and a chore to put on. I hate all the faff leaving the house involves between November and late April.

Sorry. I did say they were probably rubbish suggestions 🤣

🤣

Beautiful post. Well said
Unless there is an actual SAD issue (try the light boxes) it's surely all about mindset?

I know how you feel OP. It's especially bad if you work full time as you feel like you never see daylight. I'm trying not to get too down about it. I have ponies that I have to go to twice a day. In a way it does me a favour as I have to go out , whatever the weather. Invariably I feel better for it.

I really relate to this feeling of dread. For me it’s the loss of freedom to be outside too and the coldness indoors and out makes me feel down. Lots of great tips here. I managed to get through January this year by making it a preparatory month for the rest of the year but that was a first. Good luck to us all, good to know we’re not alone!

I love early autumn - September feels like the ‘new year’ because I’ve had children at school or been working in education for 27 years. I love the late harvest season and Halloween.

Once the clocks go back I start to dislike it. November is my least favourite month with the Christmas hype and busy nights out when it is usually cold and wet. I dislike going to and getting home from work in the dark. Our long shift can be 7.30-6.30! Not so bad when it’s light in morning and evening but depressing in the dark.

I don’t actually mind January even though it’s more wintery as the days are getting longer and you see early signs of spring. It’s also a hibernation month, Xmas is over and it is quiet socially.

To get through it - I autumn clean in September/October. Freshen the house, get throws out and thicker duvets from storage. I clean my winter clothes and hang them ready and put summer things away. I menu plan, book plan and think about settling with TV series. I prep the garden for winter so it blooms in spring. I can’t afford winter sun so have to change my mindset to cosy hibernation and down time.

Today I’m making most of the sunshine as looks like it’s cooling off next week here. However, we have had a lovely summer this year so doesn’t feel so bad approaching the ‘Ber’ months this year.