To find January depressing?

[Sunnylily]

I love December and November as we get ready for the Christmas and the new year.
I reflect about the whole year and get ready for the next year.
But once the new year starts it becomes very depressing for me
Everyone else seems to be coming back fresh and happy to office. Wondering if it's just me who find January more depressing?

Yabu - I like January
Yanbu - January is depressing

Come and have a read of our positive January thread; you may find something to change your mind www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5467566-anyone-else-love-january?page=1

I love January. Less of a rush to get things done, I don’t feel guilty for not keeping up with the gardening and when I come in from work, I can relax more than other months.

I don’t mind January. Once that month is over the lighter nights are well on their way. The older I get the less the winter bothers me.

I like Christmas but I don't mind January. It's still winter so all of the nice winter things we do in December- resting, lighting candles, eating warming meals should still happen. It can be a nice cosy month. Plus it's getting lighter. I find the closing in of November much worse.

It's the weird mentality that we should all start eating salads and running around that makes it shit. We should do the "new year detox" stuff in Spring.

Wonderful things about January:
Christmas, and all it's pressure, indulgence and consumerism and excess, is over.
The sun rises and sets at times when you can see it.
Cold walks. I hate the sweatiness of Summer.
Dark evenings when it feels OK to read a book or watch TV, no pressure to be out exercising or socialising.
The promise of Spring.
The days are getting longer.

I find it such a peaceful, hopeful time, of quiet and acceptance. Low spend, low expectations.

YANBU. It’s 9 weeks until
msrxh. I’m going to count off those weeks!

I also really enjoy Nov and Dec and then beginning of Jan as it’s my DD’s birthday but once I’m past her birthday I’m ready for January, the calmness and not having to think about anything other than normal every day things until mid Feb, by which point I feel like doing things again. I’ve got a belated birthday treat for DD organised for half term and it’s also Shrove Tuesday - love pancakes!
I don’t mind the cold and dark of January but I do get a walk in my local park every morning (part of the school run) which I do think helps keep depressing feeling away.

I love January. I know I’m in the minority. I like cold, crisp weather, I like being all cosy indoors and lighting the fire. I’m happy that Christmas is behind me - lovely as it is, it’s a lot of work. I love the peace and the freshness of January - a new year is a blank page. Mostly I’m grateful to be here and healthy, in another brand new year.

I'm confused by people who say they just stay in, relax, read, drink hot chocolate etc etc. Don't they have to go to work or school run? Visit aging parents? Get to appointments, grocery shopping and all the other things life brings? All of this is a million times easier in warmth and daylight.

That’s what I was thinking! Sadly we still have school runs, work, club commitments etc. We’re rarely all home in the evenings before 8pm.

But you get to watch the sun rise and set as you are doing it, which is magical. And when you are done, you can sit in the dark.

We're not meant to set off at a gallop in January. We're still in the heart of winter.

I find January hard too. I still feel sluggish and like we're still meant to be conserving our energy.
I just came across a quote that says something like The calender says 'new' but nature said 'not yet' . I'm going to crawl out of hibernation in February and not put too much pressure on myself through January.

Priorities other than work is to wrap up warm sometimes and get outside

Hi Op I agree it can be depressing but look on the bright side the days are getting longer and soon it will be Spring!

I don't normally particularly like or dislike it, just another month. However this NYE my nose was hurting, got up yesterday to a cold sore up my nose and it hurts so this January hasn't got off to a great start.

Love January, I always find it feels more christmassy weatherwise.

Just got back from walking the dog, beautiful sunshine, crunchy frost underfoot, the best kind of day there can be.

I am down south, but have to admit when I lived up north the days could seem a lot more miserable!

Sounds wonderful 😬

I have found January difficult in the past and I know my husband definitely does, so I totally get where you're coming from.

I love all the build up to Christmas through November and December, so January always feels like you're back to earth with a bump! It's cold and dark and about 20 weeks until payday and everywhere is telling you you're too fat and need to be exercising more (when just a few days before they were encouraging you to indulge)!

But I do like the fact that we start to get more daylight, cold and crisp mornings aren't all bad (it's just when it's wet and windy that it's really unpleasant), and you can get back into a routine after all the Christmas craziness.

I think it helps to have little things to look forward to to help get you through. One year, on my first day back at work after the holidays, I booked a holiday for October because I just needed something to look forward to. But just planning something nice at the weekend or picking up a cake for pudding, just because, can help give you those little boosts when you need them too.

Same I have two kids with birthdays in January and I love knowing the new year has begun and im due a new baby in the spring!

I haven’t read the whole thread yet but I so need it. January seems to last forever and the rest of the year flies by. I’m thinking about just giving into it this year and trying to fill the month with craft and projects etc . Not forcing myself to get out and about.

I think it’s normal tbh. The holidays are over and it’s grey and gloomy.

@Ladybird69 me too. January seems interminable so I'm planning on doing something useful every day to see if it goes any quicker.
I'm hopeless at crafts so will do reading and holiday planning. I've also joined an orchestra so there will be practising for that.

Fingers crossed January flies!

I do but I think I've improved my coping strategies over time. I've had to accept that for me it simply doesn't feel like the "fresh start" season that other people talk about, I get that in September when the summer heat finally cools down. I don't feel like starting anything new at this time.

For me whilst I can't hibernate with a blanket and hot chocolate like I want to I try not to expect too much of myself, make plans that cheer me up and keep up the roasts and hearty dinners. You have to figure out what you need from this season and what works for you.

I’m trying to lean into the wintering approach this year. Much more wholesome and less pressure etc. Basically Around slowing down, rest, self care etc and getting ready for spring. It seems like a nice approach to it.

I don’t like it either. We have a holiday booked for 3 weeks in February but I’m wishing we had decided to go a bit earlier. December is OK because I like the lead up to Christmas with the festive markets and get togethers with friends. January is cold and dark and it’s either raining or if it’s dry then it’s slippy underfoot so it’s still not enjoyable.

I will have a look at your thread @countdowntonap. See if I can cheer myself up!

I find you have to make good use of it. I always have a clear out, make frequent use of my cinema membership, cook some nice but easy food and definitely DO NOT do dry January. Plus The Traitors is on.