Coping with the dark Winter days

Strange, isn’t it - I love the dark winter days and I dislike summer! Winter is cosy and comforting to me.

As I’m concious this might be the last Autumn/Winter that I see, I’ve suddenly started to appreciate it and am going to make the most of the uniqueness of what Winter brings😬

It’s amazing how it’s changed the way I feel about it.🤔

Thanks NanKate. I too hate the long hours of darkness - I do think it's worse if you are on your own.

Thanks for sharing Nankate I’ll be out then but will listen on catch up.

I’m with you on dreading the dark nights and dreary days.

While I have sympathy for those with genuine SAD syndrome I do think we should be used by now to the fact that the length of days and light varies with the seasons .
It’s not the Land of the midnight Sun in summer or weeks and weeks of perpetual darkness like eg parts of the Baltic where Scandinavia’s winter days are characterized by a significant reduction in daylight hours, with the length of the day varying by latitude.
In the far north, the "polar night" occurs when the sun does not rise above the horizon for weeks , though some diffused light may still be present. In the more southern areas, there may still be a few hours of daylight, but the sun rises late and sets early.

So why do we make such a fuss about it?

Grandma70s

Strange, isn’t it - I love the dark winter days and I dislike summer! Winter is cosy and comforting to me.

Me, too

Here is the last verse of a poem I wrote about winter.

‘The days are short
But though the sun deserts us early
And has no haste to show its face to the dawn,
Here’s the thing.
With each new morn
We’re one day nearer
Welcoming the Spring!’

Embrace it😊!

I like the changing seasons . I found the summer this year too hot and was glad when it cooled down. But I know by January I’ll be fed up of the cold and dark, and I hate the snow. There’s no pleasing some folk.
Thanks NanKate I’ll have a listen, I love walking in all weathers, and always listen to something through my hearing aids whilst out.

I’m another who hates the cold, the darkness and the general miserable feeling of winter it’s like trudging up a very steep hill that seems to go on for ever
I loved this summer and wish it could go on for longer and longer that’s like running down the other side amongst the daisy’s and dandelions
I find it very depressing
I m fed up of the cold permeating my house already

With you there BlueBelle

Strange, isn’t it - I love the dark winter days and I dislike summer! Winter is cosy and comforting to me

Agree with this 100%
The long summer days get on my nerves after a few weeks.

People like myself, " make a fuss" because it is a genuine depression, possibly in top of a low level exisitng depression. And we reach out to try to find helpful strategies.

Quite like the changing seasons and have loved the longer summer. The dark nights just make me want to get snuggly and I do knit. And love the telly so all good.

StripeyGran

People like myself, " make a fuss" because it is a genuine depression, possibly in top of a low level exisitng depression. And we reach out to try to find helpful strategies.

Totally agree. If you don’t suffer with it think yourself lucky.

I find cooking and baking seasonal recipes, having a 'cosy' murder mystery to read and festooning with fairy lights makes Autumn and Winter enjoyable.
Soft/low lighting & tea lights for early mornings and afternoons give a dull day a bit of cosiness and comfort.
Also warming up under a throw rewatching an episode of Autumn Watch after a late afternoon walk is lovely.
Oh and a tot of Baileys
Just try a few little seasonal tweaks to make it 'special' and not 'dreaded'

Me too, love the winter. Fire lit, curtains drawn, lamps on. Bliss

Lathyrus3

As I’m concious this might be the last Autumn/Winter that I see, I’ve suddenly started to appreciate it and am going to make the most of the uniqueness of what Winter brings😬

It’s amazing how it’s changed the way I feel about it.🤔

Lathyrus I sincerely hope you will have many more.
We do take things in our lives and nature for granted, we should really appreciate things more while we have them.x

If you’re retired you probably don’t need to get up in the dark or go out in the evenings. You can probably stay in when it’s very wet or cold.
How do you suppose our ancestors managed, without wellies or TV and knowing that they or loved ones would likely die in the winter?
The idea of ‘help to get through it’ is ludicrous.

I love the Autumn and Winter, I like all the seasons though. I love snow, and although I like it, summer is my least favourite season.
I welcome the dark nights, and mornings, I find them cosy, and even better the festive season to look forward too.

Dark from mid afternoon, it's just depressing. Autumn can be lovely, on a bright day, the colours are gorgeous, and again a crisp cold sunny day in winter is also lovely, although I hate driving in low winter sun it's way too dazzling. All in all winter, it goes on for so long, at it's worst it's just so gloomy, and snow it might look chocolate box pretty, but it's an absolute hindrance in getting around, worst of all, those interminable grey days. Most of all I long for summer evenings where it doesn't get dark until 10, not the sweltering heat but just living an outdoor life instead of an indoor one. It's no accident that southern Mediterranean countries live happier lives than their northern European counterparts.

watermeadow

If you’re retired you probably don’t need to get up in the dark or go out in the evenings. You can probably stay in when it’s very wet or cold.
How do you suppose our ancestors managed, without wellies or TV and knowing that they or loved ones would likely die in the winter?
The idea of ‘help to get through it’ is ludicrous.

What an ill informed view. SAD is condition not a choice.
I'm all for resilience but we are allowed to struggle and seek help from others I think?

Well said StripeyGran. I know people in some Scandinavian countries who suffer during the dark days. It's not just people in the UK etc. SAD exists.

My daughter bought a very expensive SAD light gadget. It’s about the size of an Ipad. It was on a church fete stall for £2. I’m going to try it.

I love the winter and long nights. It's cosy. Crisp sunny winter mornings are a delight. I wrap up well and go for a walk.