Coping with the dark Winter days

I hope it isn’t! Take care and bless you. X

I try to go away to South of Spain a couple of weeks Nov/Dec and a few weeks in January. I don't like the dark mornings and dark early evenings and although I do go out for walks along the coast I long for lighter days and better weather.

That's the spirit, Lathyrus!!
Enjoy your shoes.

There's always hope

(They're not thoughtless words, btw, I do understand.)

I’m no saint😬 And I might still be here next Winter too. I’m already pushing past expectations.

Anyway, I’ve just bought three new pairs of gorgeous shoes. I have to get the wear out of them.😁

I’m not going to take a hair shirt approach to winter just because our ancestors had to so it’s hygge all the way for me.
I do miss my wood burner though. An electric coal effect thingy just doesn’t cut it. I’ll never forget Peggy’s look of fury when I switched it on the day we moved in. She was so disbelieving she even licked the coals to make sure it wasn’t a joke.
I’m going to miss our cuddles under the throw this winter.

Lathyrus3 I’m in awe of your positivity. You’ve made me feel ashamed about my dread of winter - I’m going to embrace it wholeheartedly this time. Thank you for giving me a much needed jolt to enjoy every day. Best wishes to you. X

I have a lightbox as I suffer from sad and my mood drops drastically in the winter. Staying in the West of Scotland our daylight is shorter and months of semi darkness, rain and wind. Even though am only in my 50s I also suffer from limited mobility so the minute there is any ice or snow I don't go out the door. I absolutely hate the winter but try to get daylight when I can and use my lightbox on a daily basis, I also read a lot and do diamond art to keep myself busy

No need to be so judgemental-if folk want to “make a fuss” on Gransnet, they are free to do so without inviting judgement
So anybody can say what they like so long as they don’t disagree?

It’s clearly not called GroansNet for nothing

1st November I shall put the winter duvet covers on. Brushed cotton in a sort of tartan design. When it gets really cold I have an extra brushed cotton sheet between me and the duvet.
Good bright light bulbs. I may treat myself to some new pjs in brushed cotton. I sorted through my thermals drawer yesterday and am looking forward to wearing some thermal leggings. I get the same pleasure as I do in the spring looking at my drawer full of tops and shorts etc. Finding things you have forgotten about.
Winter is on its way...not much we can do about that. Try and celebrate it?.

Bad weather and outdoor jobs in the dark. Roll on spring

Agree totally with this comment.
Also our ancestors didn’t have electricity and central heating and their winter clothes were probably really itchy.
I quite enjoy Winter especially on a sunny cold day.

RosieandherMaw

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?

People are entitled to share their experiences of how lack of daylight affects them, and share useful tips for coping.
GPS will prescribe anti depressants for SAD but some people like me prefer to get through as best they can if they can’t or prefer not to take anti depressants.
No need to be so judgemental-if folk want to “make a fuss” on Gransnet, they are free to do so without inviting judgement.

jocork

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.

I used to hate winter because of the car scraping when I worked. Now the thing I hate is getting up in the dark, which is only necessary twice a week since I retired.
I didn't used to feel the cold as my excess weight provided insulation. I hated summer as I always overheated. Now, despite the many advantages of losing over a third of my body weight, I now feel the cold in winter. I'm already wearing one of my warmest jumpers. When it gets colder I will be needing a thinner one underneath!
Apart from the above I appreciate different things about the different seasons. I still prefer spring and autumn though.

So true watermeadow and particularly in the light of what lathyrus has said- we should be grateful for all and any days left to us - dark and cold, or wet and windy, or sunny and hot.
Somehow it never stops some people complaining.
I just know that my DH, the anniversary of whose death falls in November, would have dearly loved some more dark winter days, to see his grandchildren on their (Winter) birthdays or at Christmas.
“Help us get through it?”
Has to be better than the alternative!

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.

I used to hate winter because of the car scraping when I worked. Now the thing I hate is getting up in the dark, which is only necessary twice a week since I retired.
I didn't used to feel the cold as my excess weight provided insulation. I hated summer as I always overheated. Now, despite the many advantages of losing over a third of my body weight, I now feel the cold in winter. I'm already wearing one of my warmest jumpers. When it gets colder I will be needing a thinner one underneath!
Apart from the above I appreciate different things about the different seasons. I still prefer spring and autumn though.

25Avalon how sad 💐

I agree Water Meadow.

Typical Britishness.

Oh! Deary Deary me.!

Aldom

Merlotgran I would be interested to know more about how you actually make wax melts. I used to make candles.

I’m sure it’s very similar, Aldom. There are some good tutorials on YouTube especially by the woman who calls her business Edens Secret. I buy the fragrances from Nikura and often melt down cheap candles rather than the more expensive soy wax beads you can buy on Amazon. I buy the colourings from Amazon well.

Try orange Bea, it's the color of the mind, but no white or blue light.

Oh......I love them, candles, cosies and the night skies. Bring it on.

Grandma70s

I rather like the summer too - but there's something about those winter nights when you're home in the warm and your family are with you and you know they're safe. And if there's something good to watch on the television then so much the better!

It's the dampness and rain of autumn that I can't stand.
.

Another one who hates the dark nights and cold. I always think the evenings seem long when it’s dark early. I remind myself that it won’t last forever and look forward to the Spring. I don’t mind the Autumn days but loathe the winter when it’s cold and the trees are bare. Love watching everything coming back to life in the Spring. Too much build up to Christmas in the shops but hate January when they don’t know how to fill the shelves.

Stripey, find out about the dark day festivals, and see if you can celebrate any.
For me, next up is Hallowe'en, and according to DD and DGD, I am to be one of the Sanderson sisters. Probs not Sarah
Try to get out into the daylight and fresh air, whenever you can.

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.🤔

Thankyou Lathyrus3for reminding me to appreciate each new day and the changing seasons . I pray this won't be your last winter .

Merlotgran I would be interested to know more about how you actually make wax melts. I used to make candles.

I’ve never cared for the darkness and I’m always grateful when there’s a sunny day

What I do is garden I plant winter pansies and plant spring bulbs in potts and take care of them through the winter. I’m an outdoor person and this gives me wonderful collar in the winter.
Also, my shrubs are all evergreen and this year I even have two evergreen trees, a laurel, and a tree called spindle so taking care of these things during the winter gives me a lot to do