January/Winter Blues

[Scheherazade]

Do you suffer from the winter or January blues? If you do, how do you cope with it?

Any magic recipes or rituals?

[kasie]

For some reason, my phone bill goes up in November and January/February. :D

I live alone and no longer have my little job that used to take me out of the house to meet people, so I pick up the phone and talk to people. Otherwise it's simple things that see me through the long dark days: I plan things, trips out for the spring and summer, menus, planting schemes for the garden; I try to have some bulbs planted up to have a foretaste of spring; Books keep me goiong, of course.

For some reason I can't clean on dull days, then when the sun does shine, I see how dusty everything is and have an orgy of housework and sit back afterwards feeling smug and housewifely.

This year I have the ultimate escape - a trip to Egypt in February. I booked it last February when there was snow on the ground which made me decide I was not going to spend the next February in cold, wet, miserable UK - it seemed an age away then, but now it's almost here and I'm beginning to get quite excited.

[Molpadia]

Keep on your toes in Egypt. They're undergoing quite a bit of conflict with their backing of Israel's attack on the Gaza Strip.

[The Comedian]

I try to be active outdoors. I cross-country ski. . .a lot. This winter I helped my kids build a "snow palace" outside in our yard. Sometimes I go ice-fishing. And I AVOID downhill skiing like the plague that it is. I rank this outdoor activity right up there with the most-hated golf. . .but to cease my ranting.

As a family we try to embrace the greater isolation that winter imposes by having more fires in our fireplace, cooking more often (and more interesting) meals.

All this said, I do get blues-y in the winter, especially the later winter, though I do not think that it's the snow or the cold that causes it. It's the dark. It's hard to fight that. I used to know some people who swore that going to tanning salon helped cure the need for sunlight. I never tried it, however.

[applepie]

I'm hit and miss. I think I suffer from the blues in any season:lol: In the summer I long for winter and on the flip side I long for summer in the winter. Spring and autumn don't really bother me. I'm with Comedian, I think it is something to do with the amount of light and dark.

To combat the winter blues, I often like to do a themed "Tropic" night. No joke, I'll turn the heat up in the house a bit, cook something nice festive, and listen to music. Make a few Pina Coladas, and you've a fun night on your hands. For the normal day to day though, I like to exercise more, eat healthy (no falling into the habit of heavy meals just because of the season), get out in the sun, enjoy the snow with the kids, and take advantage of the longer nights. I'm a bit of a night owl, and after dark is when I'm most productive with writing, painting and such. Winter offers and extended amount of time when I'm at my most creative to indulge:)

[Helga]

I love this time of year the dark nights and starry skies the frost and snow... I'm not the type to do any sport or anything like that but just do things you like to do, reading on a dark night is what I love... I'm obsessed with the dark cause here on the ice the summer is bright 24/7 and any gap in the curtain can keep you up all night...

[SleepyWitch]

January is OK for me, especially if there is snow and the air is crisp. that's kind of invigorating. but November is hell. I'm always really tired in November. So what I do is try to hibernate :) I just sleep as much as possible, because there's no point in fighting it anyway :D

[Lokasenna]

I rather like winter... long walks in the snow and rain are wonderful to me. If anything, I suffer from summer blues, when its too hot to do anything...

Nah, I love winter!

[Scheherazade]

Oh, I love winter too... I love all the seasons when they are there to enjoy. :D

Kasie> Off to Egypt??? Now, there is a method I wouldn't mind following! :D Actually, going on a Niles Cruise is one of my dreams - maybe during retirement! Hope you have a great time but also keep safe! :)

The Comedian> I agree with you; it is mostly the gloomy sky that gets to me as well. When there is snow and promise of a little sunshine, I don't feel so glum.

And Meg, I think I will steal idea of a "Tropic night in"! As soon as my assignments are done, I will turn the heating up, take out those short skirts I love wearing (according to Forum rumours! :D) and freeze the Margaritas! Any quick recipe ideas for food?

[badtrip]

Fortunately the winter blues have forgotten me in january. I was walking like a zombie through november and december but now I feel vigorous - it's the new year and it's closer and closer to spring.
I live listening to metal and keeping my head up, taking more and more school assingments to do something with my mind instead of wondering of how bad and uncool the weather is :)

[DanielBenoit]

Oh I've suffered from winter blues for years. I love the snow and it makes me warm inside, but I just become more apathetic and depressed this time of year. It usually starts in the fall around October and stays until around April. My therapist says that it's seasonal depression caused by the lack of the proper amount of sun in the winter (when one lives in Upstate New York or Wisconsin, one is particuarly used to this), and thus she suggested me getting a special kind of light to keep by me while I'm reading or studying or whatnot so that I don't start becoming lathargic.

Ironically enough I hate the sun and adore the dark starry skies of a winters night.

[kasie]

Er... thanks for the info, Molpadia - I think.... I've been told (and I want to believe it :) ) that the Egyptian tour operators take great care of their tourists because tourism is such an important part of the economy: apparently the industry suffered greatly after an attack on tourists some years ago and the authorities are anxious that it should not happen again.

Thanks for the good wishes, Scher - the trip has had to wait for my retirement, too, as when I was working, I could travel only at times when it would have been too hot (July/August) or too expensive (Christmas) for Egypt.

[Pensive]

Living at a place which experiences even upto 50 degree Celsius (well, maximum, but still..) in summer, winter is like a breath of fresh air for us. I love winter. The touch of gold wind. The foggy roads in the early morning. In fact cold is a great friend. The winter flu isn't her best gift, but still her other qualities outweigh this gift of hers mostly in my opinion. :D