This time of year.

I'm trying to stay upbeat but I really hate January - March or so - even April and May can be crappy where I live. We have no work holidays for months, the weather is dreary and depressing and I feel like summer is so far off. Who's with me and what do you do to help deal with it? I already signed up for a new class I'll be taking (an adult ed thing that looks fun) just to have another "hobby." But it's so tough this time of year.

I definitely see us moving to south FL or something one day in the future... But for now... Ugh!

Re: This time of year.

I'm the exact opposite. I LOVE this time of year, I love that we get to hunker down and focus more on our family and things around the house because there is less socializing going on in the winter months. I love cozy snow days and comfy winter clothes. I love the cold air. I like winter, always have.

I also love the new year, feels like a fresh start. New goals, new plans. I look forward to "starting over".

If you have a hard time in the winter try taking some classes, find a hobby, get into a new show. Give yourself things to look forward to and enjoy so that you're not focusing on the cold, dreary weather.

Re: This time of year.

This time of year.

I love the "starting over" part too!! It's like a clean slate. This is when I go nuts with cleaning, making personal approvements, etc.

Re: This time of year.

While I don't hate the winter - I am not a fan of extremes.

I'm not really thrilled when it is 100 degrees with 100% humidity and I'm not happy when it is 2 degrees with a crazy wind chill either. That's why I tend to love Spring, milder parts of Summer and Autumn.

But I find that I get dreary in the wintertime because my Vitamin D levels are low. I take a supplement in the wintertime for that and it definitely makes a difference in my energy level and mood. So, typically from November until March I'll take about 500 mgs of Vitamin D a day.

Re: This time of year.

Just try to stay busy. I'm not a big fan of winter either and I'm actually LOVING this extremely mild weather we've been having. Is it possible to schedule some time off- even if it's just a 3-day weekend or two? Even if you stay at home? I know I get bummed with the thought of that loooooooong stretch with no time off either. It helps to even have a day to look forward to.

Re: This time of year.

Re: This time of year.

This time of year.

I'm with you. I'll be a miserable person til March or April. I was doing well until I stepped outside and realized how cold out it is today. Blah. Bring back the unseasonably warm weather!!!

Re: This time of year.

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by Hofstra26

I'm the exact opposite. I LOVE this time of year, I love that we get to hunker down and focus more on our family and things around the house because there is less socializing going on in the winter months. I love cozy snow days and comfy winter clothes. I love the cold air. I like winter, always have.

I also love the new year, feels like a fresh start. New goals, new plans. I look forward to "starting over".

If you have a hard time in the winter try taking some classes, find a hobby, get into a new show. Give yourself things to look forward to and enjoy so that you're not focusing on the cold, dreary weather.

My socializing doesn't go down in the winter months and I hate going out in the cold and freezing to do so. lol

We make a point to socialize less, I like being home in the winter months. I feel like when it's nice outside we have constant social plans, it's nice to take a break and just do nothing. I like the downtime in winter.

Re: This time of year.

Yes- once all the hoopla and fun festiveness of the holidays is over it is a VERY long, cold winter with not a lot to look forward to.

Can you plan a short vacation? Even if it's for like April- just to someplace warm- to break it up?

Last year we went to Florida in April and it gave me something to look forward to. And when we got back to NY at the END OF APRIL no less, it was freezing. LIke people were at the airport in winter coats and Uggs. On April 30th. So i feel you, long island has horrible weather and very short summers.
It should not be freezing in early May, but it is.


My company has no holidays after New Year's Day until Memorial Day. We don't get off for President's Day even. It's insane.

I just use my own vacation and personal days because I need a break.

Try to plan some fun stuff- if not a vacation, fun nights out, a weekend away locally, anything to break up the dreary monotony!

This time of year.

We always go on vacation during the winter for this exact reason. To many months of being cold without a break!!

Re: This time of year.

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by Hofstra26

I'm the exact opposite. I LOVE this time of year, I love that we get to hunker down and focus more on our family and things around the house because there is less socializing going on in the winter months. I love cozy snow days and comfy winter clothes. I love the cold air. I like winter, always have.

I also love the new year, feels like a fresh start. New goals, new plans. I look forward to "starting over".

If you have a hard time in the winter try taking some classes, find a hobby, get into a new show. Give yourself things to look forward to and enjoy so that you're not focusing on the cold, dreary weather.

My socializing doesn't go down in the winter months and I hate going out in the cold and freezing to do so. lol

We make a point to socialize less, I like being home in the winter months. I feel like when it's nice outside we have constant social plans, it's nice to take a break and just do nothing. I like the downtime in winter.

So you never see your friends in the winter? :(

This time of year.

I hate the next couple of months. My dd gets stir crazy being stuck indoors as do I and Dh.

This time of year.

I always plan a week of vacation somewhere warm and sunny in jan/Feb to get away from the cold for a bit.

Re: This time of year.

Posted by tray831

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by Hofstra26

I'm the exact opposite. I LOVE this time of year, I love that we get to hunker down and focus more on our family and things around the house because there is less socializing going on in the winter months. I love cozy snow days and comfy winter clothes. I love the cold air. I like winter, always have.

I also love the new year, feels like a fresh start. New goals, new plans. I look forward to "starting over".

If you have a hard time in the winter try taking some classes, find a hobby, get into a new show. Give yourself things to look forward to and enjoy so that you're not focusing on the cold, dreary weather.

My socializing doesn't go down in the winter months and I hate going out in the cold and freezing to do so. lol

We make a point to socialize less, I like being home in the winter months. I feel like when it's nice outside we have constant social plans, it's nice to take a break and just do nothing. I like the downtime in winter.

So you never see your friends in the winter? :(

Summertime no doubt is more of a social period than the winter. And I believe from reading the words "socializing less" doesn't equate to "not seeing friends in winter".

Re: This time of year.

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by tray831

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by Hofstra26

I'm the exact opposite. I LOVE this time of year, I love that we get to hunker down and focus more on our family and things around the house because there is less socializing going on in the winter months. I love cozy snow days and comfy winter clothes. I love the cold air. I like winter, always have.

I also love the new year, feels like a fresh start. New goals, new plans. I look forward to "starting over".

If you have a hard time in the winter try taking some classes, find a hobby, get into a new show. Give yourself things to look forward to and enjoy so that you're not focusing on the cold, dreary weather.

My socializing doesn't go down in the winter months and I hate going out in the cold and freezing to do so. lol

We make a point to socialize less, I like being home in the winter months. I feel like when it's nice outside we have constant social plans, it's nice to take a break and just do nothing. I like the downtime in winter.

So you never see your friends in the winter? :(

Summertime no doubt is more of a social period than the winter. And I believe from reading the words "socializing less" doesn't equate to "not seeing friends in winter".

I get the socialization of outside parties in the summer but I have always been very social in the winter, no matter the weather (unless of course it was 2 or 3 feet of snow outside, even though that doesn't even keep my dh home lol) so to me it sounds like you are kept at home for the majority of the winter and not see friends.

Message edited 12/28/2015 7:19:12 PM.

Re: This time of year.

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by tray831

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by afternoondelight828

Posted by Hofstra26

I'm the exact opposite. I LOVE this time of year, I love that we get to hunker down and focus more on our family and things around the house because there is less socializing going on in the winter months. I love cozy snow days and comfy winter clothes. I love the cold air. I like winter, always have.

I also love the new year, feels like a fresh start. New goals, new plans. I look forward to "starting over".

If you have a hard time in the winter try taking some classes, find a hobby, get into a new show. Give yourself things to look forward to and enjoy so that you're not focusing on the cold, dreary weather.

My socializing doesn't go down in the winter months and I hate going out in the cold and freezing to do so. lol

We make a point to socialize less, I like being home in the winter months. I feel like when it's nice outside we have constant social plans, it's nice to take a break and just do nothing. I like the downtime in winter.

So you never see your friends in the winter? :(

Summertime no doubt is more of a social period than the winter. And I believe from reading the words "socializing less" doesn't equate to "not seeing friends in winter".

I get the socialization of outside parties in the summer but I have always been very social in the winter, no matter the weather (unless of course it was 2 or 3 feet of snow outside, even though that doesn't even keep my dh home lol) so to me it sounds like you are kept at home for the majority of the winter and not see friends.

We DEFINTELY don't see as much of our friends in the winter. We're just not inclined to go out as much in the winter. It's not like we never see anyone but it's much less than the nicer weather!. We like to be home with kids more in the winter and focus on family activities and fun over socializing with everyone. From May to December it's nonstop, we like the winter break from hanging out all the time.

ETA - Also, logistically it's harder in the winter. All of our friends have kids, if we want to get together someone has to host 15+ kids in their house in addition to all the adults. It's easier in the summer, everyone goes outside.

Re: This time of year.

Yes! I dread January to March EVERY year. April is the light at the end of the tunnel and it can still be cold! I'm lucky that I get MLK, President's Day, and I have every other Friday off to boot. Just so meh after the holidays and winter stinks. Very lucky that it's been so mild this year.

Re: This time of year.

I get like that too, and last year was horrible. I am really putting my effort into avoiding that problem this year because I don't want to waste three months feeling down.

My goal is to make as many plans as possible. Even if I'm not going out, I can plan to try a new recipe with DH, binge watch a show on Netflix, decorate a room, etc., so that I have something to look forward to. I write it in my planner as I would with an actual outside-of-the-house event so that I feel more committed to it. I can't do last year again!

Message edited 12/29/2015 10:33:24 AM.

Re: This time of year.

This time of year.

This year I'm committed to pursuing more indoor hobbies. I have a bunch that I put on the back burner but I have plenty of time in the winter months.
We usually take a quick trip to Florida in February, DHs family is there. That breaks it up a little.
My DH gets really down in the winter, I think he has that seasonal attitude disorder or whatever it's called.

Re: This time of year.

Re: This time of year.

Message edited 12/29/2015 3:23:45 PM.