Anyone else think life is meaningless in the winter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The sun doesn’t shine, it gets dark early, it’s not really warm enough to enjoy the outdoors.

I feel like everything is meaningless until spring. I don’t know how else to describe it. I’m not “depressed”; I get up on time every morning, do the things I have to do, find enjoyment in other things, have moments of joy. But it all feels pointless, like somehow life is on pause. (Which I guess, it sort of is!) Does anyone else experience this? January is hard.

I find winter a lot more bearable when you're somewhere that actually has winter. Frozen lakes and ponds, real snow on the ground for the long term, that sort of stuff. Skiing, skating, and other winter sports/actives are so much fun. 38 degrees and cloudy is just miserable.

[Anonymous]

I feel exactly the same way OP. Not depressed, still very active, but as another PP put it, I am just "wishing the months away," which seems a stupid way to live.

Also, as a gardener, this is such a dead time of year. Too early to even start seedlings, can't clean out beds because better to keep leaves/debris as cover. I just walk around noting all the "dead" perennials--dried up, sodden, withered, sad. Looking for signs of life and gazing enviously at my neighbor's blooming camellia.

[Anonymous]

It's gloomier but I like to feel cozy so I welcome the change of seasons.

Things I like about winter are:
- outdoor exercise walks (brisk but no sweating and I can shower before my walk!)
- I love to cook, so lots of options in winter that I won't make in summer
- snow days
- my teen is home more (less sports practice)
- it gets old and can be inconvenient but when it gets dark early it kind of forces me and my family to shut down earlier, which can be a nice change of pace. My DH disagrees and hates the darkness.

[Anonymous]

Ha, we watched the first episode of the new season of True Detective last night and my DH was like: why do any of these people live here if they have any choice at all? you are depressed/drunk/violent/etc. because it's dark for months of the year, and also you are cold. This is stupid.

He's not wrong. But this is also why cultures that live in cold places with dark winters often have traditions designed to combat those issues -- festivals and religious traditions for the cold, dark months meant to improve family bonds and lighten the mood. Even traditional clothing and home decor is intended to be as bright and cheerful as possible. You can be happy in the cold and the dark, but you need to be intentional about creating that happiness. A lot of people are not and culturally we often lack the traditions and disposition to address these issues. Our culture expects you to work and function exactly the same in January as in July, as though the weather and the sun have no impact on your life whatsoever. We live in a world that is quite ignorant about the impact of environment on human bodies and minds. It is very sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's gloomier but I like to feel cozy so I welcome the change of seasons.

Things I like about winter are:
- outdoor exercise walks (brisk but no sweating and I can shower before my walk!)
- I love to cook, so lots of options in winter that I won't make in summer
- snow days
- my teen is home more (less sports practice)
- it gets old and can be inconvenient but when it gets dark early it kind of forces me and my family to shut down earlier, which can be a nice change of pace. My DH disagrees and hates the darkness.

Agree with this. I always hated winter but have come to appreciate it because I made choices in my life and family that make it a pleasant, cozy time of year where we tend to stay home more, cook and bake a lot, spend more time together. I still sometimes complain about the cold months but they don't get me down or make me feel like life is meaningless the way they did when I was a kid in an abusive/neglectful home, or as a young adult navigating work and the world without a proper family support system.

[Anonymous]

I've been having trouble this year. It doesn't help that we're still avoiding indoors in public unless we're wearing masks. (Lord, when will this be over?!) Also arthritis has been an issue for me this year. Normally I'd be out walking and enjoying the winter and inviting people over to dine indoors but that is not happening. But every day gets lighter and my outdoor sports team will start up again in two months so I'm hanging in there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ha, we watched the first episode of the new season of True Detective last night and my DH was like: why do any of these people live here if they have any choice at all? you are depressed/drunk/violent/etc. because it's dark for months of the year, and also you are cold. This is stupid.

He's not wrong. But this is also why cultures that live in cold places with dark winters often have traditions designed to combat those issues -- festivals and religious traditions for the cold, dark months meant to improve family bonds and lighten the mood. Even traditional clothing and home decor is intended to be as bright and cheerful as possible. You can be happy in the cold and the dark, but you need to be intentional about creating that happiness. A lot of people are not and culturally we often lack the traditions and disposition to address these issues. Our culture expects you to work and function exactly the same in January as in July, as though the weather and the sun have no impact on your life whatsoever. We live in a world that is quite ignorant about the impact of environment on human bodies and minds. It is very sad.

Good point!

[Anonymous]

I like feeling cozy and having time to rest and hibernate, so the change of seasons works well for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love winter. It's the perfect time to organize my closet, maybe touch up my home decor/home improvement, spend lots of time working out/try new exercise classes, take a look at my diet and try some new supplements/recipes, get my highlights touched up, go to the spa, take a vacation in Feb/March, start seedlings for my garden, go to museums, go to the opera...before I know it, it's feeling like summer by April.

This post has illuminated why winter sucks for me, personally.

[Anonymous]

Yes OP I agree but people on this forum love winter and hate summer, just FYI.

[Anonymous]

Just think, in less than four weeks, the days will be noticeably longer, sunnier, and warmer- very different from today.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just think, in less than four weeks, the days will be noticeably longer, sunnier, and warmer- very different from today.

Ugh.

[Anonymous]

I love winter. But my winter is 60 and sunny. 😎

Summer on the other hand sucks

[Anonymous]

Go outside today and tomorrow. It's so lovely out with the sun!

[Anonymous]

It’s arguably nicer outdoors today (sunny, dry, 50) than it is in July (99 degrees with 99% humidity)