To recap for those just joining us. I’m the blogger who hates November. It’s dark, it’s cold, it’s often rainy, it’s not yet snowy, there are no long weekends, and no happy holidays. There’s Remembrance Day and that’s important but it’s also sad.
(One bright light: It’s Sarah’s birthday. But that’s a personal good thing.)
You might have heard all of this before! See Is there a way to redeem November? and 10 things to make it through November and November is my toughest fitness month: Here’s why. Way back in 2014 I wrote November goals.
You see, over the years, I’ve come to hone in on what it is I dislike so much about this month. But I’ve also managed some coping strategies that have helped make November not so bad.
Here’s ten things that have helped me, and if you find any of them useful, that’s great too.
LIGHT. Check out this CBC piece for some strategies and stories.
GRATITUDE. See November is Gratitude Month: What are you grateful for? #NationalGratitudeMonth
WALKS. See The case for cold, dark walks #November
GETTING COZY. See Nat on hygge.
FASHION. See my November 2022 plan. I try to wear bright colours in November and take pleasure in wearing clothes I like, not saving them for special occasions.
FICTION. Deliberating reading for pleasure was a habit I picked up during the pandemic. Sometimes I struggled. My attention span waned. I also started listening to audiobooks on dog walks. See Reading for Pleasure.
FRIENDS AND FAMILY. This goes without saying but focusing on time with the people I love makes my life better.
WATER. Swimming, hot tubs, sauna, spa days. Please give me all the water!
EXERCISE. See Even a Little Exercise Might Make Us Happier.
FOOD. See F is for Fall, Feminism, Food, Friends, Flow and Fits
Basically, I think there are three attitudes to take towards November.
Some people advocating leaning into the sadness and making time in our lives for hard and difficult emotions. I’m all for the latter but not in November. For me, November is sad enough on its own, without leaning into it.
Alternately, you can try to overwhelm the gloom with happiness. Think bright lights, and good food. Dancing and time with friends and family. That’s the all out Aggressive Cozy approach. It’s been my strategy.
Or you try to ignore November and treat it like any other month, the “don’t mention it” approach.
How do you do November? What are your strategies?
This past weekend I went to our local greenhouses and treated myself to new indoor plants. I think this will be a new tradition to kick off November in a way that brings me some joy.
I love the idea of making November a month in which one wears favourite clothes, even if they are too fancy, just because it’s fun and feels good! Makes me want to buy something red, too. Me, who wears black almost exclusively.
I think I treat it mostly like any other month in that it’s just part of life. If I had to rank it, it is less of a slog than January or February in my view. My favourite month is September. But back to a November, it does have a few things to offer, like I try to appreciate the running weather because November is usually colder than September and October but not yet snowy and icy. I also get cozy in November. I like quiet nights at home anyway, and curling up under a blanket in the evening to read or watch a show feels kind of nice to me. And I like fleece-lined tights, which usually only come back into the clothing rotation in November. And it’s a good month for getting back to soups and stews. And perhaps some baking.
With you on the food options–love stews and soups and baking. I’m not so keen on curling up under blankets in the evening. My daytime job is pretty sedate. I like to be out and about in the evenings. Home can make me feel trapped.