Getting all my lights ready–my bike lights for my commute, my light alarm clock that gradually brightens the room while it’s still dark outside, and my anti-SAD lamp that I turn on over breakfast or in my office if I forget.
What I’m thinking about:
There are two very different approaches to the dark days of late autumn. The first is maximizing light exposure and time outside. That’s the way I tend to go. The second is embracing the dark and leaning into fall. Think cozy, think indoors, think comfort food, and soft blankets. Mostly that’s not my speed but this year I might give it a go some of the time.
I’ve noticed that a lot more people in my neighbourhood have their holiday lights up early this year and it made me think of that saying – ‘If you can’t make your own serotonin, store bought is fine.‘
Usually I like to wait until December to put my lights up because I like that month to feel extra special but after a full month of rainy days, I need all the light I can get.
An early evening photo of a string of colourful lights on the railing of my (very damp) patio. There are leafless trees, a fence, and a streetlight in the background.
And today I realized that I’ve actually been choosing the (literally) brighter option whenever I can for the last few weeks. (Subconscious self care! I can’t believe my ADHD let me away with that.)
I picked a new desk lamp that gives me a wide swath of light for my desk on gloomy days (ugh) and at night.
A photo of my white desk with my lamp on. The lamp rises from behind my monitor and extends out on both sides casting bright light on my books, my art supplies, and the sewing project I’m working on at the moment.
I chose a new light-up leash for Khalee because the old yellow one didn’t light up anymore. It’s cheery AND it’s useful for walking in the early evening.
A photo of Khalee, my dog, doing a sniff-investigation on some grass on an early evening walk. Her blue light up leash is in the foreground and there is a streetlight nearby. There’s also a 40 speed limit sign but don’t worry we weren’t walking that fast.
And, in general, I have been making sure not to spend any extra time in the dark. There’s no need for me to be sitting in a dimly-lit room unless I choose to.
I know there are a lot of things I need to do to reduce my chances of being fully captured by seasonal depression* but I feel like finding more light – literally and metaphorically – is a good foundation.
Days that include more exercise, good quality sleep, hanging out with friends, and doing activities I enjoy can all be built on top of seeking light and that’s what I intend to do.
How are you dealing with the darker days lately?
Any fun ideas?
*I always struggle a bit but last year was especially bad and I am determined to help myself every single way I can this year.
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 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.
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!
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.
I’m not. Here’s 2 pm on Saturday this past weekend.
Cheddar at Guelph Lake
Once again I’m missing the daylight and thinking about changing up my schedule. No more sleeping in on the weekend. It’s light at 7 am and I hate missing daylight hours. Also, on work days I’m going to try to get out for walks over lunch while it’s still light out. It’s part of my new challenge anyway. See Sam is going to take on an interesting walking challenge.
Do you change your normal hours to get more light in the winter?
Okay, it’s 18 days in. But September is blazing by so fast!
I’m responding to my friend Todd’s challenge and setting some September intentions. We both struggle with winter though our reasons aren’t exactly the same. I’ve made my peace with the cold and the snow and for me, it’s mostly about the dark. Todd has it worse, I think, not liking either!
It didn’t just feel like a really dark and gloomy winter. It was a very dark and gloomy winter.
CTV news recently reported:
“If you found yourself pining for some sunshine in Ontario in recent months, it’s likely because the province just lived through one of the darkest winter seasons in nearly a century.
According to solar energy data by The European Centre for Medium Range Forecasting (ECMRF), parts of Ontario saw lower levels of solar energy between December 2022 and February 2023 than previously recorded in the last 83 years, or since 1940.”
This weekend when a major snow storm was predicted where I live we just got what the weather folk called a “sustained dreary rain event.”
All of this news about how dark it’s been actually made me feel better about it all. As one Facebook friend wrote, “It’s strangely validating to learn that it really WAS unusually dark and gloomy, not just an artefact of our collective mental state.”
This year I did use my sad lamp regularly. I have one at the office and one at home. I did run off to a sunshine-y place in January. I love Arizona. And I confess I was focused more on knee replacement recovery than anything else. Still, winter was long and it was dark. Today it’s officially over.
You’ll see that there aren’t actually 24 here. That’s because most of the 24 were about the fall but they seemed more September and October to me. By November most of our coloured leaves have fallen. It’s all stick trees against the grey sky with cold rain here. I’ve never been to Norway but I like the idea of visiting Norway. I’m intrigued by the idea that November reminds someone of Norway.
Here’s my ten item list of things that will help me make it through November. This year I started early with the lights, the daily gratitude practise and pretty much the rest of it too.
Each year it seems I start my new year’s resolutions earlier and earlier. This year it’s November 1.
All the bright lights!
Books and a anti-SAD lamp on Sam’s desk at work
Exercise with cheerful music
Grover’s Monster Workout Video
Furry blankets to go with all of my knee pillows
Brown and white dog wearing pink fur coat, sunglasses, sitting on a bright pink sofa
Today I am grateful for visiting cats to keep me company, neighbours with good signs, and bright fall colours which brighten darker days.#gratitudepic.twitter.com/Q7O6jJaQmW
I read this while recovering from knee replacement surgery and loved it. Looking for more ….
November 1 is the new January 1
Resolutions
Friends and family
So those are my ten tools to combat November sadness and gloom. What would you add to the list?
I guess an obvious one is getting outside when it is sunny but I’m not even sure there are sunny days in November. If there are I promise that I’ll get out and bask in it.
I love September. It’s the first month of the university year. There’s lots of things to do on campus. I love the bustling atmosphere of all the students returning.
🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁
October is Halloween and pumpkins and while some of the days are dark and grey I find the brightness of the yellow and orange leaves helps.
December is all seasonal celebrations, concerts, family, holidays, gifts and joy. It feels very cozy and I love the music.
🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲
While January is cold and snowy here there’s often a lot of bright sun beaming off the bright white snow. Also the days are getting noticeably longer. Usually I head south in January and get some winter bicycling in.
☃️☃️☃️☃️☃️☃️
February and March can seem long I know but again there’s sun and I’ve got spring in my sights.
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
But November? The leaves are gone. It’s not yet snowy, mostly grey and cold and rainy. It’s dark when I go to work and dark when I come home. There aren’t even any good holidays in November. I’m Canadian, remember. We did Thanksgiving in October.
☂️☂️☂️☂️☂️☂️
November is objectively the darkest and worst month of the year. I need a way to redeem November. I should be able to find something good about November. But what?
❓❓❓❓❓❓
Your suggestions and ideas about redeeming November are welcome. And while I appreciate that some people can lean into the misery and kind of revel in the worst month of the year gloom, that’s not me. I need ways of making it through November, and for this year, I need ways that don’t involve more outside exercise. As I rehab my knee that isn’t going to happen. I need to know what you like about November. What’s November’s good side? Somebody has to like November, right?
My friend Todd and I have been chatting and blogging back and forth about preparing for winter. Here’s his latest, a Week 1 post. Todd’s focus is on fitness, a shared passion, and spending time outside. I’m usually in agreement with that too. I feel better when I’m outside even in the winter months. Outdoor physical activity that combines those two things is the best.
One thing I noted is that this year will be different for me. With my newly replaced knee I won’t be doing very much outside riding once winter gets here. It may be that winter gets here before I even get to ride a real bike. Normally I ride bikes outside year round but not this year.
So what’s my fall/winter fitness plan look like?
🍁Zwift is an obvious thing. I miss riding in Watopia.
🍁 I’ve also joined a fancy gym for aquafit, hot yoga, and some time in the weight room, possibly also the hot tub. As I noted in my September check in gyms with wood paneling and juice bars aren’t usually places I call home, I’m going to try to enjoy the luxury while I rehab my knee.
🍁 I’m going to try to gradually up my walking game. It’s been a few years. The success of that plan will depend on how well and quickly my left knee recovers from surgery and how well my right knee holds up while waiting for round two of knee replacement. If I succeed Cheddar will be a happy dog!
🍁Warm weather riding remains a possibility. It will depend on how quickly I can get back on the bike and ride.
🍁I’m going to try and keep our living space warm and cozy and inviting for floor physio and for home yoga.
I’m going to miss riding outside between now and spring but rehabbing my left knee and getting my right knee ready for surgery (prehab!) has got to be a priority.
