The transition from the holiday season back to the normal drudgery is so depressing. Is there any way to make Jan / Feb less depressing?
like, it’s still dark at 5pm, there are barely any sports on, still bitterly cold and austere and it hurts to go outside, but you’re not even looking forward to christmas or the new year. the new year is here, and it’s largely the same as last year. except you’re getting older.
Besides everything else, Martin Luther King gave us a sorely-needed January holiday. If you want to do it right, make plans to do something selfless that day. It might even lead to you continuing to do that thing or work with that group, and exercise those human kindness muscles, developing the content of your character. Or it might just be the once, and that’s okay. Or maybe the best you can muster is to raise a glass and thank Martin for the 3-day weekend. It’s still something to get your head past this slump. By Groundhog Day you’ll be seeing that little bit more daylight that brings hope.
Maybe see if there are some esports you like if more traditional ones are unavailable at this time. There are also things like chess tournaments if you aren’t really into video games.
Highly recommend bright light therapy the moment you wake up or at the desired wakeup time. I can’t imagine what it must be like for those unaware of these things, the darkness would have me on the brink
Imma do a second “dose” right now, the alternative reality makes me shudder
Can you elaborate? I’ve seen these, I’ve seen what they’re “supposed” to do, but can you explain from your personal POV how it helps you, if that makes sense?
It does a few things but it basically entrains your circadian rhythms that mediate wakefulness and sleep. I’m no scientist but they are helpful for both insomnia and depression (particularly SAD) and I find it to be an indispensible part of my morning routine in waking me up and orienting me and fixing my sleep to a proper schedule.
And the light is important in the winter anyway because of the dreariness and darkness but I can’t justify why
Thank you! It sounds like one of these would be very helpful for me. I’m a night owl who works in a 9-5 world, and waking up in the morning is a huge mix of depression and anxiety even if I’ve gotten 6-7 hours of sleep or so.
I wear a sleep mask so it never really helped me all that much even though I have one and experimented with it. I’ll never dispose of it but it more or less collects dust
Glad its working for ya. I always thought it was strange how much emphasis is placed on having a hermetically-sealed dark room for sleep when its like, just get a good sleeping mask and literally rest your eyes
I tried the sleep mask and earplugs because that’s what they say helps but sleep me just takes it all off cause I have some weird sensory issues. I need some blackout curtains :(
This method works well for me. Having something to look forward to is always a good thing. I try to schedule some kind of small trip or event every month.
Well for some of us the opposite is true. My family is somewhat disconnected and festering their resentments toward each other, so the holidays being over for me is like being able to breathe again! Lights down everyone!!!
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