Seasonal Changes

Here we are with the unofficial end of Summer, Labor Day Weekend.  Lately where I live, New Jersey, the air has been crisper, the air conditioning has been turned off and I actually have to pull a bedspread up at night.  There are other changes though that I have noticed.  I have had them over the years and am now paying attention to them.  Seasonal changes, things that affect my moods. 

 

I notice that the sun setting earlier than 8pm bothers me, the anticipation of evenings of darkness beginning at 5pm is not something I enjoy.  The chill in the air and the sounds of school buses signal Fall to some, but to me they are just another reminder of the cold Winter ahead. 

I notice changes in my body related to the weather…. I seem to be more tired.  I normally bound out of bed in the mornings and now I seem to want to snuggle a little longer, keeping warm and end up falling asleep.  I actually rolled out of bed the other morning at 8.30am….very late for me.  I normally bounce out of bed with a song on my lips around 5.30-6am. 

Summer is a time of year when my body is relaxed and warm.  I don’t have to struggle to stay warm.  Winter, I feel as though no matter how many layers I am wearing, I still have to clench my body together to try to stay warm. 

Some people suffer from sinus problems with the change of seasons.

So after my ramblings, do you find that you experience seasonal changes? And if so, what do you experience?

yeah, without out doubt my mood drops. i become anxious-er, and i find the darkness extremely depressing.. i just feel suffocated by the lack of light. its a frightening feeling

Yes. I love Fall weather but I always feel a touch of melancholy. 

Yeah, I live in northern cali, and here we have two seasons: hot and dry or cold and damp and cloudy. It rains straight thru the winter. :(

I really hate it when its so cold also, it just increases discomfort.

The other thing which is slightly annoying is the changes in fresh fruit and vegetables, far less home grown veggies

 

This particular year could prove to be gruesome for me and mine.  We've finally got enough compost going that squash is growing like a mad thing.  In just a few weeks now the pretty green leaves that sprawl all over the raspberries and annual flowers will turn black and for sure harvest will need to happen.  Our canine companion may be working into her last months- her mind is reasonably around still but her hind legs are for sure giving way to arthritis.  The pain meds aren't cutting it.  We may have to play God before spring.  My sinuses and human arthritis is acting up more as the hot temps are dropping away.  We don't use air conditioners- somehow I can take a few days of 100 degrees and yet can't take minus temps without help.  So yeah, this is going to be a unique winter, most likely.  Perhaps the pupster will make it through- just don't want her suffering cause of my silly ego. 

My favorite time of year is fast approaching.  I LOVE the cooler weather (HATE the heat).  And, I love when the time changes and it gets darker earlier.  Makes the evenings last longer for me.  Can't wait till the rain hits.  Overcast skies are gloomy to some folks, but I love cloudy, overcast weather.  Makes me feel all cozy.  I like fall/winter clothes more, too, i.e., sweaters, sweatshirts, etc.  Unfortunately, we still have a couple of months of heat to look forward to here in San Diego County.  Already LA area is suffering a horrible fire season.  We had a horrendous fire season in 2003.  Very scary. 

It'll be nice getting away from the heat for a while, but winter here is too long. Summer is very, very short here.

I have Seasonal Affective Disorder. Winter makes me so depressed and I find the excessive darkness terrifying.

It doesn't help having multiple anxiety disorders as well. Those tend to affect me more during the winter too.

Fall in a lot of places means rain and cooler temperatures, but most of the rain we get here happens in the summer. Any rain that falls at the end of September or in October here is really cold. We had some cold summer rain a while ago, but it's not as chilling as the occasional autumn rain.

Eventually it's going to get -30 C here (-22 F) and often the wind chill makes it feel like -50 C (-58 F). It'll be dry and the icy winds will hit skin like tiny razors.

Not an appealing thought at all.

Sorry for being so depressing. I'm trying not to think about winter because it's making me miserable already. :P

But I know I'll get through it. Also, it'll be a battle for eating good, but I can do it.

My friend I think tried one of those light boxes for SAD. I live in FL now but came from a state of 7 months of dreary snow. I do know that even on a rainy day here I seem more down. I try to do what I can to lift my spirits. Like go to a movie or a book store. Just to not get into a bad cycle.

To all those in Ca I hope you are safe. I used to live in Ca for a year and it was unreal how the fire smeel traveled. I lived 90 min from it and I had black dust when the window was open.

I do think fall is a lovely time in 4 season states. The colors of the leaves,smeel in the air,cider mills. Winter though not so much for me.

I like winter, but not in the South.  A sunny winter day with snow on the ground is just as bright, if not brighter, than a sunny summer day.  But it doesn't snow here, no matter how cold it gets.  And it does get pretty cold.  Also, they don't seem to worry about insulating houses as much down here, or using double paned windows, or any of the other tricks for keeping warm, so my house never feels warm enough. 

I do tend to be... not more tired, just not as perky, I guess, in the winter.  But down here I definitely notice that I'm tired and listless.  I miss my northern winters.

And yeah - sinus problems are the story of my life.

I absolutely love the fall. but the winter is a completely different story. I don't hate it, per se (I think the clothes are cuter, hahaha), but I definitely experience a drop in energy. Throughout summer, fall, and spring I always wake up early (and I mean EARLY). but in the winter sometimes I barely want to get out of bed. I only really like winter for the holidays and the clothing, and occasionally I like snow.

I hate how I wanna go outside, but when I do it's freezing & I can't comfortably be out there, no matter what I'm wearing. Or if I do take the time to really bundle up and dress for the weather, it takes forever and by the time I'm fully dressed I don't even wanna go outside anymore. plus I don't play any winter sports, so I'm unmotivated and bored and lazy (luckily I haven't managed to put on weight somehow).

but this winter will be spent mostly preparing for prom (senior year, yikes), so I'm kind of excited.

Yes I get more depressed during the winter months. Here in England we have not had a very good summer at all so Autumn is coming in far too quickly as far as I am concerned. Dark nights and mornings are something I don't look forward to at all. I miss the fresh garden produce which I have grown in raised beds for the first time this year. I am a look on the bright side of life sort of person though, so here is to next spring and summer.