Yay, got lots done today

[Anne]

The weather has been so gloomy here lately it's really hard to be motivated.  I think it been 4 days since I stepped into the shop, which is something that happens rarely here.  We live half way up a mountain which means that much of the winter leaves us right in the middle of fog due to the big lake that is right in the middle of our city.  I decided this morning I needed to get back to work so every sunshine bulb got put to use today, including all the ott lights. Because of the gloomy winter weather we get here our medical experts here talk a lot about SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder---Depression due to lack of sunlight and they recommend that those of us that work inside use as many of these sunshine replication devices as we can. Or tan - that's our son's prescription for it.  Not into that, but I feel all the good light in the shop today made a big difference., I got a LOT of stuff done. I know we've had this discussion somewere in the forum in the past but I know for many of you in the US the winter weather is the worst it's been in many years.  I thought some of you might be feeling the way I was and a reminder on the different light sources might be in order.

[nansea121]

Up north (Yukon), we called that cabin fever. I know what you mean tho. Sads affects some more than others. I used to live up north for 13 years and thankfully, the winter months didn't seem to affect me very much. In fact, I quite enjoyed it.

Great that those lights are making you feel better Anne and motivating you to create some more wonderful things:) Just keep tellin' yourself that Spring isn't all that far away:) Friends

[Lynn]

SAD doesn't really cause me too many problems.  However, more than a month without a motorcycle ride makes me kind of cranky.  I am there.  I am just hoping the glacier out on the road past our driveway recedes enough for me to get out and do a little riding to clear my head!

[Glassic]

I get cabin fever but always have something to dispell the urges. Now SAD I know well, had it in the UK before I moved to Australia, I've learned to cope with it up here and 8/8ths cloud cover has to run on for days before I get irky. I never in my entire live [post UK] thought I would get excited over a dripping roof and temps rising to 38º but I am.... takes so little nowadays....

[JoanFrances]

I used to rarely be affected by SAD but had a friend who suffered terrible from it every year.  I could never understand it.  Well now at the late age of almost 64 I am having to battle with it.  I forgot all about those light bulbs, so thank you Anne, my very next trip to the store there will be several of them purchased.  I really could not understand what has gotten into me lately, but I can't get out of my own way.  I am usually one of those happy to wake up and looking forward to the new day. 

Sunshine light bulbs here I come.  Yeah

[ct4mom]

Yes this time of the year really gets to me as well and we had not had much sunshine here either. Im one that like the sunshine or at least daylight to work on glass. Will have to buy some of them as well.
Thanks for the reminder Anne!!

[Barbara]

Thanks Anne, I was in the glass room almost all day and it's depressing just for the fact that it's downstairs in the basement with just two good sized windows.  I had bought an Ott light a few months ago and now I will remember to bring it down with me. Depressing this time of year here with no color outside except for white.  I agree I can't wait for 38 degrees to melt the snow.  Flowers may help so here are some for everyone here

                                            
                                                    

[Audrey]

Never knew about those bulbs. my husband suffers from SAD. Even worse than the lack of sun for him though is the lack of leaves on the trees. He has to have green.

[mona]

Usually if the sun is shining, it's colder than blazes here.  If it's cloudy it's warmer.  Like the cold spell we had the last couple of weeks where our avg temp was like
-10  with windchills at least -20 and lower, suns shining but you sure don't want to stand out there with exposed skin to soak up the vitamin D!!! 

[JoanFrances]

Usually if the sun is shining, it's colder than blazes here.  If it's cloudy it's warmer.  Like the cold spell we had the last couple of weeks where our avg temp was like
-10  with windchills at least -20 and lower, suns shining but you sure don't want to stand out there with exposed skin to soak up the vitamin D!!! 

Mona, I hear ya about the temp and how clouds affect it.  What I have done when the sun is out but to darn cold to go out in it, I open my inside door, pull up a chair and let the sun soak me through the insulated storm door.  Warms me and cheers me at the same time.  If I close my eyes, my imagination can transport me to where ever I want to be and to what ever season I would like it to be.  Sounds silly maybe but it gives me a boost for a little bit anyway. 

[Lady Helen]

I learned years ago that I can cope with cabin fever
quite well providing I have projects lined up while
I hibernate. I also start spring cleaner months
before spring arrives so that I can get back
outside earlier guilt free! 

p.s. A week spent in the Carribean also helps. 

[Glassic]

I learned years ago that I can cope with cabin fever
quite well providing I have projects lined up while
I hibernate. I also start spring cleaner months
before spring arrives so that I can get back
outside earlier guilt free! 

p.s. A week spent in the Carribean also helps. 

You and I are of the same ilk. I learnt to cope with cabin fever on a 19' sail boat with stepped mast on the French canals.... my knitting improved immensely and I learnt the relaxing art of knot making. That will come in handy when they send me to the nut house.

[Kev]

You can use that skill to knot the bedsheets to escape out the window...lol

[Judy K]

SADS and I are mortal enemies. I am one of those who have know the extreme end of the brain pain. This year, and last, I have stayed one step ahead of it, but looking over my shoulder constantly as it pursued me. Keeping many projects going  and learning the importance of counting my blessings when I want to complain constantly has really helped. Recognising the symptoms of depression has helped , to catch it early is critical.

My house has many, $20 a bulb, sun bulbs. It's not enough. But Sunday the sun peaked through the valley and came through the second story window at church. It's the first time it has hit the valley in 6 weeks. Next week it should hit the windows in the back of my house. :) We have servived the heart of one more winter folks , yippy!

[Rebecca]

Yesterday was the first day this YEAR that the temperature has been above freezing.  That is an unusually long cold spell.  I think they said on the news today that it broke the record for longest below freezing weather!  But the sun is shining today and the high today is supposed to be 52F.  I hope that gets rid of the last of the snow and we can move on to spring!  I HATE the cold and the dark.

Rebecca

[Wayne]

Yesterday was the first day this YEAR that the temperature has been above freezing.  That is an unusually long cold spell.  I think they said on the news today that it broke the record for longest below freezing weather!  But the sun is shining today and the high today is supposed to be 52F.  I hope that gets rid of the last of the snow and we can move on to spring!  I HATE the cold and the dark.

Rebecca

Well, I hate the cold too!  I live down here for the daily sunshine and the wamer temperatures.  It was 25 last week and nearly everything in the yard is dead, even some of the grass. 

When I first moved to FL, in high school gasp, the St. Pete Times didn't charge for the newspaper for the days we had with NO sunshine.  The odds were in their favor.....

[ct4mom]

Well the sun is still not shining but its above 32 degrees and Im going out to enjoy it for they are predicting freezing rain for tomorrow.

[JoanFrances]

it is cloudy here again today.  But it seems it must have warmed up just a tad cause it looks like the snow left on the roof is melting because I have drops of water falling in several places out there.

[Audrey]

We finally have a couple days reaching into the 50's, which is seasonally WARM for here. I will enjoy it while we have it. I know it will be short lived.

[Barbara]

Yeah, our snow is melting too.  I  know it is short lived though, bring on spring!