I hate autumn in England. The golden red and yellow leaves are but a fleeting beauty that rapidly slides into the dark and cold of winter. Months of skeletal trees and 4:30pm nights.
So! What are your tips to stay cheerful and active during this time of year?
Here is what my current charge, Geoff the cat, likes to do when it turns cold. Wrapped up like a purr-ito!
I use lots of candles, and additonal fairy lights when I can, and go outside as much as possible when there is daylight.
One thing I like to do is put lots of candles/tea lights on a plate so you have like a sea of little calm lights. It really helps me feel peaceful. Obviously, not recommended when there are pets nearby that could get into them…
Eat chocolate!
That goes for all seasons!
Wear colourful clothes. I do that in all seasons, but it probably makes the biggest difference to my mood in winter.
I am having a wonderful time in the Thousand Islands with the fall colors. Early November, I head to downtown Detroit. I have dental appointments, but I will be close to the eastern markets. Will be able to take advantage of theatre.
Hi @Rhe All you can do is embrace it! I enjoy every last moment of sunshine that autumn in the UK brings, knowing that even colder, darker winter months lie ahead. Slow-cooked casseroles, soups packed full of vitamins, and in the most miserable months I enjoy eating home-grown apples and walnuts, and raspberries that I froze back in June/July. Walking dogs in the rain is never quite so bad if you know you can dry out by a fire with a nice glass of wine at the end of the day. I tend to sleep more, but also see winter as an opportunity to be creative – playing the piano, writing, reading. There’s a book called ‘Wintering’ by Katherine May, which is on the list for this year…
Same here in Western Canada, plus I suffer from SAD (worse in the winter, of course). What do I do? Warm lights on, go outside for a nice walk every day, exercise classes a few times a week, get together with my drumming community, read a good book, keep in touch with friends and family, and cut myself some slack when it’s a tougher day.
With some clear skies on Tuesday night you might have your best chance of seeing the annual Orionids meteor shower
Taking place 60 miles up in space, it can often be one of the most impressive displays of the celestial calendar and is visible across the globe.
The meteors are known for being bright and fast, peaking for about seven days around the 22 October.
Go South? I have already done it .. a week ago 
(which apparently was the perfect timing as the rains arrived the day after I had left )
Install a log burner. I look forward to dark evenings now.
Also get up early, go for a walk and enjoy the morning light, apparently it’s the best for combating SAD.
I avoided English winters for as long as I could (Mexico, Crete) but ageing parents and other responsibilities mean I need to stay in the UK for the moment.
Go to the southern hemisphere 
As much as I’d love to, ageing parents and other responsibilities keep me in England for the moment
but… install it where? I’m a full time sitter!
Luckily my current sit in London has one - but it hasn’t actually been cold enough to use it this year yet
Hi Rhe
Enjoy the fleeting beauty of the leaves falling and walking through the leaf fall at bright times of the day. I love walking the dog through that as he’s like a truffle pig snuffling through them (staffies can sound like piglets when having a nosey). Im not fan of dark nights either and being a woman of a certain age, I double dose my shop bought Vit D supplements which also help with alleviating the forthcoming dark days (might be placebo, but works for me!).
I live in NI so our autumn/winter is just as awful and I find that a bracing walk each day helps just clear the cobwebs and helps me feel justified in the canine cuddles snd chocolate consumption (for me only!) after!
As the clocks going back yesterday in the UK - Daylight Saving Time - I saw this news article talking about Seasonal Affective Disorder.
I suspect we’re all impacted by the lack of daylight to varying degrees, and I am a fan of a lumie alarm clock which simulates sunrise - and could be transportable.
It’s not a silver bullet to combat the darker months, but it can be a step in the right direction.
