It's around this time of the year in very late January that you can just about FEEL the mornings as well as the evenings getting lighter, assuming you've got something of a semi-regular routine which means you're doing the same thing at roughly the same time a couple of days a week.
The evenings have been getting lighter farily RAPIDO for a while now, so already it's still light at 17.00 whereas only a month ago it was PITCH BLACK at 16.30.
The mornings lag a little, we get less light added on in the mornings compared to evenings here in the UK when it transitions from Winter into spring.
Personally in my own routine, I typically walk or drive back from work between 16.15 and 16.45 so I've been able to track this evening lightening quite well, during these times I can feel spring coming soon.
However I get up around 6.00 a.m. and I head out for a run at 6.30 when it's STILL VERY DARK and then I don't leave for work until after 8.15, when it's always light, after sunrise even at the winter solstice.
So mornings have for the last 5 weeks since that solstice felt a bit challenging!
However I do notice the pre-dawn on the horizon now at around 7.05 when I'm getting towards the end of my run, it is getting there!
But it's still cold and dark!
However the tops and tails of the days are still punishingly DARK! Getting up at 6.00 a.m. at this time of year - no where near sunrise and after 17.30 it's VERY dark, and it's cold, and this year it's mainly damp cold which is nasty, especially if yer running.
And it's a pain when all the light is during one's working hours, which is mainly indoors, and then all the dark is during one's social hours, so you're 'living' in the dark, probably why it FEELS mainly dark, even though more than half of yer waking hours are still light!
PROPER DARK!
NB Interesting fact I learned is that it never gets 'properly dark' in summer around here, because the sun is so far above the horizon, however it does get DARKER in winter, so it's not just about the sunrise and sunset times, the darkness in the deep of winter is literally darker!
Shifting one's perspective!!!
I think the trick to getting through these dark days is to shift yer perspective away from the darkness, making the most of the daylight when you can (hats off when it's sunny!) and also thinking to the future and the lighter times ahead.
Something I like to keep in mind is that with the end of January we are almost six whole weeks past the solstice, and in another week's time we'll be half way to equinox already, so lighter times are coming and FAST...
So in short, chin up, the light is fast approaching!
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Startin’ to feel the light!
!BBH
That getting lighter makes me feel that spring is coming 😉
I'm pretty conscious of the longer days as it's not dark now when I go to the office, but it is when I leave at 17:00. As I've said, having solar panels makes me think about it too. The changes through the year help us mark time and it would be less interesting if it was more static. I don't mind winter too much really. I quite like running when it's cooler.
Shine on!
Oh I do like the variability, but I've found this winter tough going with the dark! Probably 'cos I'm working more and it's a shock to the system!
I don't like cold running, I treble layer on days like today!
You have to get use to it and keep pushing things.
I am just considering myself for instance and the rainy season, it is always affecting work seriously, it can even cause you to wake up late, lols. Nevertheless, I always exercise the needed patience knowing seasons come to an end