Every year, something very strange happens between January 1st and 2nd: time slows way, way down. Although time moves uniformly on this planet, we don’t always perceive it to be that way. Even when combined, those summer months—with their sunshine and the power they have to pull us outside and make us do things—can feel shorter than January, while the last few months go by in the blink of an eye. All that racing around from autumn and early winter, spurred on by holidays and end-of-year deadlines, vanishes into the wide sea of a new year. Suddenly, the possibilities seem endless—and so does time. In New York and other northern states, it’s not uncommon to look out your winter window to find a seemingly endless gray sky. The trees are mostly bare, daylight is scarce, and it can feel as if winter will never end.

*The above graphic is a take on many similar ones aiming to depict how time can feel uneven across the year.*

Seasonal Affective Disorder can occur at any time of the year, notably when seasons change, but according to the NIH, symptoms tend to peak for most affected individuals in the winter months, combining increased negative feelings with a period of the year that just feels longer.

We’ve given some advice in the past about coping with the effects of winter (see: here, here, and here). These are great articles to dive into, offering specific ways to contend with some of winter's most troubling hurdles (cold, darkness, having less to do).

Another point to keep in mind is that we can stop comparing winter to other seasons and just appreciate it for what it’s good at: an excuse for a slow start in the morning, curling up with a blanket and a cherished activity, or cozy dinners at home. Usually, when we make a concerted effort to be actively appreciative of something, time starts to contract. Once you start craving the days that keep you holed up, playing board games with your family or finally reading that book you’ve had on your nightstand for months, you’ll find the time slipping away.

If you do find yourself unable to find any pleasure in the winter season, if your thoughts are overly and persistently negative, that’s a very different story—one that we heartily invite you to share with a therapist equipped to treat depression and related disorders (give us a call or send us an email, we’re here for you).

But for anyone feeling a bit disappointed that it’s no longer the mad rush of the holiday season: try looking forward to these long winter days. They might surprise you.

January 2026 | Endless Winter

September 2025 | Transitions