Winter in Çorum brings about two hours of sunshine a day in December. Read about how short days affect mood, seasonal ups and downs, and ways of coping.
Towards the end of November the street lights come on before five in the evening, school buses set off in the dark in the morning, and on some days in December the sun barely appears from behind the clouds. Winter in Çorum is not just a change of season; it is a period that changes the rhythm of daily life, patterns of activity and, for many people, their mood as well. Sentences such as "My spirits darken in winter" or "I don't want to do anything, I just want to sleep" are heard more often in these months. In this article we look at Çorum's climate data, how these data are reflected in everyday life, and how to cope with ups and downs in mood during the winter months.
Winter in Çorum: What Do the Figures Say?
The 2021 Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Plan of the Çorum Governorship and AFAD (the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority) gives detailed information on the climate of the provincial centre, based on data from the Turkish State Meteorological Service.
Daylight. According to measurements from 1929–2020, the average daily sunshine duration in Çorum is 5.7 hours. However, this average hides a large difference between the seasons: in December, there are on average only 2.0 hours of sunshine a day, while in July this rises to 9.4 hours. In other words, in the darkest month people live with roughly a fifth of the sunshine of the brightest month.
Temperature. According to 1991–2020 averages, the annual mean temperature in the provincial centre is 10.7 °C. The January average is −0.2 °C, February 0.8 °C and December 1.7 °C. The average minimum temperature stays below zero for four months, from December to March.
Precipitation and extremes. Average annual precipitation is 446.8 millimetres, and on average 112.9 days a year are wet. The lowest temperature measured was −27.2 °C in February 1985, and the deepest snow recorded was 80 centimetres in 1948.
Two climates, one province. According to the same plan, Çorum's northern districts (Kargı, Osmancık, İskilip, Laçin, Dodurga, Oğuzlar and Bayat) have a Black Sea transitional climate, while the centre and Sungurlu, Alaca, Boğazkale, Ortaköy, Mecitözü and Uğurludağ have a Central Anatolian continental climate. For this reason, the experience of winter can also vary within the province. Winters may be more humid and wet in the northern districts, and drier and harsher in the centre and the south; however, the source we have does not give sunshine and temperature values separately by district. Even so, people who move within the province or travel between two districts often say that they feel this difference in their daily lives.
The limits of the data
These data are based on measurements in the provincial centre; values may differ in the districts. The source we have does not include a sunshine average for Turkey as a whole that could be compared, so we make comparisons based on differences within the year. No provincial data on air pollution could be found in this work either. Finally, there is no research measuring how common seasonal changes in mood are in Çorum; the psychological assessments below are based on general knowledge in the field.
How Does Winter Change Daily Life? A Sociological Reading
Climate data alone do not paint a picture of mood; but by shaping the rhythm of daily life, they can have an indirect effect.
Life drawn indoors. Cold, dark evenings lead people to go home earlier and go out less. Parks, walking paths and outdoor gatherings largely empty out in winter.
Less movement. Icy pavements and short days limit walking and outdoor activities, especially for older people and families with young children. Reduced physical activity can also affect energy levels and sleep.
Older people and loneliness. Çorum is a province with a high proportion of older people. According to information cited from TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute) in the 2021 report of the Central Black Sea Development Agency (OKA), the share of older households among single-person households in the province was 53.4%, the highest value in Turkey. For an older person living alone, winter can mean a lonelier season in which visiting neighbours, going down to the market and joining the mosque congregation all become harder.
Winter in rural areas. In villages and districts, snow and road conditions can at times restrict access to health services and social contact. For families who make their living from farming, winter can be a period when the pace of work slows down but feelings of waiting and uncertainty grow.
Welcoming spring. The weight of winter is also felt in the way spring is welcomed collectively. According to the Çorum Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, during Hıdırellez (the traditional spring festival) Hıdırlık, Erzurum Dede, Sıklık Boğazı and Bağlar are among the most visited places; preparations begin two days in advance, new clothes are made ready, and börek and sarma are prepared. Collective rituals of this kind serve as an important threshold that revives a sense of belonging and hope after a long winter.
Mood During Winter in Çorum: A Psychological Reading
Winter blues or seasonal depression?
Many people feel a little more tired, listless and sluggish in winter. Most of the time this is a mild "winter blues" that does not seriously disrupt daily life. In some people, however, the symptoms follow a pattern that begins in the same season every year, eases in spring, is pronounced and affects functioning. This is called depression with a seasonal pattern, or seasonal depression for short. For more detailed information, see our article on seasonal depression. We would like to remind you that these symptoms do not on their own amount to a diagnosis, and that an assessment should be carried out by a professional.
Daylight and the body clock
Daylight is one of the strongest signals that set our internal clock. Less morning light can shift the sleep–wake cycle; the timing of melatonin release, known as the sleep hormone, and the brain chemistry linked to mood are also affected by light. Two hours of sunshine a day on average in December can mean getting almost no natural light during the day, especially for people who go to work or school in the dark and come home in the dark.
Common winter symptoms
- Difficulty getting up in the morning, a desire to sleep longer
- Tiredness and low energy lasting all day
- Increased cravings, especially for sweets and pastries, and weight gain
- Withdrawing from social activities and get-togethers
- Difficulty concentrating, reduced productivity at work or school
- Irritability, impatience or emotional numbness
- Hopelessness and a feeling that "this winter will never end"
Who is more vulnerable?
People who have experienced depression before, those who live alone, those who work night shifts or spend long hours in poorly lit environments, older people with limited mobility, and people who have moved to a new city and have not yet built a social circle may struggle more during the winter months. For students and workers who come from warm climates and begin living in Çorum, the first winter can also be a matter of adjustment in itself.
Children and young people
Children and adolescents are affected by winter too. When school hours start in the dark and outdoor play and sport decrease, combined with more screen time, sleep patterns can be disrupted and restlessness and irritability can increase. The fact that exam periods fall in the winter months can also be a factor that adds to stress.
Winter and family relationships
During the winter months, family members share the same indoor space for longer. This closeness can pave the way for warm conversations and evenings spent together, but in periods when everyone is tired and impatient it can also allow small frictions to grow. When one spouse withdraws noticeably in winter, the other may start to think "they don't care about me". For this reason, knowing that the change in the winter months may be a fluctuation linked to the season rather than a personality trait makes more understanding communication within the family easier. Talking about the symptoms together and temporarily reallocating responsibilities can lighten the weight of winter.
Winter is a season that allows people to turn inwards; what matters is noticing whether that turning inwards becomes rest or disconnection.
Let us imagine a father in his forties who works in a factory and experiences the same thing every winter: from the end of October, getting up in the morning becomes harder, he lies down on the sofa as soon as he gets home from work, he has no energy left to play with his children, and he finds excuses not to go to weekend invitations. In March, as the weather warms up, he feels as if someone has switched the light inside him back on. What stands out in this fictional example is that the symptoms start and end at a similar time every year; this pattern deserves a conversation with a professional.
Practical Suggestions for Getting Through Winter in Çorum
- Catch the morning light. When the sun is out, spending 15–30 minutes outdoors, especially in the morning, or spending time by the window helps regulate the body clock. Even on cloudy days, outdoor light is much stronger than indoor light.
- Keep your sleep schedule steady. Getting up at the same time every day, including at weekends, is one of the most effective ways of coping with winter tiredness. If sleep problems persist, you can look at the suggestions in our article on how to overcome insomnia.
- Put movement in your diary. Indoor walking, home exercise, swimming or a gym; in winter, movement does not come by itself, it has to be planned.
- Do not put off enjoyable activities. The approach known in psychology as behavioural activation tells us that motivation often comes after action. Doing an enjoyable activity, however small, "even when you don't feel like it" helps lift your mood.
- Keep social ties alive. Winter is a season in which the culture of visiting and conversation is strong. Visits to neighbours, family meals and phone calls are an important buffer against loneliness.
- Do not forget your older relatives. Regularly dropping in on, or phoning, an older person who cannot leave the house because of snow and ice is one of the most valuable forms of support in winter.
- Pay attention to what you eat. Cravings for sweets and pastries are understandable, but regular meals and a balanced diet keep energy levels more stable.
- Plan for spring. Planning a spring gathering such as Hıdırellez, a trip or getting the garden ready gives you forward-looking hope in the middle of winter.
When Should You Seek Professional Support?
Slowing down a little in winter is normal. However, it is advisable to talk to a professional in the following situations:
- If listlessness, an inability to enjoy things and low mood last for more than two weeks
- If going to work or school or doing household tasks has become markedly harder
- If there have been marked changes in sleep and appetite
- If similar symptoms have recurred every winter for several years
- If feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, or thoughts that "there's no point in living", have appeared
Thoughts of self-harm or of ending one's life are an emergency: call 112 (emergency services) and do not stay alone. If symptoms are pronounced, an assessment by a psychiatrist is needed to decide whether options such as medication or light therapy are required.
How Are Seasonal Mood Fluctuations Addressed in Therapy?
There is research showing that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is effective for depression with a seasonal pattern. In therapy, the months in which symptoms start, the situations in which they increase and the person's daily rhythm are first examined together. The way thoughts such as "I can't do anything in winter" or "This darkness will never end" make mood heavier is identified, and more balanced perspectives are developed.
Through behavioural activation, enjoyable and meaningful activities that the person can keep up during the winter months are planned, and routines for sleep, light and movement are structured step by step. For people whose symptoms recur every year, preparing a preventive plan before autumn arrives is also part of the process. Where necessary, the work is carried out in cooperation with a psychiatrist. On days when snow and road conditions make it hard to attend in person, depression and mood work can also be continued online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I feel unhappier in winter in Çorum?
The reduction in daylight during the winter months can affect the body clock and mood; in Çorum, December has on average only two hours of sunshine a day. When reduced movement and social contact are added to this, many people may feel more tired and listless.
Does seasonal depression really exist?
Yes. Depression whose symptoms begin in the same season every year and ease in another season is defined in diagnostic systems as depression with a seasonal pattern. Only a professional can make the diagnosis.
Will the winter blues pass on their own?
Mild winter blues usually ease when spring arrives and can be lightened through a daily routine, light and movement. If the symptoms become pronounced, long-lasting or recur every year, seeking support is helpful.
Is it normal for my older parents to be more subdued in winter?
To some extent it is normal; but for older people who live alone, winter can increase loneliness and inactivity. If you notice loss of appetite, staying in bed constantly, talking less or hopeless remarks, an assessment by a doctor and a mental health professional is advisable.
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Eda Erkan Alapala
Klinik Psikolog. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi Klinik Psikoloji Tezli Yüksek Lisans mezunu; bilişsel davranışçı terapi, çocuk merkezli oyun terapisi ve çocuk-ergen psikoterapisi alanlarında eğitimlerini tamamlamıştır.
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