I find birthday's do help in terms of ensuring we focus on things and keep busy.
October is a zoo for us. Wedding anniversary, son's and granddaughter's birthdays, plus Thanksgiving, then throw in house sale, and my contract going insane this year.
I need to be sewing to prep for Christmas, and right now, November is not looking to be quiet, and have some social engagements in there too
E-gad will be the words you hear soon out of my mouth.
February was always busy with 4 out of 5 of us kids birthday's, plus my Dad's, plus valentine's day.
Now it is only really my sister & mine, and we like to travel during it, or at least spend a week together. We shall see. She is talking about Japan in January, in which case, I would travel then with her.
I have family member's who experience SAD. Luckily for them, they are able to build going south into their plan. One will leave in early December to get that much needed sun.