Can you become a winter person? Maybe we could try together?

[LoreleiGilmore]

I once read a thread on here about becoming a morning person - it was so useful but annoyingly I can’t find it! It was all about helping yourself through the transition to the day through sensory experiences - so having a fluffy dressing gown/slippers/rug to use as soon as you got up, good smelling coffee, going outside to drink it in the garden to feel the quiet and scent of the morning air. It was lovely but I can’t find it anymore - does anyone remember it?

I want to apply the same logic to try and become a winter person. I find as the days get darker I start to feel really low and unhappy. I miss sunshine, long evenings, iced coffee, eating salads and feeling full, the smell of the air. Wearing a dress and sandles and being ready to go.

I need to safeguard against becoming super depressed, putting on weight and just feeling awful. Does anyone have any tips on how to ease the transition into winter? Here’s what I have so far:

• have a warm candle lit shower as soon as I get back from work with a nice smelling shower gel

*make the house (esp my bedroom) super cosy. Have indulgently brought a linen spray from Zara so bed smells heavenly and want to buy a really thick and heavy wool blanket (where can I get one from that doesn’t cost £££?)

• light nice candles in the evening to feel cosy (go to Aldi/Ikea for budget friendly options?)

• improve winter wardrobe. I hate all the winter layers. So heavy and then suddenly you feel so overheated as soon as you get on a train/into a shop/the office. What should I be wearing?

*skin care - my lips are so dry and skin is getting worse too as drinking less water. What could help? I heard using nipple cream is a good lip balm sub but not finding it amazing tbh.

• think of nice, filling winter meals - stews and soups that are not super carb-y and stodgy. Maybe invest in a slow cooker so dinner is ready to come home to... is this worth it?

*how can I find the motivation to exercise when it’s so bloody dark all the time?

*use the long evenings to start some long series guilt-free. What should we be watching?

*make something lovely to drink and listen to some great podcasts/audiobooks on commute to so that the dark and ice don’t feel so depressing. Any recommendations for a)drinks cup that will stay warm and b)great stuff to listen to?

Any other tips? Is it even possible to become a winter person?

Thanks ozgirl!

Well done Ozgirl for making the move. I dream of going the opposite way from Oz to the UK as I detest the heat in Australia and the constant battle to keep anything green in the garden alive.

No help to this thread I’m afraid as I’m a winter lover.

There are really beautiful sunrises at this time of year (about 7am here) to look at while you have your hot coffee. I love porridge and soup. Lunch out somewhere with a fire. Wrapping up so a few extra pounds don't show. Leaf-kicking. Coming into a warm house. Daffodils coming soon.

Getting out daily really helps. Have you got any nice places to walk during the day?
Good nutritious food like porridge, soups and stews help me feel better in the dull gloomy winter months.
Also, meet friends and family, baking, good books, good tv and films.

I'm a massive autumn/winter lover so here are a few things I love about those seasons, might help you!

Lighting definitely- never use my centre room lights, too harsh. I use side lamps and various types of fairy lights, sorry I'm a walking cliche love a fairy light. This gives a great glow and atmosphere to the house.

Lots of texture, soft blankets in the living room arranged over the sofas to use. I second UGG slippers by the bed as I have uncosy all wooden floors.

Open fire if you have one, I also use loads of good quality scented candles (yes yes I'm a walking cliche!) I love a beauty product so making time for some really proper long baths and face mask etc, though TBH my skin is always better in winter.

I find I eat more healthily in Winter, really try to concentrate on homemade soup/stew which do smell amazing and help with the atmosphere in the house ... can't smell a salad!

I don't mind rain, have invested in some really decent umbrellas that don't blow inside out with one gust of wind. I play board games loads with DD in winter if it's raining to keep her off the iPad so again invested in a good selection.

Try and get out for a walk any cold, clear days though of course this depends where you live obviously.

Take high dose Vit D, think we are probably all lacking in winter. Forward planning, searching for stuff to do depending on your budget - love a lot of winter theatre.

I'm going to start the opposite thread in April asking for tips to cope with Summer, last Summer nearly killed me!

ozgirl I'm the opposite. Grew up in Australia . Have been here a long time but wouldn't move back if you paid me. I love the seasons here as it gets so cold in the mountains where I live. I love summers where it's light till 11 at night mid summer. In Queensland it goes dark at 7 in summer and 4 in winter. I hated that it was always hot/warm there.

Ok, I have no open fire and have wooden floors!!

Gonna invest in electric throw today. I also just went to dunelm and bought a really luxurious bedspread and pillow to warm up the bed !

The only way I could become a winter person would be if I lived somewhere where winter temperatures never got below 22 degrees (which I just just about cope with, though I prefer it to be much warmer)
I am a morning person though (but only in the spring and summer, I loathe dark, cold mornings)

I bought a really nice coat this year, and some leather gloves. I normally rock hand-me-down chic so I'm excited to wear something I really like rather than 'it will do'. The gloves come off the hands and into the pockets indoors, but I love looking smart with no effort.
I'm also not a winter person. Hate getting up in the dark and picking the kids up in the dark. I'm asking for a salt lamp for Christmas, no idea if they have all the properties that get touted but it will look pretty!

Invest in some gorgeous knitwear - warm and beautiful jumpers and cardigans. I look forward to winter coming so I can wear all my lovely jumpers!

Love salt lamps are pretty but bear in mind they do melt in the damp or hot humidity 😉

GoHack what about one of those fake firebox look from Dunhelm. They look real and even if you don't have the heating part turned in, the glow from fake logs still feels good

Book a ski holiday and go to the gym 3 times a week to get fit for it!

I also love going for walks in the winter as much as in summer. At this time of year enjoy stomping through some leaves feeling the wind and rain on your cheeks and coming back to a cup of tea in the warm at the end.

Gosh I must be the odd one out because I absolute ADORE Autumn/Winter and could happily live with just those two seasons forever. I love everything about bring cosy, and will have about 10 candles on around the house everyday. Big blankets, comfy sofas, dark nights and glowy lamps, carby soups and bread - it's my kind of paradise

I don't have a fireplace but Netflix have an hour long slow burning fireplace. It cackles and pops and actually makes me feel so warm just by having it on!

As I get older, I hate the winter more and more, so am going to have a good read of this thread.

I mentioned how I feel to my DH a few weeks ago, and he said it's not all bad, remember last winter when hardly anyone in our village could get into work and we went to the pub with his friend, ie had a nice lunch and a few drinks (lucky to have an older DC).

If you're out in it, I'd say to make sure you dress for the elements, I have a long knee length coat, long socks and make sure I've got something on my head!

I've learnt to love winter (still love summer though!)

For me it starts with good winter clothes. Nice (faux) fur lined boots, a really warm coat for being outside & a smarter one for going out, a choice of gloves, v good quality slippers, nice lounging around the house clothes.

Then candles in the evening, even if it's just me and the kids.

Distraction techniques. I’m currently helping my third grade students learn their lines for the upcoming Christmas play. Work helps keep me busy and distracted too. My favourite thing is to wrap up warm and go down to the local pub for a lunch or dinner and some coffee. Plus I love talking with friends on Facebook too.

Re exercise, I enjoy working out first thing in the morning. Get up without thinking, then it’s lovely and cool while I’m working up a sweat! Hot shower to look forward to afterwards. I exercise at home using YouTube videos, but the same principle applies if you’re a runner. I do think getting up without thinking too much is key! I remember one of Bridget Jones’ resolutions was ‘get up when wake up’ and that’s stayed with me!

This time of year is a massive trigger for my cptsd. I've been very unwell in previous yrs. After lots of therapy and during therapy, I started to make plans and find ways to really embrace this time of yr.
So each weekend until mid January I have already made plans.
I embrace autumn by decorating my house like Americans do, with autumn Decs and then for hallpween and then Thanksgiving (dh is American). We have fairy lights all over that are on all day every day when I'm home in autumn and winter.

I suppose it's finding what you like and incorporating it into the season. I love my house to be decorated, so this works for me.

Agree about using lamps rather than the "big light".

I love my electric blanket and put it on half an hour before I get in bed.

Having a really warm coat/gloves makes the world of difference when commuting/nipping to the shops etc. I'd rather be too hot than cold!

I hate winter too! All that scraping car windshields in the morning, then getting all steamed up inside when you get 2 minutes down the road! Hate it with a passion.

I hope it doesn’t snow this year either, I detest shovelling snow off our long drive, and then slip sliding in the car! Roll on spring!

Ok, I have no open fire and have wooden floors!!

Try places like dunelm and B&M bargains for cheap rugs for the floors. If stuck, even a fleecy blanket will stop some drafts and feel nicer underfoot.

I love this idea! I really feel the cold but totally understand about feeling overwhelmed and irritated when I get into a warm shop/house/etc.

I have definitely found the cold easier to cope with when I dress effectively for it but for me that seems to be ridiculous things like trousers under trousers and I end up feeling like the Michelin man and unable to move. I did see some fleecey leggings in Primark the other day which I thought about buying as an underneath layer.

I don't mind so much the festive bit in November/December as it's all the excitement and cosiness but then it just drags and drags from January right into April or May. I find that bit really hard. Especially when it seems like it's about to warm up and it doesn't.

I like going out with my nice camera to photograph the snow and the fog.

OP, I used to Iive somewhere 35 degrees all year round and believe me, after a few years it drives you to psychotic levels. As a result I really appreciate seasons here in the UK. I particularly love Autumn and Winter. For me each season comes with its own checklist. E.g. in Spring I wear this and I do that (chores, things to house and garden, activities outside). I kind of make a list. I love Winter and I see it as a time to do certain things. I love Hygge and if you are not up on it I advise reading up about it.

So for me late Autumn/ Winter is about:

*Enjoying Halloween and Bonfire night. Decorating the house all October for Halloween.
*Changing the bedlinen to warmer, getting out the candles, getting out my sheepskin and throws and making the living room really cosy.
*Changing what we eat to stews, soups, roast dinners. Making apple pies.
*From Nov, getting into the spirit of Christmas. Shopping and baking.

• Staying in. Drinking red wine in front of the telly (under throw, fire on, dog at feet) and watching films, box sets, Bake Off and Strictly. *Autumn dog walks, getting the DC out for walks, blackberry picking.

It is about cosiness, spending time together in the warm and a kind of hibernation. Maybe it is just me, but it is actually my favourite time of year.

Ooh, if you like the Netflix fireplace sounds - this site is genius as it lets you create your own "ambient" mixes. It's a bit like white noise for grown ups. I sometimes use it for concentration or relaxation.

www.ambient-mixer.com/