To wonder if those who love winter have very robust mental health or very happy lives?

[Comedycook]

So I was thinking about this after reading a thread about weather. Lots of posters saying how they loved winter...some even said they love the dark evenings and what really surprised me was the poster who said they loved dark, cold mornings. I assumed everyone hated these!

Now I'm not in a terrible place mentally and I'm not depressed but I do find the dark, rainy, cold days do affect my mood. When the evenings are warm and light I feel so much happier.

I'm really interested in how others don't feel that the winter brings them down and actually enjoy it. Are they naturally happier, more positive type people?

I work outdoors and struggle in the cold. Definitely more of a summer person!

I don't love it but I think I'd be more keen I'd I didn't catch so many colds. The never ending viruses are by far the worst thing about it.

It’s much, much easier to control your body temperature in the winter than it is in summer. In the summer sometimes no matter what you do, you can’t get comfortable or sleep in hot weather.

In the winter it’s much easier to get comfortable and cosy with thick clothing, central heating, warming foods etc. This is the main reason I love the winter. Plus, all the lights and the build up to Christmas etc just makes me feel content.

So, on the flip side, I can’t understand why some people worship hot, sweaty summers. It’s over rated. Everyone’s different!

I don’t know if people like winter for the same reasons as me or I’m some sort of weirdo though as I feel like it the way some bang on about miserable weather and dark nights.

'It's about embracing the differences. Finding pleasure in what is on offer'

^^This definitely - good advice for life in general

I like all seasons but the time of year I really struggle with is March. January gets a bad rap but I honestly think March is the worst month. Technically spring but cold, grey, no hint of spring colour yet.

I really hate rain. Especially when it’s muggy.
I really hate humidity generally so the SE of England isn’t ideal for me.
More crisp sunny cold days please but they’re few and far between. I love walking.
dark nights and mornings aren’t fun but autumn is my favourite, followed by spring.

Hmm are any of these winter lovers NORMAL POOR PEOPLE because you all sound like you are sitting in the drawing room doing crochet in front of the log fire while papa puffs on his pipe.

I don’t even KNOW many people with log fires…

The idea of a lovely warm bath is nice but it just steams up the house so I have to scrape condensation and mould off all the walls.

Bah! Not for me thanks.

In real life, people complain about it being too hot all the time. The glorious weather thing works up to a certain point of heat. When it's baking, there's moaning.

And there are a lot more hot countries than cold, but people visit the cold ones all the time. We're not short of tourists here, for example. Looking elsewhere, ski resorts are hugely popular, despite it being expensive.

@ThePoshUns @Comedycook No it's not just you. I don't like clothes that aren't fitted, or the ugliness of sensible coats etc. I got a couple of pretty coats so at least that's an improvement and I can avoid the extreme weather coat unless I can't avoid going out in hardcore rain.

At least (speaking for the Midlands) we we maybe don't get many days a year when we can't avoid actual jumpers rather than cardis.

I have a side lamp, you know one of those very very bright lights, and I tend to like it before Christmas, because of the activities, atmosphere, etc. if I am warm, have a good book or a good movie, and I’m in my beanbag, I’m OK. My new home has a fireplace, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to turn that on yet… I am visually impaired, and it is a real wood-burning fireplace, and I really would prefer to have something slightly more user-friendly. I’m in a much bigger home now, so don’t know how it will feel in the winter. In March it was freezing in here. So who knows what December January and February will be like, especially when it snows. I live in Greece, and yes, it snows periodically.

this. I hate beer, sunbathing, swimming, big parties, shopping in malls, wearing make up and nail polish, high heeled shoes. many of those things make other people feel ecstatically happy. Hot humid weather makes me feel miserable and I find hot nights really depressing. Some people are made miserable by things that make other people happy.

I don't specifically love winter but I love the seasons changing. Not sure why as it really just marks time passing and at my age that can be a bit scary.

I've always loved seasons changing too! From being a kid.

Yes I love it all OP.

My favourite month is November. No month more beautiful (when it's bright, obviously). The skies are amazing. A November sunset is glorious - the bare trees.

I also like going to bed in winter in a warm bed and leaving the windows open. I like it when you wake up at 6am and can see the moon and Venus etc.

Like fires, bonfire night, Halloween, I even like January. I like walks in winter because there are fewer people about.

I'm not a total misery and do like spring as well, but I detest summer - the noise, the blowsy nature of everything, the sticky heat (fucking menopause) and the overriding imperative to have fun.

I don't like fun, but winter brings me true joy.

Why do we have to be filthy rich, live in a beautiful woodland area in massive house that includes an aga and a log fire to enjoy winter? These posts are making me laugh 🤣

I like the winter because I can use the weather as a reason not to have to go anywhere/do anything, instead of because I’m clinically depressed and anxious. I have to mask it in the summer so it’s a huge pressure lifted.

But you could say the same about Summer.

I hate heat and humidity. Midges. Not sleeping as its light.at 2.30am

Urgh.

I like having seasons, but there is way too much winter to slog through. I'd be happy with half the amount, and more of the legendary crisp frosty days/ snow, and less of the perma-gloom, rain and smooshed mud-leaves with complementary camo-dog shit.

It's hard work. More dressing, then by the time you've layered up to face the elements, you're a stinking, sweaty mess. The rain. The days forsaken by daylight; my motivation curls up and goes dormant on those days. The mud, which somehow still crumbles and flakes its way through the house and makes more dirt to clean up. Wondering why the alarm clock has woken you in the middle of the night, when it's actually 7am. It's expensive; more clothes, more heating. Cooking hot stodgy food to fill up on because you're trying to warm up then having to shed the spare lbs in the summer. The constant static shocks from synthetic fibres charging up as you move. The constant dripping nose when the house is under 18⁰C which is even more annoying than hayfever.

I would much rather fling on a pair of pants, dress and sandals, and hey presto, fully dressed in 3 items. Much easier than trying to work out the layers required to deal with temperature, windchill, rain and how steamy you'll get underneath by moving.

DS likes winter, but his senses are very sensitive to light and he wants to wear thick jumpers all year for consistency of temperature. He's naturally nocturnal and reclusive, and not of a naturally cheery disposition.

I love autumn and winter - definitely suffer with my mental health though.

It's the rain I can't handle- The incessant rain, grey clouds and wind.

If we had crispy mornings, and dry days, I'd welcome the winter- even if it gets v cold.

I like a cold, windy walk on an empty beach more than a packed beach with sand in your food and clothing and other people's rubbish.

I love autumn and winter. I love the sharp, cold air - I find it refreshing. I like being cuddled up in my bed in the dark, feeling all cosy. I love the smells and sights of the outdoors this time of year- mist, woodsmoke, frost etc. I like how quiet and subdued the outdoors feel, if that makes sense. I’m not very sociable so I love that there are less people around when I go out and about and half the time it’s too dark to see each other anyway. I can walk my dog in wellies, coat, pyjama bottoms and messy hair. No one will stop and chat. Bliss.

I also hate the sun, heat and summer generally. I get headaches and nausea from the glare and heat. Summer is generally a bit of a sensory nightmare. If the temperature goes over 21, I am hiding in doors.

I don’t think I am much of a positive person and I haven’t traditionally had good mental health. I’m a bit moody tbh.

There was one year when I did struggle with winter and the darkness - really struggled as in I think I had SAD that year. I found out that I had really low vitamin d due to a tumour on one ob my parathyroid. It was so out of character to be unhappy that time of year. I would urge anyone who suffers with SAD to get their vitamin D. levels tested.

There’s something to appreciate in every season.
Closing the curtains, lighting the fire, hunkering down is something I look forward to. Crisp frost mornings and snow! I love snow.

Me too, much prefer beaches in their natural state than when they’re packed with roasting bodies, umbrellas etc.

I hate wrapping up! I can never ever get warm in winter so always have to wear layers, scarf, beanie, gloves and I just can't stand it. I feel suffocated. Then having to jump in and out of public transport, especially when it's been raining there's this horrid wet damp smell in buses and tubes. Yesterday I had to walk outside for a bit and where I was it was pissing down plus strong winds so the rain was full on hitting my face. My umbrella was no help because I was in a busy area, I'm short and so it kept getting bashed around.