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?

Absolutely 🙂 warming up hands under a gorgeously warm mane and a flask of hot chocolate.

I live in the countryside and love it when it's a clear dark night and you can see the stars. It feels extra still and quiet. I quite like tucking us away with drawing heavy curtains - something we don't bother to do in summer.

On the whole though the wetness of the British winter is hard work and slightly depressing.

I also hate wrapping up. I don’t even like wearing socks. I’m happiest in flip flops, shorts and a vest.

But I guess now you know that your OP - where you said you believed that winter-lovers are all in robust mental health and have happy lives - isn’t quite the case anyway

I love all the seasons and wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I mirror nature and use the winter time for deep rest, in the spring, summer and early Autumn l love working outdoor on my garden and go for long walks in the evening but l also enjoy resting indoors in the winter. I don't have a tv, l listen to nice music and browse online, l learn lots on YouTube. I tend to go to bed earlier which benefits me as l have early starts.

I absolutely love winter. I actually get particularly stressed and anxious in the summer when it's warm. In winter I gets lots done, have bags of energy and feel really happy.
There's something so soothing about an ice cold winters morning that just makes my heart glad 😊

more like grey and soggy in the UK

You can still put wellies on and go for a woodland walk!

It’s the washing g that gets on my tits in the winter. Anything else I don’t mind.

Why? It’s infinitely more enjoyable to get outdoors when it’s crisp and chilly. In summer I get warm and lazy (and walks involve far more picnics and beer gardens!).

I don’t get out on an evening much at the minute (a toddler and baby make date nights rare), but I’ve always preferred going ’out’ in the colder months too. I love heading into a restaurant/theatre/bar when it’s cold out and all the lights are twinkling.

I do a lot of walking and autumn/winter/spring walking is the best. Even in the drizzle. I love a bleak damp landscape. I hate walking in summer unless it’s very early morning before there is any heat in the day. Too sweaty - either from the sun or if it’s raining then waterproof clothing makes me feel sweaty because the air is warm.

Don’t you have anything to go out for in winter?

I struggle with poor mental health intermittently but I love winter up until Christmas. I like the feeling of getting cosy at home, those thrillingly clear, cold mornings of frost and pale pink skies, the lights of trees in windows, the slowing down and nesting.

January and February, however, I despise, and they’re by far my worst months of the year. They’re just a slog to survive until things start looking up again in March.

Well, aside from the fact that I live alone, I don’t find less on in winter. I still have Concert Band, Choir, Book Club, evening class but now I have to go to them in the dark and cold and wet. And actually, they all stop in the summer, so that’s when 8 have fewer evening commitments anyway…

I don't understand what's to like about the height of summer. Hayfever, excessive sweating, can't sleep, sunburn in unfortunate places...

Other people love it and that is okay. They don't have to explain their preference to me, it just... is.

I absolutely hate socks...I don't even own a pair. On the very odd occasion I need to wear them I borrow a pair from dh

Maybe it's a physical thing about how the lack of daylight affects your brain (or doesn't affect it). My DH gets SAD and the short days and darkness seem to have a debilitating effect on him. I prefer summer but quite enjoy winter. I never feel depressed in winter. It has no effect on my brain chemistry at all.

As much as I love summer I do love cosy evenings indoors, blankets, candles, jumpers and I love running when it’s crisp first thing.

MatildaonMain · Today 22:16

I struggle with poor mental health intermittently but I love winter up until Christmas. I like the feeling of getting cosy at home, those thrillingly clear, cold mornings of frost and pale pink skies, the lights of trees in windows, the slowing down and nesting.

Me too but that's not really winter is it? That's autumn. Autumn is gorgeous. Halloween, bonfire night, run up to Christmas. Misty mornings, bonfires. Lovely. Then we have January, Feb and March. Which are shit. Absolutely shit and depressing. In fact I genuinely think I would accept a shortened life span if it meant I could just fast forward and skip every Jan, Feb and March forever. Ugh. Muddy, cold, dark, nobody has any money after Christmas. You can't hibernate if you have stuff to do so you still have to go out in the dark and feel unsafe. It's horrible 😕

I think running on a winter morning would be like torture for me!

Seasonal affective disorder isn't exclusive to the winter months. I have known of people who struggle in the summer and get relief from that when the shorter nights draw in and the heat and light recedes.

I really like summer and I really like winter. If I were forced to choose though I'd pick autumn/winter. I enjoy a gloomy day, like walking in the rain, enjoy the festive season and also enjoy that sense of not being obliged to do things or 'make the most' of the weather , which is how I tend to feel in summer and can get a bit much. The only thing I miss during wintertime is reading in my garden and in the same vein, gardens in bloom in general.

As an aside I don't have a high end home in a high end area by any means and don't think it makes much difference here (for me). I've lived in much lovelier homes in much posher areas and felt the same!

blimey! i can see why you like the dark evenings, I only wish my life was like yours.

I feel quite lucky that I don’t feel this “guilt/pressure” to “go out and make the most of the weather”. If I want to go out, I do, and if I don’t I don’t. No guilt involved.

I love Autumn and am quite happy in Winter too. I don't enjoy blazing hot sunshine but like walking to work on crisp cool mornings and wearing my winter coat. I also like cosy evenings, especially when it's time to put up the Christmas lights.

To be fair, I do prefer running when it's cold. Actually, the best time to run is when I can wear shorts and vest and start off cold but warm up; spring and early autumn. Worst time is when it's already warm.
The cold is the worst but about winter. I hate all the layers. I'm already up to 3!
Love just wearing shorts and t shirt throughout summer.

I just like it. I like the way autumn and winter smell. I like falling leaves. I like Ivy mornings. I enjoy the dark.

I also enjoy spring and summer. The weather has little to no impact on my mood or mental health, however. So, I suppose I’m just not massively sensitive to it, one way or the other.