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 actually guffawed! 🤣

I don’t have a stunning home or a family. And I meant to add that I’ve had chronic depression for 30 years - but I still love winter! I think it might partly be because I’m quite solitary, and solitude is somehow acceptable in winter. There’s no lonelier feeling than walking past a busy beer garden in summer when you’re single and friendless. In winter, I can hurry home and sit alone in front of my fire and not feel like I’m missing life.

However, balance is important. Most of us need lots of light - daylight if possible, artificial / firelight if not. Get outdoors when you can, use a SAD lamp if you can afford one.

What’s wrong with stew? It’s just a casserole cooked on the hob instead of in the oven isn’t it?

I love all the seasons, but only the first month of summer then get fed up with the heat and long for Autumn , then love the first month of winter, but then it feels dragging and cold and I long for spring , then can't wait for summer. Think it's just people's prefences!!

It strikes me that for many of us out preferences seem more sensory than anything else.

You’re asking the wrong poster. 😊

I make a cracking Vietnamese beef stew (bo kho). It’s a thing of great beauty.

If we're not allowed to use the word cosy as a reason for liking Autumn and winter (for some reason there's a militant group on MN who hate it) these are the other reasons I prefer winter (prefaced with the fact that I live in the countryside so my experience may be different to others):

• morning walks with the buggy on days when it's dry are enjoyable, especially as I'm out as it gets light

• winding my child down for bed (terrible sleeper) feels easier

• keeping their room a consistent temperature is easier and I don't need to worry about them overheating

• I hate being sweaty

• I like the certainty of knowing I'll need a coat

• I prefer dishes more suited to cold weather, such as stew.

• hot drinks more enjoyable

• get to wear my colourful wellies and scarves

Additional point: I think all men, including DH, are considerably more attractive in autumn/winter clothing. I like well cut suits, nice jackets, heavy coats, rugged jumpers.

It’s all so much more pleasant to look at than dudes in shorts, paunches pressing on ill fitting t shirts. Or, even worse, the ‘sun’s out, guns out’ topless crew.

Kids sleep pattern. Why is it so much worse in winter? I think there is no definition of time by light level any more, and being confined to the house so much means they can't burn off energy and tire themselves out. It's all starting to go to pot now as usual. They sleep so well in the summer holidays 😫

I'm on top of a hill on the edge of the Pennines as well. At least we won't get flooded here anyway.

It would be nice if the seasons were all even in length (weather wise). Even as a warm weather lover I like a change/break. The problem is it can remain very cold in this country right though until May. Last April was freezing. Then we had 3 weeks of nice weather in June. Then that was it until the random heatwave in September.

If you like cold, wet, rainy weather then you’re in the right country. 6 months plus of that versus an average of a month or so of warmth (if we’re lucky).

I’d prefer proper seasons like they have in other countries. I actually love snow (and other countries seem to be able to heat their houses without bankrupting themselves too).

I’d then like a summer you could rely on. To plan outdoor events, go camping, outdoor festivals etc. I clearly need to move!

This year I concluded that whilst I like winter in winter, I don't like it in April/May.

I also imagine that those who love snuggling under a blanket in front of a log fire after eating a warming casserole having just had a walk in the woods, all have beautiful houses in beautiful areas. I can't imagine people enjoying these things if they lived in a tower block in an inner city.

I get what you mean OP. I used to live in a place with no central heating and I don’t mean it was broken there just wasn’t any.
We had a coal fire (they were still quite common back then, where I lived anyway) but I wouldn’t of said it was cozy as such. Bloody freezing. It’d probably kill me off now lol

This I agree with. I live somewhere with lovely warm summers and freezing cold but bright winters.
But we have no spring, it stays cold and dark and often wet or snowy for months after every magazine is going on about spring colors.

Our first house had no central heating. We had a very hard winter the first year we were there, and I vowed that I would never want to be as cold as I was that winter. I now prioritise heating over most things because being cold makes both DH and me utterly miserable.

My bedroom growing up didn’t have central heating. It was also in a cheaply-built extension which wasn’t insulated. The rest of the house had CH but it was only ever on low. Winters were miserable, I just spent the whole time being cold. My dad permitted me a fan heater but I was only allowed to have it on twice a day, 5 minutes at a time. I used to sit with my face almost touching it.

.. and this is why i hate Winter, no mains gas here therefore no central heating!

no mains gas here therefore no central heating!

Oil?

Oh it's horrific, I remember getting on the train in the dark, getting to work in the dark, leaving work in the dark, and getting on the train in the dark.

I don't think so, the only people I know that like winter are a bit on the depressive side

This is wrong again.. I've loved winter even in dingy student flat and rough area. Anywhere can be made cosy.

So people who hate winter and feel depressed throughout it are cheerful types. But those who enjoy it are depressive types. Got it.

Have you seen the price of oil around here?!

Oh god the worst evening ever

This is wrong again.. I've loved winter even in dingy student flat and rough area. Anywhere can be made cosy

So I lived in a home with no heating (also no double glazing which is probably relevant ) I’m saying it was freezing cold not cosy and you’re telling me I’m wrong? 🤔