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?

Yes that was exactly it.

I agree that looking outside and seeing rain and grey clouds and having your mood boosted is odd. Maybe it's a UK thing (or perhaps a MN thing?). I've heard numerous people say their mood instantly improves when the sun shines - whatever the season - but I've never heard anyone say they prefer dull days. One rainy day now and again is nice, low cloud at any time is horrible. I can understand people not liking heat, but sunshine??? Never irl have I heard anyone say they don't like sunshine.

Never irl have I heard anyone say they don't like sunshine.

Vampires?

You seem to have a very fixed mindset OP. You have said many times you assume that everyone hates winter mornings when many people have given you reasons why they don’t

I love summer and I love winter. It’s actually this time of year that I don’t like. At least in winter it’s festive with Christmas. Yes I wouldn’t open my curtains and smile at a rainy day, but a crisp morning, absolutely

While I don’t think everyone that suffers from depression prefers winter (that’s quite a generalisation) it could be that there is more pressure on people to do stuff in the summer whereas staying in is more socially acceptable in the winter which may give people an “out” when needed

Not all the summer lovers on here live in the UK. As I said, I can understand people not liking heat, but not liking the sun is just plain odd.

Autumn is actually my favourite season, but autumns where I live are generally sunny and warm - just not as hot as summer.

There’s lots I love about all of the seasons. I’m quite “outdoorsy” so get out with the kids in most weathers. Obviously don’t put us at risk by being out in floods but a bit of rain/snow/wind etc doesn’t stop us having fun. I’m not a big fan of dark mornings but they are so short lived it never bothers me that much.

Also not having to think about suncream is a plus.

Sunscreen is recommended to be worn year-round even in overcast weather.

The sun can defo boost my mood but I think the crux is that the weather isn't really a huge factor in determining my happiness.

I will admit though that I was standing outside the other day when it was cold but sunny, enjoying the sun on my face. I actually thought for a second 'ah, spring's on its way' before remembering that actually winter's on its way and it's going to get much colder and grimmer for a good few months. 😭😭😭

In the case of my friends, it's not really the actual celebrations that bother them, as they don't feel under pressure to go out and party in any case. Just that it's another milestone to mark time passing; and that depresses them.

I don't really feel like that about NYE (though I don't party for it) but I do feel like that about my new age day, aka birthday, and no one is allowed to remind me of it.

I don't much like the sun. A cool, grey day is lovely 😍 We're all different.

It's true not everyone on here lives in the UK or a place with similar climate. But the OP evidently does, and if there's one thing that's pretty clear about this thread it's that she's located this discussion very firmly within her own experiences! And there's such a lot of seasonal variation globally.

Also, not liking the sun certainly isn't plain odd if you burn easily.

I don't know anyone who liked the weather this summer just gone. It was alternated between pissing it down and muggy damp spells inbetween. Too wet for everyone, not cool enough for the summer sceptics and not warm enough for the heat fans. With the added bonus that indoor places were much fuller than usual, so even the people who don't care much about the weather and stay inside got irritated too!

Wrapping up doesn’t make me warm. Just uncomfortable. It’s neither cosy nor homely to be uncomfortable and cold. In summer I wear linens, keep in the shade, close curtains appropriately in the day and always have the option of a fan. Much more comfy and homely.

I agree @Comedycook the people who say they love winter describe it like every day is bright and crisp. The reality is grey, mizzle, low clouds, damp, dreary days when it never seems to get light.

also, an an extrovert, I’m feeling a bit fed up of explaining that yes, I do like being out and about and that doesn’t make me a monster.

I love winter which is odd as I do/have suffered with seasonal affective depression in the past quite badly.

i love the cold. I love dark mornings and evenings. I think because of my SAD I’ve found methods that help me cope such as making my home really bright and cosy, focusing on Christmas etc.

I’ve found especially with Christmas, it’s helped me so much to just be completely focused on it- decorating, all the bright and twinkly lights, presents, music, movies etc and the foods has given me something positive to draw away from the feelings that sometimes bother me.

Working outside a lot has seemingly left me with an iron constitution whereby I just don't seem to feel the cold anymore. It's hell for me being in friend's houses when the heating is cloyingly hot.

That said, I was working last summer on the day when it was 34°C and the a/c was broken in my truck. When stationary the temp was 44°C in the cab as it's right over the engine. I think it was just pure stubbornness that kept me going as I'd rather be a bit warm than sit at home and sacrifice £200 pay.

Redhead living in Canada. I hate the long, hot summers. I burn very easily and am susceptible to heat stroke. Socializing in summer is difficult, as is even being at home or at work - I can’t focus well when temperatures are in the high 30s or 40s. Sleeping is very difficult due to the heat (even with air conditioning) and the light (even with blackout curtains).

I love the cold and the snow. Long stretches of rain can be gloomy but I’ll take that over summer.

I don’t really get this. You can read a book and stay in with the kids (if you have them - on your own if not) in summer. I do. If you want to be a bit heavier you can do that in summer too. If you don’t want to, I don’t see how it’s better to do it in winter.

So if you like winter you’re doing a bit better than if you like summer and warm weather. In this country at least.

Exactly. People who don't like the heat in the UK only really have to put up with it for a few weeks at a time mostly
As @EasternStandard said, there's was a few weeks in June and a couple of weeks in September (and maybe a couple of days in October). No excessively hot weather in July and August. If you don't like cool or rainy weather, there are months of that to contend with!!

I don’t really get this. You can read a book and stay in with the kids (if you have them - on your own if not) in summer. I do. If you want to be a bit heavier you can do that in summer too. If you don’t want to, I don’t see how it’s better to do it in winter.

I guess we’re just very different -I cover up in the winter, and can wear baggy, bulky clothes and still look passable, it’s warm in the summer so you’re wearing t shirts, arms on show etc. It’s bright until late so you feel the need to have kids out to grab at any nice weather, plus I have a dog and 4 boys so it’s all about running around and playing football etc

Yes and it’s almost as though people who like the cold miserable weather don’t comprehend this.

Imagine the tables were turned? Imagine it was hot and sunny most days for 6 months plus in this country? Even I’d get a bit sick of it then! It’s the fact we get hardly any nice weather and a whole load of rain and cloud and cold. For months on end. And then summer arrives. And it’s a little bit warmer but still can be rainy and rubbish.

I do think people tend to get a bit precious about the weather though tbh. I mean, if you're sitting in an office for the majority of the year you're not going to suffer the worst of it compared to people that are outside all day.

If you don't like cool or rainy weather, there are months of that to contend with!!

I think this is why these threads end up being quite heated (no pun intended ) because the summer haters get far fewer days to hate than the posters who dislike winter/cool rainy weather, unless they live in the rare micriclimate areas that seem to get long hot summers every year.

I love the winter contrast but not so much when it costs so much to keep warm. The brightness of the sun in the cold times is a sight that warms the innards.

Unfortunately I am surrounded for at least 180 degrees of available sunshine by various part-time, mostly absent, homeowners who find their sunshine elsewhere. I'm considered an unreasonable pita when I ask for a bit of compromise and more sunlight. My garden/yard is south facing after all.

I can only hope that a keen gardener or less selfish people might one day move in. But the reality is, I have to move and make sure that access to the full available sunlight will go unhindered as my point above all.

It really does make a difference to some, if not many, people.

We comprehend it just fine. What is it you’d like from us, though? We happen to like the weather in the country in which we live. The fact that you don’t isn’t our fault.

Again, some of you sound genuinely cross that people have different preferences to you and it’s baffling.