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Original poster

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

917 replies

Comedycook · 19/10/2023 19:07

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?

OP posts:
LusaBatoosa · 22/10/2023 00:53

RampantIvy · 21/10/2023 23:01

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 Grin) 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.

The summer haters don’t control the weather, though. So getting heated about them not having to contend with weather they don’t like makes no sense. 🤣

Rosesandstars · 22/10/2023 01:13

I don't think people who enjoy winter are necessarily more mentally robust. Obviously they don't have SAD but they could have any number of other mental health conditions!

I do suffer with SAD and struggle massively for a fortnight after the clocks change but since moving to the East coast, where we get a lot more sunny days, even in Autumn/Winter, I've found it a bit easier. I think there's a huge difference if you live somewhere where it's often overcast and rainy (e.g. Manchester) vs. somewhere with a lot of hours of sunshine.

I've also found taking Vitamin D hugely helpful for my SAD.

Overcooker · 22/10/2023 01:26

LusaBatoosa · 22/10/2023 00:53

The summer haters don’t control the weather, though. So getting heated about them not having to contend with weather they don’t like makes no sense. 🤣

Edited
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Exactly!

Its those pesky summer-lovers who’re driving global warming.

givemeasunnyday · 22/10/2023 01:48

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

It's really not difficult to not get burnt. I live in a country where we are at much more risk of sunburn and I've never heard anyone carry on about it the way people in the UK do. Just take sensible precautions.

Icopewhenihope · 22/10/2023 02:09

I hate the sun. Always have, always will. Nothing will change that. It doesn’t make me weird or mental or dysfunctional. I will enjoy every minute of the dark, cold, rainy days. My mood Will be elevated and I will revel in it. It brings me joy. Summer does not but it will roll around again like it always does and those who love it will be out enjoying it when I am not. There is a season for everyone.

UnRavellingFast · 22/10/2023 02:20

I feel claustrophobic when it’s relentlessly hot. I like rain! We can all be different

Oblomov23 · 22/10/2023 03:12

I do find the winter, the dark early nights, quite oppressive. I so like the spring and summer, even the autumn actually. But I'm ok because I too am robust in my mental health. I also very much like being at home, so pottering around happily, not doing very much, sitting on the settee mn'ing. So when the winter sets in, I'm happy coming from from work and just doing that.

phoenixrosehere · 22/10/2023 07:52

Delatron · 21/10/2023 22:37

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.

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That’s a ridiculous assumption. Everyone has preferences and can understand why some like something or dislike something more than something else. It seems the people who can’t accept the difference of opinion struggle with comprehension.

I enjoy the weather where I’m at in SE England because I know and lived in a climate that was much colder in the winters and hotter in the summers than it is here and it was simply something we just got on with because there’s nothing to change other than moving.

My in-laws are in Newcastle and one of the reasons I don’t want to live there is because it is more rainy and grey. I don’t like summer due to its personal effect on me even though when it is pleasant for me (I do love wearing summer dresses though) but I can easily understand why others who don’t suffer the same issues do.

Dragonfly909 · 22/10/2023 07:56

I don't love the dark and cold but I do enjoy Halloween, Bonfire Night and love Christmas. They are well timed to make winter better 😁Plus love a bit of snow if it happens. So the first bit of winter is ok but January is a slog. February I find a bit more hopeful as it starts to warm up a bit.

TrashedSofa · 22/10/2023 08:16

givemeasunnyday · 22/10/2023 01:48

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

It's really not difficult to not get burnt. I live in a country where we are at much more risk of sunburn and I've never heard anyone carry on about it the way people in the UK do. Just take sensible precautions.

This is a poor attempt to justify your initial bad take.

The sun in the UK is hot enough that many of us with pale skin are at risk of sunburn for several months of the year. The fact that the risk is higher elsewhere doesn't do anything to mitigate the risk here. They are two unconnected points. And obviously, what you're claiming to have heard and not heard from people you know is of no interest to anyone other than you.

Presumably you agree that sunburn is unpleasant and dangerous. We are very lucky to have sun cream now, but it's still something that isn't foolproof and can be a faff You have to remember to reapply it and bring it out with you, and inevitably there are times when you forget and end up burning a bit. This is a ballache.

For all these reasons, it isn't the people who are pale skinned who burn and therefore don't like the sun who are the odd ones in this discussion. It really is very simple.

AgnestaVipers · 22/10/2023 09:22

Yup. The Brits love talking about weather, don't they?

Oakbeam · 22/10/2023 09:28

Yup. The Brits love talking about weather, don't they?

So do Australians judging from the number of times I have been asked “Is it hot enough for you.”

RampantIvy · 22/10/2023 10:06

The sun is shining today Grin
Happy dance

It doesn't have to be hot for me, just not the dull grey which is the norm where I live.

TrashedSofa · 22/10/2023 10:12

I do enjoy a crisp autumn day!

43ontherocksporfavor · 22/10/2023 10:15

Beautiful day at last. I’m off out with the dog for a long walk.

Brainfogmcfogface · 22/10/2023 10:21

I’m definitely not a more positive person and my life is generally miserable, but I love winter! I hate summer, I can’t afford summer, live in a small flat with 2 young kids who want to go out and do stuff all the time which I just can’t afford, seeing everyone on holiday, days out etc which I can’t afford, it makes me feel shit! Winter is much less stressful, I put the Xmas decs up as early as possible to make the flat look a bit magical, so the kids like being at home, they both hate being cold so they aren’t asking to go out all the time, but at the same time love putting on layers and going for a walk and having a hot choc when we get home, we go for evening drives in December to see the Xmas lights on the houses (some go all out round here and it’s lovely) it’s honestly the time of year I feel less shit about our lives and I get to wear more clothes to cover my lumps and bumps which is just an added bonus, I hate the warmer months, never look forward to them so I’m enjoying my time now to get me through them.

RampantIvy · 22/10/2023 10:29

and I get to wear more clothes to cover my lumps and bumps

It is perfectly possible to find flattering summer clothes that hide a multitude of sins.

Honestly, you won't look any lumpier in summer clothes than winter clothes.

cardibach · 22/10/2023 11:12

LusaBatoosa · 22/10/2023 00:52

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.

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Not cross about your preferences. Cross that there’s a load of you moaning as soon as the weather goes over 18 for 5 mins about how hot and bright it is with no recognition that it’s a teeny bit of the year.
Also the unrealistic nature of the raptures about autumn/winter which go on about crisp sunny days - this isn’t a regular feature of the darker months in most of the UK. It’s nonsense, and those people don’t actually like the weather in the country in which they live any more than people who like weather over 25 do.
Edit: I’m not fully in the winter hating group. I’m ok as long as it’s not raining or grim with a load of slush everywhere. I prefer longer hours of daylight because it’s easier to do stuff. I don’t feel pressure to go out either in summer or at Christmas. I do what I want to do and what makes me happy. Also I’m lucky enough not to have to worry too much about paying for heating - but a season which doesn’t cost me money to just stay warm is always going to be higher up my list of likes than one that costs me a fortune (yes, I have an oodie. It’s on).

BeethovenNinth · 22/10/2023 11:19

East coast Scotland has some of its driest weather in the winter. Lots of crisp days. Just saying. July is dreadful though.

Delatron · 22/10/2023 11:36

cardibach · 22/10/2023 11:12

Not cross about your preferences. Cross that there’s a load of you moaning as soon as the weather goes over 18 for 5 mins about how hot and bright it is with no recognition that it’s a teeny bit of the year.
Also the unrealistic nature of the raptures about autumn/winter which go on about crisp sunny days - this isn’t a regular feature of the darker months in most of the UK. It’s nonsense, and those people don’t actually like the weather in the country in which they live any more than people who like weather over 25 do.
Edit: I’m not fully in the winter hating group. I’m ok as long as it’s not raining or grim with a load of slush everywhere. I prefer longer hours of daylight because it’s easier to do stuff. I don’t feel pressure to go out either in summer or at Christmas. I do what I want to do and what makes me happy. Also I’m lucky enough not to have to worry too much about paying for heating - but a season which doesn’t cost me money to just stay warm is always going to be higher up my list of likes than one that costs me a fortune (yes, I have an oodie. It’s on).

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Yes it’s the moaning after one week of pleasant weather. Or claiming we have months of ‘hot, oppressive weather’ in this country when we just don’t.

I don’t hate winter per se. I prefer warm weather but can very much appreciate a rare, crisp winter’s day. I like snow. Running is easier in the cooler weather and the dog is happier. I don’t moan about it. My heating bills are pretty horrific though. And it does last far longer than I would like.

If it was warm and sunny all
year round and we had a few weeks of cold I’d relish that rather than moan.

LadyTrunchbull · 22/10/2023 11:40

I think people are often a bit selective in how they view things tbh.

Like, a lot of the people saying they dislike the sun and talking about sunburn are presumably referring to being physically outside in the sun - you don't generally get sunburnt inside.

However, when the same people talk about loving the rain they generally aren't talking about being outside as it's extremely unlikely they'd enjoy the rain if they spent much of their day outside like me and continually dealt with wet clothes/squelching work boots/blisters and having to put a wash on every other night etc.

zingally · 22/10/2023 11:51

The only thing I don't like about winter is when it's icy underfoot.

I'm like Bambi at the best of times, so add slippy pavements into the mix, and it's a disaster!

cardibach · 22/10/2023 11:53

LadyTrunchbull · 22/10/2023 11:40

I think people are often a bit selective in how they view things tbh.

Like, a lot of the people saying they dislike the sun and talking about sunburn are presumably referring to being physically outside in the sun - you don't generally get sunburnt inside.

However, when the same people talk about loving the rain they generally aren't talking about being outside as it's extremely unlikely they'd enjoy the rain if they spent much of their day outside like me and continually dealt with wet clothes/squelching work boots/blisters and having to put a wash on every other night etc.

Exactly this! If you like winter because you like being inside during that weather don’t then say you hate summer because it’s unpleasant outside. Stay in! If you like it in winter do it all year.

aSofaNearYou · 22/10/2023 12:14

Exactly this! If you like winter because you like being inside during that weather don’t then say you hate summer because it’s unpleasant outside. Stay in! If you like it in winter do it all year.

I don't enjoy staying in in summer as much because I feel a societal pressure to be out doing something.

Delatron · 22/10/2023 12:31

cardibach · 22/10/2023 11:53

Exactly this! If you like winter because you like being inside during that weather don’t then say you hate summer because it’s unpleasant outside. Stay in! If you like it in winter do it all year.

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Yes this seems to hit the nail on the head. I hate being cooped up indoors. Especially in the dark.

If you like being inside. (Under a blanket). Then I can see why dreary cold weather appeals. Let’s be honest - you don’t actually like standing out in the rain for hours?

Nobody with small children wakes up and looks out of the window and says ‘yay it’s raining and cold, let’s go stand in the playground for hours.. We do it because we have to get out and about but it’s not pleasurable.