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?

@Delatron I had someone on here a few years ago tell me that there was absolutely no difference between going to the park after school on a July afternoon when it's warm, daylight and the cafe is open and on a December afternoon when it's freezing cold, dark and everything is closed down. Apparently I just need a positive attitude and a set of head to toe waterproofs and a torch. I hope they were taking the piss because my kids would assume I was if I suggested such a ridiculous thing.

Haven’t RTFT because 700+ posts but I love winter as I like the cold. However, the grey and the damp can and does get to me. Equally, I don’t mind the dark evenings but the dark mornings are hard — how am I meant to summon the will to get up?

I made a comment to Delatron, you responded to it and this exchange began. My initial comment wasn’t to you and stated Again, some of you sound genuinely cross that people have different preferences to you and it’s baffling.

So, if you really don’t care if people dislike summer and like winter, then I wasn’t talking about you and there’s no need for this exchange.

I wonder how many of the winter lovers are walking to work / school in all weathers?

I do, with the right clothes and shoes it's not a problem.
Very rarely get the bus, the weather would have to be pretty bad for me not to walk.

@43ontherocksporfavor i can see if DP has the big light on as I’m walking home. It gives me the rage. Sometimes I text him and tell him to switch it off before I get in! He’s working on some Alexa based automation that’ll switch the big light off once I get within a certain radius 😬

yanbu.

I'm genuinely surprised by the number of posters who love winter, and I don't mean that as a criticism. I struggle with the lower light levels of autumn and winter. It's generally greyer and darker. I've adjusted my career so I can be outdoors more which has helped, but even with that the last couple of weeks have seen my mood slide 😒

I absolutely hate Jan to March. The worst time of the year. It's bleak, cold, drizzly, muddy, boring and we have no money (at least in January) it genuinely makes me feel like a big weight has been dropped on me and the colour has been drained out of the world.
Hate NYE as well because I feel like it's just counting down to the shit 😬.
I honestly can't think of a single thing I like about that time of year except it finishing. Asked my kids about it and they said pancake day, but I even hate pancakes 😂
Autumn I love though. I don't mind the evenings getting dark because there's so much to light them up that time of year. Halloween, mine and DC's birthdays, fireworks, Christmas. It's just a shame it's followed by the worst bit

@Splishsplashsplooshsplosh One good thing about Jan to March is that it gets lighter every day. First flowers and buds appear. It’s also a good time to reset and think about the year ahead. Try to view it positively if you can

Ha! Yes no difference at all. It’s just your mindset….The things I read on here never fail to surprise me!

My DC’s lovely Reception class teacher used to say “ No such thing as unsuitable weather just unsuitable clothing.” She is Swedish and no doubt thought us whining at Brit’s were wimps. I work in primary now and the youngest children are outside on the play equipment in all weathers bar pelting rain. They don’t even notice and seem to prefer the cold because they’re not getting too hot running around.

Ridiculous but also another example of privilege. I remember when my DD was in primary school, the wealthy families kids all had really high end winter wear.

I also don’t think it’s being wimpy. I’m happy to run in all weathers for miles. I walk the dog every day whatever the weather and he definitely prefers the cold.

But it’s far more pleasant to be in a playground with small children in dry/warm/light weather than dark/cold/wind/rain. And many other activities too.

Who'd want to go to a park or playground on the dark?? I'd be worried about weirdos or getting attacked. The park behind me had a violent rape a little while ago

I am much more active outdoors in the autumn, spring and winter. The sun cream and sweltering heat is such a pain to deal with I'm usually looking for shade or ways to stay indoors during the summer. I'd much rather put on some wet weather gear and tramp around in the mud.

What sweltering heat? This is the issue I have. We live in the UK. From time to time we have a heatwave but not guaranteed we’ll have a sweltering summer. I found running this summer fine.

We have had a very average (disappointing) summer this year. No need to stay indoors and hide from the ‘heat’.

It's never dark earlier than about 4pm, and I'd go to a playground earlier than that, that's verging on tea time territory with playground aged kids.

aSofaNearYou · Today 10:09

Splishsplashsplooshsplosh · Today 09:39

Who'd want to go to a park or playground on the dark?? I'd be worried about weirdos or getting attacked. The park behind me had a violent rape a little while ago
It's never dark earlier than about 4pm, and I'd go to a playground earlier than that, that's verging on tea time territory with playground aged kids.

We don't get back from.the school run till almost 4 and dinner isn't till 7.30 earliest for us because DH isn't home from work so absolutely doesn't work for us

Yes, I’m privileged to have a car, and heat. This adds to my enjoyment of winter. Similarly, I’m privileged to have aircon, which contributes to my enjoyment of summer.

We are allowed to enjoy things based on our own realities, and experiences of said things. We aren’t obliged to pretend not to because of someone else’s circumstances.

Fair enough, I don't really feel the need to go to a playground when they've already had a busy day at school.

Weirdly, I love winter up until December 31st, then, as if a switch has been turned on, I loathe it and start yearning for the spring and lighter evenings. I guess it's because November and December are full of fireworks and the lead up to Christmas and then there's nothing until Easter!
However, the summer leaves me feeling anxious and hot and miserable! I'd much rather have spring, autumn and winter and miss out the summer months completely!

I like winter. Mostly i just like the changing of the seasons and can find sonething positive (and something negative) all year round. I love warm dry evenings in the summer, but hate being hot and sticky when it creeps above 30. I love cold air and dark mornings, crunchy leaves, the promise of snow. But I don't like the relentless rain that we get most winters. I mostly like weather that it's nice to be outside in and I'd much rather go for a walk when it's -1° and you can see your breath than when it's 32° and sweaty.

@DriveMeCrazy1974 So you should love January then as you yearn for light and spring. That’s when it starts! Shift your thinking from gloom to expectation.

43ontherocksporfavor · Today 11:04

@DriveMeCrazy1974 So you should love January then as you yearn for light and spring. That’s when it starts! Shift your thinking from gloom to expectation.

There's positive thinking and then there's just gaslighting yourself 😂
Winter starts at the end of Dec (23rd I think?) So there's no way I can pretend that Jan is spring. I wish I could though

A few years back I decided I was going to embrace the changing of the seasons, and find things to enjoy. I do live in the quite far north, where it's dark from 3.30pm ish to 9.30am ish in winter - that means very little daylight out with the school/work day, so it's important to find hobbies/activities that can be done in the dark or inside and also to try to get out a walk (even a short one) in daylight hours. Some people do find it harder and SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is definitely an issue for some, of course seek help if you feel 'sad' beyond what is just blues every now and then.

It's dark by about 3.30pm in the middle of winter where I live, and not light again until about 9.30am - kids go to school and come back in the dark, hence the push for high vis vests for all primary age kids!