8 Things to Love About Winter

Zoe Lambourne • October 27, 2022

Winter can be a gloomy prospect. Take this familiar example: The alarm goes off in what feels like the middle of the night. There's a chilly air beyond the duvet, so you press the snooze button more times than you should. When you finally buck up the motivation to vacate the warmth of your bed, you know you're running late. You dash out the door only to find a thick layer of frost encrusted on your windscreen. You heave a sigh of misty air and dream of hibernating until spring.

When you get a case of the winter blues, it’s easy to think there’s nothing to love about this unfavoured season, but some things shine brightest during the colder months. Here are a few of the best things about winter.

1. Huddling Up at Home

There's a comfort to closing the curtains and forming a protective haven from the troubles beyond your four walls. Softening the darkness with lamps and fairy lights creates a cheerful glow. Scented candles enhance the homely atmosphere. Pick your favourite fragrance. Go for a cinnamon spice winter classic, or go off-piste and try something to transport your senses to the tropics.

If you have a working fireplace or log burner, there’s nothing better than curling up in front of the fire and watching the flames dance and crackle.

Most of us have a winter and summer duvet, but you can also work with your furnishings as you would with a seasonal wardrobe. Swap cushion covers and bedding for rich colours and warm textures. Add throws or blankets to a sofa that you can cosy up under while you watch a film.

2. Comfy Clothes are King

Reunite with your cosiest jumpers and fluffy socks. It's the season when comfort and warmth trounce style (at least while you're at home). Want to snuggle into your pyjamas the moment you get in? There's no judgement here. Besides, the curtains are closed, so who's to know? Anything with an elastic waistband is welcome, and this might come in handy for item number three

3. Hello Comfort Food

It's too cold for salads. Hail the arrival of all your winter-warming favourites (yes please stew and dumplings). If the reduced sunlight affects your mood, give yourself a boost by indulging in a much-loved dish.

A slow cooker comes into its own in winter. You may associate it with casseroles, but a slow cooker is a versatile and energy-efficient way of cooking. It makes pulled pork, chilli, cheese fondue and even desserts like sticky toffee pudding.

Crisp, clear winter nights perfect for stargazing

4. Stargazing

Bundle up in your warmest gear and take advantage of the crisp, clear nights revealing an awe-inspiring celestial show.

If you can get to a spot with lower light pollution, it's worth it. It takes a while for your eyes to adjust to the dark, but more stars will gradually appear. If you can handle shivering for 40 minutes, all the better. If you want to know your Orion from your Ursa Major, download a stargazing app onto your phone.

5. Fun and Festivities

Halloween, Bonfire Night, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Do you greet them with excitement or dread?

Even if you're not a fan, these events help prise you from your sofa when it’s tempting to hide away. Maintaining social connections makes a difference to your wellbeing, especially if you're susceptible to feeling low during winter.

If the parties and celebrations get too much, there’s still the chance to enjoy the festive food, films and TV as you recover from all the socialising.

6. Time to Slow Down

If festive plans leave you frazzled, winter also offers moments for peace and introspection. It’s the season when nature rests, conserving strength in preparation for spring. We can follow its lead by reflecting and readying ourselves for the coming months.

Resolutions hastily set minutes before midnight on New Year's Eve don’t always have much-staying power come mid-January, so allow time to contemplate. Think about the past year, your current situation and where you'd like to see yourself in the future. Work on setting a plan and make it achievable by breaking it down into manageable steps.

Journalling can help you make sense of your thoughts, particularly if you have a lot going on. Find a quiet, comfortable spot where you won't be disturbed and allow the words to flow. Don't overthink or worry about being word-perfect. If you're new to journalling, you might feel awkward initially, but as you become more comfortable with jotting down what comes into your mind, it can be a therapeutic exercise.

7. Indulgent Baths

Baths are another therapeutic tool in your self-care armour. Who wants to swelter in a hot bath during the summer, but what could be better in winter?

Treat yourself to a luxurious soak after a long week. Go full home spa with candles, essential oils and your favourite bubble bath. Pop on some relaxing background music and enjoy a moment of bliss as your tensions melt away.

8. You Appreciate the Daylight Hours

Grab opportunities to go outside for a vitamin D hit. Try to get your body moving, even for just a lunchtime stroll. Lift your spirits by spending time in nature at a local park or a walk in the woods. Enjoy the blue sky days when the bare trees sparkle in the sunshine.

Even when it’s dreary, commit to arranging dates for meeting up with friends in your favourite coffee shop or a cosy pub.

Winter is a tricky customer for those of us steadfast in our love of light-filled summer days. Hibernation may feel like the best option, and while taking the pace down a notch for some quiet time is good for us, connection to our friends and the outside world is just as important. Welcome the bracing air and be rewarded by the hint of a strengthening sun and the first snowdrop bursting through the frozen ground, with a promise that spring is coming.