The Things I Love About Winter – Embracing Positivity

Yes, this is going to be a predominantly positive post, but let me start off by saying that bloody hell I hate winter; I am most definitely not a winter person. I really struggle with the dark mornings and evenings, I get poorly seemingly constantly, and I feel blue way more often than in the summer. I eat worse, I make less effort with my appearance (hellooo leggings and big coats), and I feel like hibernating 95% of the time.

But because of all that I really have to work hard to try and stay positive, and to keep my mood as elevated as possible. I really think I suffer from S.A.D (Seasonal Affective Disorder), so this year I have bought myself a Lumie Light Box to give myself some light therapy, and I am trying to embrace the horrible cold, rain and miserable days that we are enjoying currently!

So, here are some of the things I love about winter, and cold weather, and lots and lots of rain. Of course, this list could have run into the hundreds, so I’ve tried to narrow it down somewhat.

Warm and cosy clothes

Yes, I may make little to no effort with my clothes on a daily basis in the winter and look like a slob most of the time, but I do love being able to wear leggings and a big baggy jumper that hides my belly full of mince pies, with a big cosy coat over the top, particularly on the school run. Did I sleep in those leggings and have my nightie on underneath my jumper? Who knows! But I love the ease of it and the warmth when I’m still half asleep in the morning and my child won’t put her damn uniform on because ‘Daddy always lets me eat breakfast FIRST’.

Being inside whilst it pours down outside

I do love being inside all warm and cosy, whilst it’s absolutely peeing it down out there. I love the sound of the rain and find it so relaxing, unless I’m out in it of course and then I want to cry at how terrible my hair is going to look in two seconds flat.

I almost don’t even mind the rain if I’m only doing the school run, because it means everyone is in a rush and no-one wants to talk to me so I can rush back to my car, get home and drink endless cups of tea whilst I work, and be grateful that I get to work from home.

Fresh, cold air

I really, really hate being cold, but I do love going out in the fresh, freezing cold air in the morning and feeling so alive (and also half dead because I’m awful in the mornings, but still). There’s something so invigorating about an ice cold morning, and I love taking in some deep breaths that help me to wake up and remember how wonderful the world is. Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration at 8.40 in the morning whilst I’m yelling at my daughter to hurry up and trying to open the car door that has frozen shut, but still, I do like it.

Everyone’s jollyness

Everyone (Scrooge’s excluded) just seems a bit happier around Christmastime. Of course, that disappears in the dark, depressing January aftermath, but for a few short weeks, people just seem jollier, and the world, with its endless loop of Christmas songs and Amazon orders just seems like a friendlier place. The children are excited, there are Christmas fairs to go to, and mulled wine to drink, it’s acceptable to eat chocolate first thing in the morning for almost an entire month, and it’s just all rather lovely.

Cosying up with a film, a hot chocolate, and good company

I love it when it’s dark outside, and we snuggle up on the sofa altogether, with lots of blankets and some snacks or hot chocolates with cream and marshmallows, and watch a good (or crappy – I don’t really care) film. I especially love it as it’s getting towards Christmas and we can watch Christmas films. Ava loves it when I watch a film with her and we snuggle up together, and she’s at the age now where she will sit still for at least five minutes. I’ve got ‘The Christmas Chronicles’ and ‘The Princess Switch’ on my Netflix list for us to watch soon, and I can’t wait – nice, simple, cheesy fun.

What do you love about winter – tell me some more things to keep me positive!