A Guide To Not Hating Winter With Every Fiber Of Your Being

It’s a fundamental truth, at least for those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere. Those first three months of the year are the most cruel. Winter sets in for real, and while holiday cheer helps us to forget the cold in November and December, once the New Year has settled in, the remainder of the season becomes bleak and miserable. 

I usually spend this time of the year dreaming of beautiful spring days and balmy summer nights. However, this year I’ve been trying to make an effort to enjoy winter, despite it being my least favorite time of year. Wishing for summer is pointless; it’ll come when it comes. And in the meantime, we may as well try to find some joy in the darkest time of the year. 

1. Bundle, bundle, bundle. 

About 50% of my conversations in winter revolve around me complaining about how cold I am. While frigid weather is unavoidable, I realized that much of the time that I was complaining, I wasn’t even wearing a coat or doing anything to try and make the weather conditions more bearable. 

When you’re all bundled up, the cold is less menacing. Maybe it’s even a little cozy. So my first winter resolution was to layer up against the beast. I wore tank tops under my t-shirts and sweaters, and I finally invested in a proper winter coat -  a long, puffy parka. Four layers of protection and the wind doesn’t seem quite so painful anymore. 

2. Use it as an excuse for self-care.

If you think about it, winter really is a season of restoration and recovery. The cold is the perfect excuse to stay in and go to sleep early, and really, who can even blame you for it? Embrace it. Throw on a thick, hydrating face mask and fuzzy socks, and catch up on all that sleep you’ve been missing out on all year. 

3. Romanticize the season.

Yes, there are many reasons why winter sucks. I may have referred to it in the past as the bane of my existence and other dramatic comparisons. But some things are much more enjoyable in winter than other seasons. Hot cups of tea, warm flannel pajamas, cozying up with a good book. All wonderful things that just don’t have much appeal in the summer, but are perfect when paired with blustery winter weather. And don’t forget about the other good things that winter brings. Waking up to a blanket of snow over everything is one of my favorite sights. Sure, snow is a transportation disaster and after a few days it looks like toxic sludge, but just for a few minutes, don’t let yourself think any negative thoughts about it. Enjoy the winter wonderland, because soon enough it’ll be August, you’ll be dripping in sweat and covered in bug bites, and you might even utter the words, “Please just let it be winter already!”