I Hate Winter… But There Are Bits I Enjoy

I hate winter. I say this every year. Numerous times.

My fingers are like icicles. It’s only 4 pm and it’s already dark outside. It feels like the day is over.

But during the summer heat, I found myself looking forward to the comforts of winter. Cosying up with a book, settling down with a blanket and not feeling so hot.

It made me pause. Maybe there are just parts of winter I find difficult.

What I Was Overlooking About Winter

When I think about winter, the first things that come to mind are how much I feel the cold and how early it gets dark.

For me, that’s my mental filter at work. I’m noticing the difficult parts and overlooking the bits I enjoy.

Mental filtering is when we focus on the negative parts of an experience and overlook other aspects.

Are There Parts of Winter You Enjoy?

Perhaps it’s wrapping up in a soft blanket with a hot drink or hearing the rain against the window when you’re warm indoors and have nowhere you need to be.

When “I hate winter” becomes the whole story, there isn’t much room for “Actually, I quite like this bit.”

Winter Doesn’t Have to Be All Good or All Bad

I’m still going to hate having freezing cold hands, and no amount of positive thinking is going to make getting up on a dark winter morning feel any less like the middle of the night.

I can wish it were light when I get up and still look forward to settling down in the evening with a cosy blanket, hot chocolate and my favourite programme.

What Does Winter Feel Like for You?

Even with the cold and the dark, is there anything about winter you look forward to?

Are there cosy rituals that bring you warmth and comfort?

You don’t have to enjoy winter, but you might notice a few moments you value within it.

If you find winter particularly hard, you might find my article Winter Blues: When Winter Feels Heavy helpful. It shares a few gentle ways to support yourself through the season.