Overcoming the winter blues

I don’t like winter. The cold, the rain, the wind – just the thought of it makes me uncomfortable. However, maybe it’s just because of recent world events and the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, but this winter I’ve gained a newfound appreciation for the small things, things that I either never noticed before or didn’t take the time to express my gratitude for. So, in honour of my potential new affection for the season, here are a few of my personal winter highlights. To be completely honest, I’d still swap all of these things in an instant for a good, hot day at the beach, but hey, baby steps. 

Seasonal events

I don’t know about you, but from the beginning of July right through to the end of August, my weekends are jampacked with birthdays (including my own). And while it’s no good for my bank account, it is good for morale. I find that any seasonal affective disorder is quickly combatted by the excitement of celebratory brunches, dinners and drinks, and sleepovers with friends. 

Cosy nights in

Without a doubt, my favourite part of winter is the cosy nights in with friends, complete with plenty of snacks and cups of tea. For my group of friends, nights like these are so useful in allowing us to connect during really busy periods, and I cannot stress the value of being able to come together, catch up, and unwind at the end of a long week.

Winter viewing

This one sort of works in tangent with the cosy-nights-in concept, but another major highlight of the season is getting to watch the films that are very specific to winter, usually because of the cold, dark, often grand and expansive environments (think Harry Potter). My friends and I have a tradition of watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy at the start of every winter season, so that’s definitely part of the appeal. 

Winter walks

We’re lucky enough in Australia to have a winter that could me aptly classified as winter-light – complete with blue skies and sunshine for the most part. This season, I’ve been enjoying rugging up and going for a long walk when the air is cool and crisp but the skies are clear. It’s really energising.