13 reasons why winter is wonderful

Winter and I have a love-hate relationship –  we would probably be listed as “It’s complicated” on Facebook. To me, winter is like that relative that you don’t really want to see but have to since, well, you’re related. But just like a complicated relationship or a weirdo relative, you still enjoy some things about each other, and here are my 13 reasons why winter is wonderful.

1. Let it snow

Snow is just SO beautiful: it covers everything like a fluffy white blanket and makes for a picturesque panorama. Snow is also better than rain because you won’t get as soaked, and you can actually do activities in it, like skiing or throwing snowballs. Have you ever tried to throw a rainball? I didn’t think so either.

2. Hit the slopes

I love skiing! Whether you ski, snowboard, or even sled, you’ll find that this is a great bonding experience – much more than roasting on the beach under the sun. You get a good workout, can eat a hearty meal to keep your energy levels up, and end the day with a great apres-ski session where you can dance and be merry.

3. Layer away

There’s no better time to take layering to the next level: in winter, you can basically wear all of your clothes at once, wrap yourself in comfy scarves, and show off your fuzzy slippers. Winter is the season for boots that let you pretend you’re walking on clouds, jackets that feel like sleeping bags, and hats that cover up a bad hair day in the coolest way possible.

4. Eat all the comfort food

Fondue or any other heavy wintery food is basically mandatory. You can enjoy a hot chocolate, put marshmallows in it, and top it off with whip cream because winter. Fill your stomach with warm soups, roasted chestnuts, and sugar cookies made with cinnamon. Winter has defined comfort food and when has comfort food ever been a bad thing? (Never.) This brings us to the next point ever so elegantly.

5. Forget dieting

There is no need for a beach body in the winter time, which is great news because that means, goodbye bikini, hello poncho! Your diet can be what people in fitness circles call “carb loading,” and that’s okay because your body actually craves this naturally: the fatter you are, the warmer you are and then, natural selection won’t come after you. Evolution is awesome!

6. Don’t worry about shaving

Winter doesn’t mean that you have to be as fuzzy as your feline friends, but socks and all kinds of layers camouflage a less regular shaving schedule. It’s science, y’all: hair is what helps you stay warm. Including facial hair: men with beards? #swoon. The lumberjack look is all the rage for me and beards are surprisingly versatile and festive, as you can hang Christmas ornaments on them, put flowers in them or even cover them in glitter.

7. Relax in hot tubs and saunas

I mean, who can actually properly enjoy them during the summertime? Chilling in a hot tub as the air around you gets colder and the stars brighter, or going to a sauna to warm up and boost your immune system truly makes those colder temperatures worthwhile.

8. Make the most of the shorter days

I know, a lot of people complain about this, but you know what? It’s actually a great excuse to be lazy: you don’t have to be super productive as you do in the summer when you swim in the lake, go grocery shopping, enjoy a barbecue and sit around a beach bonfire all between 6 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. In winter, you can just roll up in a blanket, grab some chips, and spend countless hours catching up on all your favorite TV shows. Now, that’s living.

9. Sweat no more

It’s the worst when you have sweat stains and get all self-conscious. So, less sweating means less body odor, which is especially good for those that have to commute on public transport. It’s a win(ter)-win situation for everyone, really.

10. Practice cuddling. So. Much. Cuddling.

Who doesn’t like cuddling? You get to spend those weekend mornings being closer to your loved one – be it a human, pet or laptop. You can’t do this in the summer time since the sun will mercilessly make everything so bright and hot that you rather get out of bed way too early than have anything or anyone even touching you in the slightest bit.

11. Breathe in the freshest air

Next time you find yourself on top of a mountain during winter, inhale deeply. There is little to no pollution (or any pesky, allergy-triggering pollen) during the winter and you get this crisp air that is the equivalent to winning the lottery or finding out that you can fly. It’s a great feeling.

12. Indulge in blanket activities

Bookworms, rejoice! How great is it to just lie under your blanket with a flashlight and get lost in your books’ world? Or get cozy between a pile of pillows as you watch a movie. Oh, and no, you are never too old to build a blanket fort.

13. And celebrate that there are no bugs

Wasps, mosquitos and flies, be gone! You don’t wake up with five mosquito bites that itch like crazy. You don’t have to avoid certain foods for fear that it will attract wasps. And you especially don’t have to swap away flies flying by your ear as you sleep. Muhahhahaha, winter rules!