Stop complaining
Enjoying months of short days and long nights begins with shifting your mindset. Instead of seeing winter as a prison sentence, see it as an opportunity. This positive mindset about winter was a reason for Norway’s low rates of seasonal depression, according to Fulbright American scholar Kari Leibowitz, who wanted to understand what kept Norwegians so happy. Leibowitz noted how Norway has ski season, festivals, and others community activities that make winter a cause for celebration.
“One of the things we do a lot of in the [United] States is we bond by complaining about the winter,” “It’s hard to have a positive wintertime mindset when we make small talk by being negative about the winter.”
To enjoy the dark and cold months, stop wasting your time complaining about the weather. Make a point to mark activities down in your calendar that will brighten your January — regardless of weather forecasts.
Bad weather can bring people closer together
Time spent outdoors is a natural mood lifter, not just because sunlight has been scientifically found to make us happier, but also because it may force us to bond closer together. At least, that’s the theory researchers studying Norway’s happiness are under.
So go outside or head indoors, and change your preconceived attitudes about winter. See it as a time to strengthen friendships and make connections by warm hearths or out on the slopes.