In September we start to accept the dropping weather and in October we begin to romanticize the crunch of the autumn leaves, cozy cable knit sweaters and begin to daydream about all the possible ‘holi-dates’ in the upcoming winter months.
Sweater Weather State of Mind
With the shift from long, bright summer days to cold, dim evenings, people tend to stay cooped up in the house, leading to seasonal depression or SAD: a recurring mood disorder influenced by changes in daylight affecting serotonin and dopamine levels (AJMC). This can disrupt sleep cycles, decrease motivation, and create a sense of emotional heaviness that feels hard to shake, leading to people often searching for a distraction– new relationships, friendships and hobbies.
“Seasonal depression is very real,” said junior Lilly Madibo. “I keep my mental health up by trying to decorate and stay in the festive mood if I’m going to be cooped up.”
Cuddle Up
Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean your heart has to be. Even without the heat blasting at 75, there’s a certain kind of warmth only love can offer. Romanticizing the season means fully embracing the comfort that comes from closeness and warmth, whether you’re curled up under a blanket alone or sharing that space with someone else. However cuddling up doesn’t have to mean being in a relationship. It’s about building warmth and comfort into your daily routine with new blankets and pajamas or extra time with family and friends spent on the couch instead of rushing around.
“It gets cold outside, and it makes you want to cuddle up with somebody,” said senior Ella Ranson. “You want to have someone to depend on and always have next to you.”
Holi-date
One of the easiest ways to romanticize the season is by turning ordinary winter activities into intentional ‘holi-dates’ and tiny traditions that make the cold months feel meaningful. Ice skating becomes a reason to hold someone’s hand and laugh when you fall, putting up holiday decorations becomes a shared ritual between parents and siblings, and a lineup of Christmas movies with a 2-foot-tall pile of the coziest blankets in the house and hot cocoa becomes the nap of the year with the glow of the lights on the tree.
The Seasonal Switch
One of the most exciting parts of the changing season is the new seasonal flavors all around. Starbucks fall and winter menus have lines wrapped around the building the morning they release. Along with the new flavors comes the new scents, all around Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Target the air is filled with cinnamon apple and evergreen trees. Just as the stores shift their shelves, our closets start shifting to scarfs and warm-toned jackets.
As the season settles in, romanticizing winter becomes less about the weather itself and more about how we choose to experience it. By intentionally changing your mindset that winter is something to endure into a time to unwind and get snug, you are romanticizing the season.
