Written by: Yubendra Shakya; Edited & reviewed by: Divyanshi Srivastava
What’s not to love about winter? It’s cuffing season. It’s cold outside. People are layering their clothes to stay warm, and hot beverages are welcome more than ever. Not to mention, in the unique case of Delhi and its surrounding areas, winter is one of the few times throughout the year when people can actually “enjoy” the outdoors without being suffocated by the polluted air or risking heatstroke from the scorching summer heat. As someone who gets annoyed after being drenched in sweat within five minutes of stepping out of the comforts of air conditioning, winter is a blessing for me.
I cannot stress enough the importance of being able to experience nature. Ask anyone who takes a morning walk in the park, and they’ll tell you the great merits of experiencing the greenery or feeling the cool morning dew beneath their feet as they walk through the grass.
I’m often scoffed at for arguing that “winter is the best weather,” but lend an ear to what I’ve to say. With Delhi’s climate swinging as low as 8°C in January, reaching peaks of 45°C in May, coupled with its infamous air quality, makes it a challenge for anyone in the surrounding area to enjoy the outdoors. This is precisely why I harp on about winters so much. I argue that it provides people with the opportunity to reclaim the day and detach from the hubbub of the city life, escape the air-conditioned rooms we keep ourselves in (yes, I’m looking at you, summer lovers), and actually touch grass. Maybe layer up and step outside without breaking a sweat within minutes (again, summer lovers).
Why is spending time outdoors so important, you might ask? Well, research has shown that nature can help regulate mood, reduce stress and even help with recovery.
With growing urbanization, many of us have had our time structured and confined to what cities afford us—malls, cafés, bookshops, theatres, tall office buildings and apartment complexes, not to mention crowding in cities, which lead to overstimulation and a sense of suffocation in public spaces. We need to take a moment to detach from the chaos of the city and step outside, read a book under the dappled sunlight passing through the trees, rendezvous with a friend for a picnic, when the weather allows for it.
And while we’re at it, take a minute to step away from your phone. Our attention spans have been taken for a joyride, and now they need a breather. The use of the internet to access the world has led to a shallow processing of information, and switching attention between Instagram and assignments has left many confused as to where the assignment is really going. I’d begun to experience this brainrot myself and decided that I’d cut down on my screen time earlier this February, with Instagram and YouTube deleted off my phone. I’ve come a long way. With winter in the air and the sun shining upon my aspirations for digital sobriety, I’ve been able to get back into reading, picking up hobbies, and truly focus on myself.
I can’t help but think that there’s something special about winter this time around. Maybe it’s seeing people leisurely enjoy the daylight, which lifts my spirits, or maybe it’s the romanticizing idea of warming up my fingers in the crisp air like it’s suddenly spring this winter.
