Here in the southern hemisphere, eastern Australia has been enjoying what seems like endless summer: day after day of blue skies, warm temperatures and sunshine. It should be cool at this time of year. So when the bubble bursts and the cold weather finally arrives, it will be a shock, and no doubt, there will be many complaints! But before we give in to the temptation to moan about the cold, just pause for a moment: there are some really beneficial things about the cooler weather – it’s actually good for your body! Sounds implausible, doesn’t it?!
You Think More Clearly
Researchers have discovered that when the weather turns cold, you think more clearly, are more adept at making decisions, and your cognitive function is better. The reason is quite simple: your body’s primary fuel source is glucose, and one of its most important tasks is temperature regulation: we shiver to warm up, or sweat to cool down. However, it appears that these tasks are not equal in energy requirement: cooling down uses more fuel than warming up. Therefore, in cooler weather, the brain has more access to fuel for cognitive tasks than it does in the warmer weather (and a disclaimer here: researchers found that people who live in either warm or cool climates adapt, making their cognitive function the same as people anywhere else. The main differences in cognitive function seem to arise when people face sudden changes in temperature).
You Use More Energy
This sounds like good news for those who want to lose weight, doesn’t it? In particularly cold temperatures, you can use up to five times more calories in an hour than when the weather is warm. Not only that, but researchers have discovered that the effects can last for hours afterwards: you burn more energy after exercising in the cold. The downside is comfort food! We are more prone to the temptation of indulging in energy-rich foods as our bodies crave those extra calories. If we aren’t burning the extra that we consume, we often find that the cold weather has been less than kind to our waistlines. Which makes the next point even more important…
Exercise Feels Good 
There is nothing more invigorating than a walk or a run on a cold day. We are able to think clearer, breathe that crisp, fresh air, and feel better about ourselves. Our bodies perform better in the cold weather than the heat when it comes to exercise, and it’s far more enjoyable than dragging yourself through your exercise routine when it’s hot and humid, and you’re pouring sweat and struggling to stay cool. That’s not fun for anyone! We don’t have to be out in the cold for long periods of time, either: as little as twenty minutes of exercise in cold weather can make us feel good.
You Sleep Better In Cold Weather
Who has ever tossed and turned during a hot night? I have! It’s easier to sleep when it’s cold because you can warm up by adding an extra layer to your bed if you need it, but cooling down is much harder. Cold weather makes it possible to create the optimum temperature for sleeping, and you are likely to enjoy a better quality sleep than when the weather is hot.
Cold Weather Freezes The Bugs
Go outside on a summer evening, and you have to have the insect repellant handy: there are swarms of bugs just waiting to eat you alive. Mosquitoes, biting flies, gnats, sandflies – the list goes on. But in cold weather, you can go outside without fear of attracting leeches, ticks or any other bug that wants dinner at your expense. Cold weather is good for the garden, too: all the warm – weather pests and diseases are absent. Which leads to the next point…
Disease-Carrying Organisms Are Reduced
In many parts of the world, deadly diseases come with the warmer weather – malaria and dengue fever being notable ones. In cold weather, these diseases are greatly reduced. Usually, we are so busy with the cold that winter brought our way, we don’t notice the absence of something far more deadly. Cold weather breaks the cycle of some infectious diseases. Mosquitoes that carry these diseases are unable to survive winters with temperatures of less than 10 degrees (celsius), so even though these mosquitoes might stray into cooler areas, they are unable to survive when winter comes.
We Burn More Brown Fat
Why is that important? Denis Blondin, a researcher at the University of Ottawa, says that while we tend to think of fat as keeping us warm, brown fat acts as a fuel – burning furnace and cold weather leads us to burn more of it. He says it’s particularly helpful for those with diabetes or obesity because it uses up excess glucose. Brown fat produces heat, which takes a lot of energy, and cold weather leads to a greater demand for fuel.
We Feel Invigorated When Spring Comes
A change is as good as a holiday, they say, and seasons are no exception. The cold weather leads us to be thankful when the balmy days of spring arrive, the days lengthen, and we look forward to the summer months ahead. For those of us who hate the cold, spring brings a new sense of wellbeing and purpose, and we can be thankful and enjoy the warm days ahead. The change of seasons gives us a mental boost and lifts our spirits.
Winter is not all doom and gloom and infectious illnesses! There are some good things about it, and importantly, we find what we are looking for. So go ahead and embrace the good things about cold weather, and make the most of the season before it passes.