As time passes the age-old debate rages on; summer or winter, hot or cold? A never-ending argument people have been fighting over for centuries. While both sides have many pros and cons, one victor emerges– the side where winter reigns and Mariah Carrey rules: the cold. While yes, this decision was made unilaterally and without external input, the benefits of the cold weather outweigh the blistering heat of summer, by a landslide. Cold weather offers the Christmas season, comfort, and health benefits.
Starting with comfort, the cold offers a wider range of options for temperature regulation than the heat does. The heat only offers one a limited amount of options to cool down: taking clothes off, dousing in cold water, or air conditioning, which, unfortunately, is not cheap to pay for. According to TrueHomeHvac, the cost of running the whole house’s air conditioning is about 2.39 cents. At first glance, it might not seem like much. But doing the math shows that if you want to run the cold air from 11 am to 7 pm, for example, over a month or 31 days, it totals $74.09 Admittedly, running the AC does not sound terribly expensive, so why spend $74 to stay cool when a simple jacket and a cozy blanket could keep you warm for free in the winter?
The cold can also remind someone of positive memories from the past. A teacher here at Wilcox, Mr. Denault told me, “I have always enjoyed cold weather more because it reminds me of being in Massachusetts with my Dad during the winter months/Holiday Break every December when we would visit family. I always thought it was cool to see the exhaust pouring out of cars as they passed… as we walked through the streets of Boston and other areas of Massachusetts. So, I’ve always enjoyed layering up and wearing sweatshirts and sweats and feeling comfortable and warm.” The feeling of the cold around you can evoke strong emotions and make you feel a certain way.
In addition to financial reasons, the cold is great for several other advantages. First and foremost, it benefits our health. The cold can help with skin elasticity and brain function. According to Kvaroy Artic a polar fishing, living, and wellness blog, “Cold air boosts your brain activity, improves focus, and helps you think more clearly…” They continued to suggest, “…we’re prone to quicker decision-making and staying calm when our body needs more energy to keep us warm.”. In conjunction with brain health, the cold can help to keep skin from sagging or stretching. In some cases, it has even been used to undo some skin-stretching. A bonus for your skin from the cold is more cosmetic, but when you stay in the cold for long enough your cheeks and nose will naturally pinken from the blood moving to your heart and brain.
Finally, for more selfish reasons, there are quite a few other reasons why the cold is superior to the heat. Winter offers quite a selection of stylish clothing, such as layering Another perk of winter is comfortable sleeping, free from sweaty sheets and sleepless nights. In fact, scientists have proven that our brains fall asleep faster in the cold due to a drop in our bodies’ overall temperature.
While some people appreciate the warm weather, cold weather wins out in the end. The reasons above are just some of the overall benefits the cold brings, and to dismiss the cold as “uncomfortable” or “annoying” would be a lapse of judgment.
