Is winter always about letting the cold waves trigger the darkness in one's heart? We say, no. Winter can also be an aspirational season filled with self-love, gratitude, restarts, healing and so much more. We spend our entire lives fighting the demons inside of our heads. We spend hours, days, and months trying to come to terms with our true selves. However, when the time comes to heal and move forward, we step back and lean on things or people who are not meant to be our companions. This journey is about our own selves. It is about finding peace within the boundaries of self-awareness.

While one has the full right to select how s/he chooses to utilise his or her solitary time in winter, here are a few ways we think would be appropriate and help one find strength on cold, dreary, and frigid days.

Wake up 30 minutes earlier than usual

Neha is an undergraduate student at North South University who, let's say, has a passion for sleeping. She says, "Waking up 30 minutes early in the morning helps me relax and unwind. The exclusivity of my own company for those 30 minutes is my highlight. It enables me to prepare myself to face winter mornings. Also, I get a buffer time to plan ahead while enjoying the foggy view. It is really refreshing."

Giving space to oneself is as important as having a social life. Does your phone go a day without charging? No? Then how can you expect your mind to be recharged without giving it the time to process what you go through?

Enjoy a warm cup of tea or any drink that nourishes the mind and soul

Tea and coffee are essentials for us Bengalis. However, it hits differently during a winter morning, right? To enjoy that cup a bit more, find a cosy spot with a window, or a balcony if possible. Try to look outside and see how a cold, winter morning can be beautiful in its own form too. How every season has its beauty and how unique it truly can be.

In a world where social media has taken by storm, find beauty beyond the standards. Let winter ignite the spirit in you where you find a sense of belongingness within your comfort zone.

"I believe winter can really bring out the worst in someone. However, when I started to look at the heavy fog as clouds, winter wear as layers of pleasantry, warm pithas as delicacies that are no less than offerings – I saw magic," said Zara, an employee working at a renowned MNC.

Read books that aren't of the romantic genre only

"Is it necessary that love only stems from a romantic point of view? Love is limitless and unbound. It can come in unimaginable and unexpected forms. I have found that beyond the Colleen Hoover novels, there's also love in Rumi's poetry", said Wadid, a musician who believes that entertainment is ever-evolving.

Just like seasons, they cannot be of only one essence. They are multifaceted and gaining perspective is the main attraction here. Some of the books that are recommendation worthy are A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, Self-Love Experiment by Shannon Kaiser, Shanghai Girls by Lisa See, The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma, and the list goes on.

As literature for love dates back as old as time, prose and poetry in the context of peace, freedom, and self-evaluation are not less familiar. It's time we choose what serves our purpose.

Go for walks or drives

The smallest of physical movements like walking or running releases dopamine in our brains. A brisk walk through the foggy mornings to get a touch of sunshine in this freezing winter sounds just about right. Who said drives have to be with your better half? It can also be a solitary experience. As for your company, from indie music to jazz, everything is at your service. The greatest art of all is when you feel complete in yourself. You feel sufficient and good enough. Motion aids in that. So, wear your most comfortable hoodie, shoes that keep you warm, and a mind that is ready to absorb these precious moments. Play your favourite tunes and dance to drive or walk towards the melody of life. Chances are, through these roads of certainty, you may get the answers to your uncertainties.

Provide for the underprivileged

This winter, give back to society as much as possible. We will always have something more or less than someone else. To truly find warmth in this chilling weather, it is mandatory to lighten up someone's winter by providing them with warm clothes, food, or even other means that make their lives more bearable.

"Every winter, as I see people holding hands and restaurants hopping from one end of the city to another, I pledge to invest that money in helping families that fall sick in this weather or cannot afford warm clothes. I find the happiness of winter in that," a 27-year-old homemaker who chooses to stay anonymous. In today's era, providing for the underprivileged is easier with e-transfer and organisations that have platforms for donation. There is no joy more fulfilling than uplifting someone's life.