The clocks falling back until March is a dreaded time for many people. The shorter days, colder weather and darkness of late fall and winter can bring feelings of lethargy and uneasy anticipation for winter’s harsher conditions. Even with the first snow of the year earlier this week, fall back isn’t all bad.

As Taylor Swift says in “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” off the Red (Taylor’s Version) album, “I still remember the first fall of snow.” And, as a certified winter lover, there are so many reasons to love and appreciate the slower, colder time of year.

Below are five reasons, besides beloved winter holidays, to appreciate late autumn and winter.

1. Improved sleep

Although the shorter days can be bothersome, falling back into standard time actually aligns with the natural cycle of the sun. It leads to better-quality and more consistent sleep schedules. For one, off the bat you get an extra hour of sleep.

And, while it is true that the sudden change from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time does disrupt your body’s internal clock momentarily, experts generally agree that standard time is better because it aligns with our body’s natural circadian rhythms.

Standard Time is so beneficial for our sleep that the American Academy of Sleep Medicine advocates for a switch back to year-round standard time.

For these next few months, we will be able to enjoy natural sleep patterns. Appreciate this time, especially since a plethora of states are trying to move us to permanent Daylight Saving Time.

2. Seasonal flavors and scents

Hot chocolate, peppermint, marshmallows, gingerbread and countless other seasonal flavors can, in my opinion, only be fully enjoyed while wrapped in a cozy scarf on a freezing winter day.

It’s the same thing with candles. Why would I ever want to light a cookie-sugary-chocolaty candle in the middle of a boiling hot July day?

I love gourmand perfumes. But, often, these desert-like, heavy perfumes are cloying or overwhelming in the summer, combining with sweat in an unpleasant way.

In the colder months, sweat and cloying scents are not an issue. Warm vanillas, indulging chocolates and deep coffee smells are staples of my winter scents. Their notes are perfect for the cold weather, providing a sense of warmth and coziness.

These scents help me combat any winter blues. I look forward to digging them out again every year when the temperature outside finally is cold enough to wear and enjoy them again. Catching a whiff of them during a cold day can provide a comforting mood boost and help lift your spirits.

During this short period of the year, you can enjoy these scents and flavors to your hearts galore. Bake all the sweet, festive treats you want, permeate your house with all the syrupy scents you desire, eat all the chocolate you wish. Winter only comes only once a year.

3. Appreciation for summer

For those of you who are rigid summer lovers, if there was no frigid, barren winter, what reason would you have to look forward to the summer?

As author John Steinbeck said: “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?”

Winter is a necessary pause to make the return of summer traditions, weather and long days all the more enjoyable. As the sun begins to disappear closer and closer to 4 p.m., you can look back fondly on your summer memories and the warmth so far gone.

Summer is beautiful and fun, yes. But, the grass is always greener on the other side. The change of seasons is what makes summer all the more special and enjoyable.

4. Beauty of the snow

Snowfall is undeniably beautiful. The blanket of white that is left on the Earth adds sparkles to the tree branches and ground, creating a winter wonderland.

We are extremely lucky to live in a place where we get to experience this serene, sparkling landscape every winter. Only 33% of Earth’s land area gets to experience seasonal snow cover. Appreciating this special weather phenomenon can make getting through winter all the more easier.

Snowflakes themselves with their delicate, intricate patterns are breathtaking. No two snowflakes ever look the exact same, due to precise temperatures when they are formed. Their six-sided symmetry is uniquely stunning and a “masterpiece of design” as Wilson Bentley, the first photographer of a snowflake, said.

The fact that snowflakes always melt away, never staying eternally, makes them all the more special. Snowfall is breathtaking, we should not take it for granted.

5. Increased family time

For many people, winter holidays are the only time of year people get to see their extended families. Aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings and grandparents may live states away, making it difficult to bond and spend quality time with them.

This time of year allows for greater family get-togethers because most people have school and work off. If you want to make these family gatherings all the more special, you can plan out special winter activities to promote closer bonding.

Indoor trivia nights, escape rooms and gingerbread building contests are all fun spirited activities that can make winter even more special. If your family is more outdoorsy, ice skating and other general snow activities are all fun, seasonal pastimes.

Family bonding is important, you can make it even better this year.