Winter is the season where we have to work extra hard to keep ourselves feeling our best. The days are long and dark, the weather is cold (and often wet!) and the motivation to stay active, eat healthily and plan activities isn’t always there. As hard as it is to get up and out in winter it’s important that we don’t become glued to our couches, weighed down by tins of sweets!
Good food and physical activity are vital to boost our mood and our energy levels, and this counts just as much in the colder months as it does in spring and summer.
Here are some ways to keep feeling great all winter long.
1. There may not be much sun in the sky but getting out into the fresh air is a really great way to boost your mood. Why not set yourself a challenge? Get a group together and log your walks so at the end of each month you can see how well you’ve done. The activity will boost serotonin levels and spending time with friends is an excellent way to keep your mood elevated. If you don’t have friends close by there are now lots of hiking groups for solo walkers that are an excellent way of meeting new people while getting your steps in.
2. Some people find the lack of daylight difficult during the winter. This is called SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder. You can use a daylight lamp to mimic natural sunlight which helps to boost your mood and make the dark months easier.
3. A food challenge is a great way to stay on top of a healthy diet. Winter can be full of treats, especially in the run up to Christmas so why not implement “Nourished November”! Choose a fun, healthy cookbook and pledge to make a different dish from it at least four days a week. You’ll learn new recipes, stay away from processed foods and save a little money when you aren’t ordering takeaway!
4. Ensure you’re getting your Vitamin D. Vitamin D is called the “sunshine vitamin” because it’s made by the skin through a reaction with sunlight. In cold or dark weather, that has less sunlight, it can be harder to get your recommended daily amount of Vitamin D. You could consider adding a supplement to your diet, like Clearmarine MenoMin or Clearmarine Period Plan. The Omega 3 and multivitamin blend contains 200% of your RDI of Vitamin D each day.
5. Routines are important for rest and recharging but also for getting you up and about. The temptation at this time of year is to stay snuggled in bed in the mornings (when you can) and we’re often up later in the evenings as socialising takes centre stage. As much as you can at this time of the year, try to maintain your good morning and evening routines. Get up, eat a healthy breakfast, exercise (if you like to) and start your day. In the evenings, have wind down time that doesn’t involve screens, have a regular bedtime and try to get the amount of sleep that best suits you. Getting out of routine will throw your day off and it will throw your hormones out of balance too.
6. This time of year can mean a lot more alcohol than usual and this can play havoc with our moods and our skin. Hangovers and dehydration can make us feel down and cause our skin to breakout and become dull. Try to limit the number of nights out you have in a row, remember to drink plenty of water whenever you’re drinking alcohol and volunteer to be the designated driver at some events. If your friends are keen for extra time together suggest other types of activity like walks, a cinema night or bowling. Not every night needs to be centred around alcohol.
Sticking to this advice can help you to feel your best throughout the winter months.