Lots of us are exhausted, people haven’t felt so comfortable going away during the pandemic, and we are getting into winter, which can get a little tough at the best of times. Now it’s getting colder sometimes all you can focus on is getting warm. Getting out of bed can take much more effort and our energy levels can feel depleted. While staying in bed may seem like a solution, we all know it’s not the answer. Here are my top tips to help you to survive the winter and increase your overall wellbeing throughout the season.
1. Maintain a healthy sleep schedule.
Your sleeping routine has a great impact on your health. A balanced sleeping routine can help you throughout the season. Keep regular sleep patterns by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day, and identify your sweet spot for the number of hours sleep that’s right for you: if you wake up with energy, you are getting enough.
2. Enjoy a balanced diet.
Alongside a healthy sleep schedule, a balanced diet is a key to a healthy life. So remember to eat your greens! It can be too easy to fall back on fast food, but it’s really not great to do that all the time. The cold weather may discourage you from drinking water, remember that 70% of your body is water, so you need to drink plenty – even if you have to go to the loo a little more frequently than usual!
3. Take vitamins.
Owing to the shorter days and winter weather we get far less exposure to the sun, which leads to a deficiency of the sunlight vitamin. Hence, taking a Vitamin D supplement can greatly boost your immune system.
4. Remember to move.
While sticking to a workout plan is not easy, especially on a cold winter morning it can help to improve your overall health and wellbeing. If working out seems too much, you can always take a walk to at least stretch your body and acclimatize yourself to the low temperatures, just remember to wrap up warm!
5. Take care of your skin.
Cold winter weather can lead to dry, cracked skin. With the extra hand washing and sanitizing more people are noticing they have severely dry skin. Moisturise daily to keep your skin healthy, and check whether you need to change from your summer cream to a richer cream for the winter months to help protect and moisturise your skin.
6. Socialize.
Many are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which can lead to lethargy and depression. As well as topping up your vitamin D socializing is a great way to overcome SAD. It’s important that we connect with others, so reach out and talk to someone you haven’t spoken with in a while, it can help lift your mood and reignite old friendships.
7. Give your brain a workout.
Taking out time for your mind is equally as important as it is for the body. Your brain takes up 2% of your body weight and uses 20% of your energy, so it is important to look after it. An active mind leads to an active and healthy body. While research on the benefits of brain training is inconclusive, spending time doing something you enjoy that engages the brain, like reading a book, learning a language or solving a crossword can only be a good thing!
8. Dress for confidence.
Dressing well can boost your confidence and help you get through the day. Early in the pandemic we fell into the habit of wearing our PJs all day, but this can lead us to feel low and lose our confidence. Dressing well and feeling comfortable in your clothes can affect the way you feel and the way others respond to you. Remember to add a warm layer under your chic clothes!
9. Enjoy a hobby.
If you have been thinking about learning a new skill or revisiting a craft that you learned a long time ago, now is the time to do it. When you fully engage in an activity you can enter a state of flow, which has many benefits for the mind and body.
10. Take some time off and switch off.
Make sure to take your annual leave even if you don’t plan on traveling or going away. If you’ve been working from home factor in something different to ensure you don’t fall back into checking your emails and slipping back into work mode.
It’s important to look after yourself throughout the year, and especially during winter. The underlying factor common among all of the above is following a consistent routine and balance. Make sure that you have a balanced lifestyle for optimum health and wellbeing.
Additional Reading:
- Maintain a healthy sleep schedule. Sleep Foundation
- Enjoy a balanced diet. BHF
- Take vitamins. NHS
- Remember to move. Health Harvard
- Take care of your skin. Miss Malini
- Socialize. Psychology Today
- Give your brain a workout. Ageuk
- Dress for confidence. Monroe and Main
- Enjoy a hobby. Very well mind
- Take some time off and switch off. Bupa
