With the change in season comes the return of a cool in the air, and the end of those long summer evenings; the shorter days and wintry conditions can have a big impact on both our emotional and physical wellness. Follow our top tips to keep you happy, balanced and inspired throughout the freezing season!
Get some sleep
With the long winter nights it’s the perfect time to catch up on your rest. Few of us get the recommended 7-9 hours of rest at night time. Maximize the darker, shorter evenings and get an early night time. Sleep can have a unique effect on your feelings and ability to carry out your daily responsibilities, as well as being vital for wellness.
Eat food that gives you extra heat
Wrapping up in the winter months is one way to keep your body warm, certain food items can also help by heating system us up from the inside. We are naturally drawn to warming soups and hot beverages when it’s freezing outside, some food items even encourage heat production more than others. Strong ingredients – like hot cinnamon, hot chili, garlic, pepper and beans – can aid circulation and generate extra heat. Coughs and colds are common during this period so ensure you keep your immune system optimised by eating plenty of green veggies and fruits packed with vitamin C like oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, tomatoes and beans etc.
The great outdoors
It’s simple to hibernate inside during wintertime, but getting outside every day is important for wellness as your body needs sunshine to create vitamin D – essential for healthy teeth and bones. Even when the sun is not shining your body can still produce this from sunlight on your skin; getting out for a short walk everyday will keep your vitamin D levels up.
Protection from the elements
Winter conditions combined with central heating can leave your skin feeling seriously dry and dull; never forget your skin just because it’s simple to hide away under your winter cloths. Deal with dry flaky skin by first exfoliation away the dead skin and then applying a rich moisturizer. Although it might seem unusual to be thinking about sun damage when it’s so freezing outside, UV light can still pierce the skin so use a moisturizer with a built-in SPF to protect your skin and keep lines at bay.
Keep been active
Just because it’s freezing outside does not mean you should depart your exercise routine – wrap up for a nice walk or try fun winter activities like ice skating etc, the cold weather means your body will use-up more calories in an effort to keep heated. If going outside when it’s blustery, wet or raining really does not appeal never let the elements set you back, try some indoor activities, try a workout DVD or using a gaming system (Wii, Xbox etc) to get fit at home.
