The winter can be a difficult time of year for many reasons. People can struggle financially due to the pressures of Christmas and all the expense that comes with it. Also due to the cold weather many people take ill and for those who have a weaker immune system it can be dangerous as flu can exacerbate or lead to worse conditions. On top of that the days are shorter and darker thus people tend to go out less and spend more time at home. All of these things can lead to you feeling, down or lonely or for some even depressed. Therefore it is important to try and counteract these potential setbacks with some positive and healthy living.
Eat Well, Feel Well
Due to the cold weather and germs getting passed around in the winter our bodies require more food for energy to stay warm and for strength to fight infection. It is really important to make sure you are eating the right foods that will help you to do this. If you work full time you should try and prepare your lunches in advance, this way you can choose a healthy meal and won’t have the excuse of “I didn’t have time last night to make my lunch”. For dinner you should make a large batch and freeze it, this way you always have a healthy option available and are less likely to order takeaway if you haven’t been able to get a supermarket. Ensure you are including as many vegetables as possible and drink lots of water.
Exercise
The days are shorter and majority of the time it is dark, especially if you are working day shift. Home exercising is a great way to overcome the colder weather when it comes to working out. Even 20 minutes every day is a good effort. Try taking the stairs instead of the lift where possible. Chances are you are more likely to use the car or public transport when it’s cold outside so try and up the steps you take indoors to make up for this.
Get outside
As the days are cold, dark and probably rainy you will spend most of the winter indoors. Lack of sun and fresh air is not good for you. When it’s dry try to go outside when you can for a short walk or even just to stand outside for 5-10 minutes. Also you should try and up your Vitamin D to counteract the lack of sun. Food which has vitamin D is red meat, liver, egg yolks, and oily fish such as salmon ad mackerel. Alternatively you can take vitamin D supplements.
Socialise
Again because of the weather people are going out less and sometimes can end up not seeing friends or family for long stretches of time in the winter. Plus there are those people who don’t have a lot of family or friends nearby. Since you are not having the same human contact as you would in the summer months you should make a conscious effort to socialise. Perhaps you could join a club. For those who are part of a gym, it could be a good idea to start attending the fitness classes. Anything that will involve a bit of conversation with other people is good for the mind.
