Beating The Winter Blues
Is the cold weather getting you down?
Well, don’t worry. We’ve compiled a few ways to keep bad moods at bay this season.
The ‘winter blues;’ or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) affects 2 million people in the UK. This time of year can be for New Year’s resolutions and getting back to the mundane, but this can often feel like a colossal task when you’re not feeling your best. Finding empowerment within yourself during the colder months is so important, we just sometimes have to go about it differently.
We’ve compiled a quick guide with tips, tricks and routines to feel empowered within your mind and body at this time of year.
1. Routine
A routine centres us as humans, and is one of the biggest things that helps us retain our own kind of ‘normal’. However, as the sun shows itself more sparingly, many of us are waking up when it’s dark, and getting home when it’s dark. This can make it oh-so-tempting to stick on the TV and jump into bed or eat our dinner an hour early. It is important to aim for the same morning and night routine every day, as a way to ensure you stick to healthy habits. A designated time to go to bed and wake up each night combined with at least an hour away from any screens, is a surefire way to keep your body clock and your mind in check.
2. Time to yourself
Everyone has their own version of ‘me’ time, and that’s the beauty of it. Try to set aside an evening or even just an hour to commit to something you really want to do, it could be something as simple as painting your toenails, going to the gym (or for a walk), or even cooking that food recipe you saved weeks ago.
3. Exercise & Diet
Although it doesn’t always feel like it before you start, exercising or even just moving your body every day can help to keep your moods stable. A simple walk around the block in your biggest winter coat can do wonders for clearing your head.
Hobbies such as reading, sewing and cooking are perfect for those curled-up nights. That said, if the gym truly is your hobby - go for it. If it truly makes you happy, regardless of whether you are ‘good’ at it or not, you are much more likely to keep at it and find that your mental state stays pretty balanced.
Of course everyone loves a treat but as much as we hate to admit it, eating bad is often why we end up feeling bad! A balanced diet of fruit and veg, with meals based on carbs like potatoes, bread, rice or pasta can help you to take care of yourself from the inside out. Taking supplements such as vitamin D in the colder seasons helps to support a healthy immune system as well as promote muscle and bone health. You can also try out our Green Magic, a blend of 16 superfoods to boost energy and immunity.
Winter can be a tough time of year, but by following these three tips, you should be able to stay on top of your game.
By Leila Card (Guest blogger)