Winter is coming and along with it will come coughs and colds. And as the nights draw in and we huddle inside and wait for the sunlight to bring us back outside, we can get pretty miserable. The winter months have always been hard on us, and even with all of the modern inventions that make our lives much easier, many of us feel ill or depressed for many of the winter months (myself included).
With only Christmas to look forward to until spring emerges in a few months time, here are a few tips for kicking the winter blues, and getting the best out of life during the coldest, wettest, and darkest time of the year:
Dress For The Weather
Dressing for the change in the seasons does not mean that you need to just wear bulky items or anything that does not let you feel as though you are looking great. There are some great winter wear items that look amazing whether you are wearing them out in a blizzard, or just around town.
A great example of this would be the Nike ACG range. These ‘all conditions gear’ items give you the confidence to go outside whatever the weather, but also still look great.
Layering up is a good option during colder months. Wearing lots of thin layers will help you. Very often, when you are out and about and you go inside, into a shop, for example, the heating will be on full blast, and suddenly your thick clothing becomes too much to bear. Wearing layers means that you can take something off and adjust your temperature.
I personally love the heat tech range from Uniqlo. The line consists of both thin undershirts and thing legging that you can wear under your outfits to keep you extra warm.
Heat Your Home Smart
Finding the balance between an extortionate heating bill and having a home that is not freezing cold can be tough. You may be lucky to live in a home that is naturally quite warm. Lots of newer built properties are very good at keeping in heat. But if you live in an older home, the drafts suddenly become more noticeable as the mercury starts to drop in the thermometer.
Use a timer and work out your schedule. You will need to know when you will be getting up each day, and you should set your heating for enough time before your alarm to heat the house. There is nothing worse than waking up to a home that feels like an ice cube first thing in the morning. It is a sure-fire way for you to pull the covers back over you and head straight back to sleep. Be sure and have the heating turn itself off after the house has warmed up, and before you are due to leave the house.
Similarly, if you know you arrive home at a certain time each day, have your heating come on for fifteen to thirty minutes before that time. That way you won’t walk into a freezing cold home. You should also consider covering your windows with a plastic film; this will keep the heat in and it will save you money on your heating bill. I do this every winter and it helps tremendously.
Beat Those Winter Blues
The winter months can bring depression. You may find that a lack of serotonin and vitamin D from the natural sunlight brings your mood down. You might lack energy and motivation, but yet be bored and restless.
There are a couple of ways that you can beat the winter blues. Try to take a short walk each day to get as much fresh air as possible. This will get your blood pumping and help to produce some feel-good endorphins.
Get as much daylight as possible. When you only see darkness outside, it can really affect your mood. You may even want to invest in a sad lamp (yes, it’s a real thing). It’s a very bright light that you sit in front of for about 10-20 minutes a day to improve you mood and wellbeing.
Eat For The Season
During the winter months, your body will be working hard to keep you warm and healthy. You may feel the urge to binge on unhealthy food, but plenty of vitamins and protein is the way to go. Having a slow cooker is great during the winter months as you can make all types of stews and sauces while you are out and about, and when you come home, you will have a hot meal ready and waiting. It is a great way of getting plenty of vegetables in your diet, too. I love this slow cooker chili recipe.
Make The Best Of Winter Comforts
Winter is a great excuse to curl up under a blanket with a hot chocolate and binge-watch your favorite Netflix show. Sometimes, giving in to these temptations can be very good for us. Have a bit of ‘me’ time, and relax.
How do you get through the cold and dark winter season? Let us know in the comments below!
