Darker mornings. Colder temperatures. Grey skies. It’s no wonder a lot of us feel a touch of the winter blues in January. The festivities are over, and we’re left with depleted bank balances, trying to stick to our diets and exercise, and contending with the shorter days, sometimes we can feel like we need a boost. So, how do we bring a ray of sunshine to these darker days? There are some simple changes you can make to feel better instantly.
Hibernating on your sofa with Netflix and a pot of tea may seem like the most attractive option, but what your body needs if you’re feeling the energy slump is to get outside. The benefits of a quick walk or a run outside in nature are instant – it gives your body and brain a jolt of serotonin, the happy hormone, it can help to lower your stress levels, improve your mental focus and combat any symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
Fake The Dawn
If getting up while it’s still pitch black is making you tired and sluggish, then artificial light therapies can help. At this time of year, many of us suffer from a lack of sunlight, which can lead us to be deficient in Vitamin D, which helps your body to absorb calcium and keeps your immune system healthy. An easy way to start is with a dawn-simulator light. These can be programmed to come on gradually towards the time that you need to get up, mimicking the effect of a natural sunrise and waking you up gently and steadily.
Get Your Pamper On
Returning after the holidays to a full-on workload, keeping busy with new exercise regimes – this time of year can be a bit of a rush. But make sure you schedule some time to look after yourself. It could be fitting in some soothing yoga in the evenings. It could be making time for a manicure. Or it could be a nice deep bubble bath with a face mask. However you like to relax the best, it’s okay to make more time for it at this cold time of year. This article has some great tips on how to update your winter beauty regime.
Nourish Your Body
Whether you’re on a January health kick or not, warm, nourishing foods are exactly what you need at this time of year to keep the blues at bay. But healthy doesn’t have to mean bland. There are plenty of delicious seasonal recipes packed with vegetables that will taste good and make you feel better – think an aromatic Thai curry, or a rich chicken stew bursting with flavor. Consider buying a slow cooker, so that you can walk in the door to freshly-prepared, home-cooked meals with minimal effort. There are some delicious slow-cooker recipes to inspire you here.
With a few simple steps, you can battle the winter blues and bound into the new year feeling great about life and with energy to spare for all those 2018 goals.
