Five tips for winter wellness
It’s that time of year again when the days become shorter, the nights are cooler, and the autumn leaves are falling. For some people, the onset of winter can be depressing, especially after the last few years which has seen Victorian’s experience lockdowns for the greater part of winter.
To help you stay well during the cooler months, below are some helpful tips you might like to try to lift your mood and keep active.
Don’t stop moving
The benefits of exercise are endless for our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Exercise not only improves our mental health but can also decrease our risk of falls as we build muscle and healthy bones. It improves our social engagement, increases cognitive function, and promotes better sleep. If you’re looking to get started, try some movements with resistance bands or walking outside in the fresh air.
Enjoy the outdoors
Even though it’s getting colder, spending some time outdoors can provide enormous benefit our mental health. It can help increase vitamin D levels, reduce stress by stimulating the nervous system, and can also help us sleep better at night.
Keep calm and be mindful
Mindfulness is about being in touch with your thoughts and feelings. It can be hard to feel motivated and excited by winter, but it is a wonderful time to work on some mindfulness. Why not try some breathwork and practicing gratitude? Challenge yourself to make a daily habit of writing down three things you’re grateful for. If you would like to try some mindfulness apps, Headspace and Smiling Mind are a wonderful place to start.
Eating well
With the winter months upon us, we often find ourselves reaching for comforting, warm and hearty food, which isn’t so bad if what we are eating is healthy and nutritious. A great way to consume some healthy veggies is in a soup or stew.
Staying connected to loved ones
If we all learned one thing during the pandemic it is the importance of family and friends. Whilst you may be physically separated from loved ones, video calling or messaging family and friends through technology is a great way to keep in touch and stay connected. Great apps to use include Facebook, Instagram, Facetime (for Apple users only) and WhatsApp.
Did you know that on average it takes 66 days to make a new habit a ritual? Why not give some of these healthy tips a go and let us know how you much better you feel.
Whatever you do, it’s important to choose the right level of activity for you. If you are starting out with exercise, or unsure about how to take it to the next level, speak to your doctor and they can advise you on what’s safe for you.
