It’s proven that the majority of us can take ‘mood dips’ in the winter months, with some of us even experiencing seasonal affective disorder. This is mainly due to the colder weather and gloomy evenings – which makes us feel demotivated and a little bit out of sorts. There’s no need to feel run-down when Christmas is just around the corner, here’s a few ways you can give yourself a happiness and healthiness boost in time for the holidays…
Finding time to exercise when it’s dark and cold outside can seem almost impossible at this time of year, but it’s proven that forcing ourselves to venture out during the winter months and get moving can help improve our mood by releasing endorphins. When we exercise our bodies release endorphin chemicals, these chemicals can also trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine.
Want to know more about how you can get fit and healthy this winter? Read our ‘Fitness trends to look out for in 2018’ blog post.
Healthy skin is something that we all constantly aim for, and it’s something that becomes even more difficult during winter; skin becomes chapped and dry. Don’t fret - there are ways to overcome this; make sure to moisturise after every shower and try to avoid overly hot showers/baths as this dries out the skin further. Another top tip: wear gloves when it’s chilly outside to slow moisture evaporation from your extremities & top up your lip balm collection!
Christmas is a time that everyone comes together and has the most relaxing time before the New Year as possible. But for some, this couldn’t be further from the truth – the Christmas holidays has become a time where many of us can get more stressed than relaxed. Stress can promote unwanted health implications for the whole of our bodies, some for example include; problems for the respiratory/cardiovascular system, digestive system and reproductive system. Pre-plan your Christmas schedule ahead of time to avoid this.
The colder months usually make our joints feel stiffer, this is due to being less active in this time period, sometimes without even realising – it may be the smallest of changes, like driving to the shops as appose to walking. Obviously, the most beneficial solution is to get outside or to the gym and get active. But if you’re unable to or simply aren’t feeling up to it, taking glucosamine supplements or cod liver oil during the colder months can be great for the joints. Make sure to check with your doctor before regularly taking supplements or making drastic diet changes.
It’s no secret that colds are easiest spread via sneezing, coughing and touching contaminated surfaces – this is why it’s a good idea to get into the routine or covering your mouth/nose with a scarf when its cold (and out & about) and making sure to practice good hygiene, by washing your hands throughout the day as much as possible. The amount of bacteria we collect on our hands during the course of one average day is astonishing – washing with antibacterial soap when you get the chance, is a great way to help yourself stay healthy during the winter months.
Making sure you’re keeping your mind and body as healthy as possible during winter is great for your overall well-being, but you aren’t to know what’s around the corner in terms of illnesses that are out of your control. Acquiring health insurance cover is a great way to ensure you’re going to receive the best care, if anything negatively affects your health.
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