As the cold snap is upon us, we may find that energy levels are dipping and we don’t feel quite as good as we do during the summer months.
Dark nights, combined with long working days, we can all find ourselves in a little bit of a slump as the joys of Christmas and New Year take hold.
So, how can you keep your body and mind feeling positive and healthy as milder weather becomes even colder?
Winter Wellness Tips with Doulton.
Wellness Tip One: Stay as active as you can.
We get it – as soon as those baggy jumpers and layers come out, you feel like physical fitness quickly moves lower down the agenda. However, keeping active during the colder months is more than just maintaining all that hard work you did in the summer! When you exercise, your body actively releases Endorphins that are known as the ‘feel good’ chemical! Enhancing your mood and even acting as a bit of a natural painkiller.
Alongside this your body also releases:
- Serotonin, which helps to regulate your mood, sleep and appetite.
- Dopamine, which boosts motivation and focus which is helpful when lethargy sets in.
- Norepinephrine, that can help with alertness and attention.
- Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), helping to support cognitive function.
All alongside boosting your immune function to ward off cold and flu, and improve circulation to help your body to be more resilient against colder weather conditions.
There are so many ways to stay physically active, too. Low and high-impact activities such as parkrun, yoga, Pilates and spinning all contribute to maintaining fitness and activity levels.
Wellness Tip Two: Fuel your body with nutrition rich food.
The colder weather certainly is the season for soup! And that’s where you can be sure you enjoy the added benefits of fuelling your body with really nutrient rich food. Pack them full of root vegetables and pop them in the slow cooker for a low-effort, enriching meal.
Alongside soups, you can boost your immune system by staying on top of foods rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Oranges, lemons, berries, garlic, nuts… They all help in the quest to warn off those winter viruses.
Wellness Tip Three: Stay hydrated!
Of course, our favourite way to fuel your body in any season is to keep your water levels.
Whilst the winter months don’t always lend themselves to feeling like a glass of ice cold filtered freshness, your body will certainly thank you once it’s hydrated you from the inside-out! If you find reaching for a cold water isn't very appealing when up against those tempting festive tipples, you could incorporate water in a range of mocktails to keep the festivities flowing. Don't forget to retain the flavour of any ingredients by using filtered water from a water filter system!
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Wellness Tip Four: Don’t overdo it on the sugary treats!
Christmas is a time for giving and a time of joy, and like most occasions this giving and joy can be centred around food! With candy canes as decoration, gingerbread men and mince pies in abundance and countless boxes of chocolates under the tree, these small treats can soon add up. And it’s not just your physical health that sugary treats can have an effect on.
High sugar intake has been strongly linked to increased risks of anxiety, depression and mood swings. This is alongside causing mood swings, irritability and impaired memory.
So despite the initial dopamine hit, it’s worth keeping a check on how much sugar you are consuming to ensure better mental wellbeing into the new year.
Wellness Tip Five: Keep an eye on alcohol intake.
A tipple or two during the festive period, or a little glug or something in a warm drink on a cold day, can feel quite satisfying at the time. However, it’s important to keep the frequency of consuming these little treats in check to prevent them becoming an ongoing habit.
Alcohol disrupts brain chemistry, affecting mood, sleep, and judgment, making it the ideal recipe for having an negative impact on your wellbeing. As a known diuretic, it can also continue to have negative affects the day after, especially if you don’t rehydrate after drinking it. Alcohol suppresses the hormone vasopressin. This is the hormone that tells your kidneys to retain water. Which is why when you drink it can make you urinate more and lead to signs of dehydration.
So, as the cold snap continues enjoy yourself, but don’t fall into habits that can have longer term impacts on your wellbeing.
These are just a few tips and considerations to help maintain wellness throughout the winter and New Year period. Many of us look forward to a clean start in the new year, and being aware of ways to manage your wellbeing and create healthier routines after a season of often excess can be an excellent way to begin.
