Winter wellness tips

If you’re starting to feel the effects of the change in season, you’re not alone. Many of us may be spending a lot more time indoors this winter, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll be immune to the cold, or the mental side effects of winter and lockdown. Now more than ever there’s a need to focus more on our wellness, so read on for our top tips for surviving the winter months.

Boost your immune system

During winter we’ll be exposed to a lot less sunlight, and the sun is a major source of Vitamin D. The shorter, darker days can make us feel a bit down and more tired than usual, so to make sure we’re getting enough of the sunlight vitamin, we should look to eat foods that are naturally high in this vitamin such as oily fish (salmon), eggs, red meat, mushrooms and fortified breakfast cereals. You can always take a vitamin supplement too for an extra boost!

Eat well

When we’re feeling down, it can be tempting to go for the easy option such as ordering a takeaway or reaching for processed food in hope that this will be a ‘pick-me-up’. However, this can actually have the opposite effect, so although winter is a time for warming comfort food such as lasagne and pie and mash (yum!) it’s still important to load up on fruit and vegetables as these foods can have a positive effect on your mental wellbeing, alongside being packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Try adding a handful of raspberries, blueberries and chia seeds to your morning porridge, or making a vegetable stew in a slow cooker – time-saving and delicious! Or, why not try one of our Ragdale soups? (For our soup recipes, click here)

Connect with nature

You might not feel like getting outside as much in winter, but being surrounded by nature can actually help to boost your mood. Make the most of the winter sun (or rain, in our case!) and go for a short walk to your local park to break up your day, to leave you feeling refreshed and recharged.

Take time to rest

When we’re feeling run down, this is our body telling us that it’s time to rest. However, we often ignore these vital signals and battle through. Take some time out of your day to curl up on the sofa with a blanket if you need to, and make sure to get an early night. If you need to stretch your muscles, opt for a calming yoga session for sickness (you’ll want to avoid doing any postures which send blood flow to your head such as downward-facing dog, and instead do some detoxifying seated twists.) If a stuffy nose is making you struggle to sleep, read our blog on how to use peppermint essential oil for decongestion, here.

Keep your skin hydrated

From the central heating, to the harsh winter winds, our skin goes through a lot during the winter months. A good skincare routine will protect your skin and keep it hydrated – and make sure to invest in a moisturiser which contains SPF (as protection from UV rays isn’t just for summer!) Green tea also has fantastic antioxidant effects, which can help to keep your skin feeling refreshed.