Chase the winter blues away

During the colder months, there is a greater tendency to rug up and stay in the warm indoors and eat comfort foods.

But with it, winter brings an increased chance of illness and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), so here are some tips to reduce the mental and physical effects of winter.

1. Consider an indoor sport. Cold temperatures can discourage you from keeping up with your fitness routines. However, there’s lots of indoor activities to embrace over winter, such as yoga, dancing, indoor soccer or even hit up the local heated swimming pool. The key is making your winter activity enjoyable and social. These will keep you fit and the endorphins can assist your mental health.
2. Boost your diet.Vegetable soups or stews are an easy way to get a large quantity of vitamins, minerals and fibre to keep you strong and healthy throughout the season while also being a comfort food.
3. Remember to drink plenty of water. In summer, the hot weather reminds us that we are thirsty, in winter it’s not as obvious. It’s important to ensure you are still drinking plenty of water each day. Even mild dehydration can lead to headaches, fatigue and problems with concentration. Keeping your body well hydrated will help to keep your skin healthy, flush out toxins and ward off winter bugs.
4. Limit the spread of germs. Remember to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Wash your hands. This is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading common winter illnesses, such as colds. If you can’t wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Also, get flu and COVID-19 vaccines to avoid being sick during the coldest time of year.
5. Get good quality sleep. Adequate sleep plays an important role in optimising your immune system so that your body can fight off infection, and is also vital for mental health. According to one study, those who got six hours or less of sleep each night for one week were about four times more likely to catch a cold when exposed to a virus compared with those who got more than seven hours.