5 Tips to Stay Healthy and Happy This Winter

The beginning of winter is a time where joy and happiness are practically force-fed to you. After the holidays are over though, the depth of the season starts to set in. With winter comes harsh weather, gloomy skies, and frigid temperatures, all of which can contribute to bouts of depression. It’s important to begin implementing healthy living practices into your schedule as early as possible. Then once the middle of winter hits, they’ll be routine. Adopting a healthy lifestyle will help you stay healthy and happy when the world around you is working to get you down.

Here is what you can start doing now to ensure your health and happiness all winter long.

Continue forms of exercise.

Staying in shape is a large factor in your overall health and as a result, you should be continuing your exercise routine year-round. If you’re not sure where to start, one easy form of exercise to boost your health is running. If the winter weather in your area isn’t conducive to outdoor exercise consider joining a gym, purchasing exercise equipment for your home or looking for easy exercises to do in any space. Continuing your exercise routine into the winter months won’t only help to keep your body healthy, it also serves as a way to make you happier. Exercising triggers the release of endorphins in your brain which helps to combat depression and make you feel good. This is especially important during the darker winter months when seasonal depression becomes more prevalent. Making the benefits of exercise a two for one deal when it comes to health and happiness.

Get restful sleep.

We all know that sleep is important for allowing your body to recharge from all the energy you’re expending throughout the day. Getting a restful night’s sleep is key to being your best self the next day. This means waking up feeling well-rested and ready to take on the day, not waking up throughout the night and less tossing and turning. One culprit that could be preventing you from this is your mattress. If your current mattress is old, lumpy or just not comfortable anymore, consider buying a new one. Once you have that issue under control and are able to get a restful night’s sleep you’ll reap the benefits. Otherwise, lack of or poor sleep can lower your immune system and make you more prone to illness; it can also lead to depression and prolonged sadness.

Supplement your health.

It’s easy to let winter drain you. The freezing temperatures make you more prone to getting a cold or the flu, and the overcast skies prevent you from getting some much-needed vitamin D. This means you need to do what you can and take preventative measures from letting the season impact you and your health. Carry antibacterial wipes with you to clean any surfaces that sick people may have contaminated, like shopping carts and hand baskets. If you do start to feel something coming on, start consuming things high in vitamin C. Your best source is eating citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit. When dealing with the overall lack of sunlight during winter months, you need more vitamin D. The sun is our biggest source of the vitamin, and the lack of it is the reason so many people experience seasonal depression during the winter months. Look for alternative forms of vitamin D to include in your diet or routine. This includes some seafood, mushrooms, egg yolks or even investing in a sun lamp.

Book a vacation.

Sometimes we just need to get away for our physical and mental wellbeing. Take a break from the winter weather and go someplace warmer. The reprieve will do wonders for you. Plan and book your vacation for the middle of the winter season so you can bask in another climate. This pause from your daily life could not come at a better time. Mid to late January is right in the middle of the season and offers you a mid-winter break of your own. The holidays are stressful enough, and then the winter weather triggers feelings of depression. Enjoy some time in the sun, allow yourself to be pampered and focus on your mental health. Then you can come back ready to finish the rest of the winter strongly.

Refresh your space.

Using the weather as an excuse to make some improvements to your home is a great way to boost your physical and mental health. Introduce some bright and cheerful colors to liven up your space and make it a happy place. Add in different tones of light, ranging from bright to warm, to set the type of mood you need. Whatever you decide to change, make sure it’s something that makes you truly happy because you’re the one who will have to live with it. You should also take the time to make some necessary and healthy changes. One is improving your home’s air quality with easy solutions. Breathing in dirty air can have serious implications on your health. Sometimes making small changes can make all the difference when it comes to our health and happiness.