Winter Wellness Hacks to Help You Thrive When It’s Cold Outside
There’s a lot to love about winter. Winter is a time to slow down, rest and rejuvenate. There’s no better time to create healthy habits and double down on your self-care rituals.
But winter can also be hard for a lot of people. Over 10 million Americans suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder brought on by the change of the season. We uncovered some winter wellness hacks to help you not just survive, but thrive this winter.
1: Rise and shine.
Watching the sunrise is the best way to lift your mood and prime yourself for a good day. It’s actually been proven to reduce anxiety and relieve stress. The great thing about winter is, you don’t have to wake up at 5am to catch the sunrise if you’re not an early bird.
2: Get outside.
When the weather is harsh, it’s easy to just hole up inside. Resist the urge to hibernate and get outside — your health and happiness actually depend on it. Take a page from the Norwegian playbook: there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. Come January, forgo the gym membership and invest in a good pair of boots and a warm jacket.
3: Eat seasonally.
The best way to avoid flu season is to keep your immune system up by eating nutrient dense food. Michale Pollan, food journalist and bestselling author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, says: “foods in season . . . are at the peak of their nutritional value and flavor.” Find out what’s in season each month in your state.
4: Help others.
The Dalai Lama says that our prime purpose in life is helping others. He shares the profoundly simple secret to happiness: “If you dedicate yourself to helping others, you’ll be happier.” If you’re feeling down this season, but feel up to helping others, this might just be the best antidote to the winter blues.
5: Sleep better.
Our natural circadian rhythms are tied to the sun. As soon as the sun sets, we start producing melatonin (the sleep hormone), which is why we tend to feel tired earlier in the winter.
Go with it and go to bed early. You’ll benefit from more of the restorative deep sleep your body needs for immune system support.
If you're having a hard time falling asleep, try these 3 easy ways to fall asleep and stay asleep naturally.
