Do you feel your mood changing with the seasons? I certainly do! Here’s my top winter wellness tips for keeping you smiling when summer feels so far away.
When you sit and have time to think, actually take a moment out of the world and frantic energy all around. At what point do you yearn for more? More than the idyllic life of freedom – from work, chores, bills and responsibility.
Given my current state, I’d say that that point is 6 days and 13.5 hours. I’m scribbling this post in my notebook, in our hotel’s reading room, in Thailand. There’s no WiFi in here, I’ve engrossed myself in my creepy book that I’ve had to take a step away from it before it spooks me completely, and I’m wondering at the rain and wishing I’d brought my laptop with me… I’d get SO much work done!
Life is certainly more chilled in Phuket, even breakfast isn’t hurried and over with by 10.30am. It’s not so much manana manana as sometime in the future but we’ll get to you as soon as we can, with a bow, a smile and a thank you. But whilst I’ve been sat here thinking of what I could be doing, scribbling away, the thought of going back to work when we get back to the UK, isn’t one I want to entertain, especially with the changing seasons!
If you’ve seen my photo in the side bar, you’ll know that this is me… in fact this was me on our first day in Thailand. A botched selfie with my camera that I thought I’d deleted, but actually this photo stirs up so many feelings and the main one was happiness! I genuinely don’t think I’ve felt that free, chilled and relaxed for such a long time. I love this photo!
However, don’t get me wrong, I love autumn; the crispy chill in the air, wrapped up in big snuggly jumpers and cosy, warm fires; what I’m not so keen on is how it affects my mood. The bright, fresh, spring into summer picks me up, but going the other way… well, it saps me. From dark nights and dark mornings, to feeling the arrival of Christmas ever present. We race through winter with the hope of a new year, for a clean slate and a fresh start, although for me it’s almost like bringing my mood back round again and feeling more like myself. Does anyone else feel like that?
There’s not much I can do to make summer come back around again quicker except moving to another country; but I have a few winter wellness tips that get me through and keep me smiling and here they are for sharing with you…
Winter wellness tips for changing seasons
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Get plenty of sleep
I’m sure you’ve been told it before, when you’ve been feeling rundown, listen to your body! At this time of year, there is never a truer word said. The shorter, cooler days and the longer nights means we need more sleep.To beat the feeling of being overtired, I curl up in bed at least 30 minutes earlier than usual. Even if I’m just snuggled up and reading a book, that extra half an hour really helps. And nodding off earlier means that when my alarm goes off for work, and its dark and gloomy outside, that it is easier to get up and feel refreshed.
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Get outside and take a stroll
Hands up if you feel less motivated to keep going to the gym or taking a class when it’s darker earlier? Yeah, that’s me! All I want to do is get home, put my comfies on and hibernate, but actually the best thing for a warm and happy feeling is to keep moving. If you’re like me after work is harder, so instead I take advantage of the fresh air at lunch time. Nothing beats wrapping up with a big scarf and going outside for a stroll, or you could run if you fancied it. Whatever you do, getting outside in the daylight will give you a serotonin boost – the brain’s happy chemical!
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Start a fresh and get inspired
Why wait until January to start a fresh, declutter and make resolutions? Autumn has always been a time of new beginnings, back to school for a new year, new lessons, new timetables, and then off to university; more new starts and new adventures. So there’s still a sense of autumn inspiration in me to look for new things to do, inspire me and keep me lifted when the only thing that appeals is the sofa and my PJs. I’m not saying complete clear everything out and start a fresh, unless that’s what you want to, but maybe hit up Pinterest for some inspiration and declutter a room after the summer, sort your wardrobes out, put away your summer clothes and maybe refresh your autumn wardrobe; find something that you love wearing and haven’t worn since the previous year… even if it’s just your most favourite winter scarf.
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Stay social but don’t burn out
Even when all you want to do is curl up and hibernate on the sofa, autumn and winter can be busy, social times; everything from Halloween and Thanksgiving to Christmas and New Year; there’s office parties, drinks with friends and all the indulgences that come with the festive period. Getting out and about and being social does wonders to keep me feeling happy and stops me feeling the doom and gloom like Eeyore, and I don’t feel bad for turning down invites as well. There can be so much pressure to go out and party but I do sometimes go back to number 1… and listen to my body.
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Take a duvet day
And with all of that, let’s face it, sometimes you do just need to pull on those comfies, grab a duvet and curl up on sofa. I find Sundays are my perfect day for finding a new boxset on Netflix to binge watch, something nice and huggy rather than a murder mystery or horror. It’s important that even if you’re taking control and beating the changing seasons blahness that you do take time out, grab a hot chocolate and just do nothing.
There you go… five winter wellness tips that I find get my through the autumn and winter, not just counting down the days until spring and summer come back around, but to enjoy the cooler seasons as well.
What are your winter wellness tips? Drop me a line in the comments box below. Or maybe take a stroll over to my YouTube channel for updates on how I’m coping with the winter blues.
pin winter wellness tips
