8 Tips To Help You Feel Your Best On The Shorter, Colder Days
Photo by: joseph tury on Unsplash
Close your eyes and picture how you feel on a sunny afternoon versus how you feel on a rainy day. It's not uncommon to have the weather impact your mood: when the sun is out and shining, you may feel ready to tackle the day ahead, but on a dark or rainy day, you may feel a little more lethargic and tired. The changing weather can impact our internal clock (which confuses our body on what time it is) and influences our serotonin and melatonin levels. When these levels are off, it may be a little harder to fall asleep, regulate your mood, and your overall wellbeing may just feel off. On these days, you may find it takes a couple of extra couple of steps to feel your best.
I recently posted an article where I shared 6 tips for prioritizing your wellness in the fall, but today, I want to take it back a step. I think using the fall as an opportunity to prioritize your wellness is extremely important, but I also want to acknowledge that for many people, just making it through the day can feel like a difficult task during the colder months. So let’s focus on building a strong foundation, because when we aren't feeling our best, the thought of prioritizing our wellness may feel unattainable, unrealistic, or unimportant. A strong foundation will give us the base we need to build a wellness routine on.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (otherwise known as SAD) is a form of depression that impacts folks during the fall and winter months. It can be quite serious and severely impact someone’s quality of life. This is much more serious than what I'm going to be talking about today and is not something you should diagnose yourself with. If you think you may be suffering with SAD or depression in general, it is crucial to speak with your doctor. Your doctor can work with you to provide you with the care you need and deserve. Your mental health is important and not something to be disregarded or taken for granted. You are loved, you are worthy, and you are not alone.
8 Tips To Help You Feel Your Best On The Shorter, Colder Days
1. EAT WELL
I said this in my latest post, but I'm going to say it again: food is fuel. When we are fuelling our bodies with delicious, nutrient-dense food, we have the energy we need to carry us through our day. Here are a couple of points I want to leave you with:
Make sure you are eating enough
Remember that treats are totally fine - a balanced life is the best life
You shouldn't feel guilty for enjoying delicious food
2. SIT BY A WINDOW
There are many benefits of spending time in the sunlight, such as improving your sleep, reducing your stress, and strengthening your immune system. However, as the weather gets cooler and the days get shorter, getting outside isn't always an easy task. Depending on what your work schedule is like, try positioning yourself closer to the window. The sun can still poke through on a cloudy day, and while this may not be the same as going outside, it’s still an improvement. Of course, it should go without saying to make sure you’re following proper sun safety: don’t sit in direct sunlight for too long without adequate protection. Your skin will thank you.
3. REST
It is so important to make sure we are listening to our bodies. Rest, recharge, take time for yourself. Taking care of yourself is a productive use of your time, and sometimes that looks like resting. This could look like taking an afternoon nap on a Sunday, going to bed earlier during the week, or taking a mental health day. Remove the idea of what you think things need to look like, and instead, try to listen to your own needs.
4. FIND HOBBIES
One of the best ways to make the fall and winter months more enjoyable is to find a hobby. This doesn’t necessarily need to be a winter-specific hobby (although I highly recommend skating), it could really be anything that makes you feel good. For example, if you love doing puzzles, you could keep a pile of puzzles close by, or if you enjoy painting, you could paint the freshly fallen snow. Regardless of what it is, carve out time in your day for things you enjoy and the things that lift you up.
5. STAY CONNECTED
Despite social media becoming a constant connection for us, we can still fall out of touch with one another extremely easily and quickly. Make sure you actively stay connected. Reach out to your friends, make arrangements to meet up for a coffee, join a workout class together - whatever it looks like, make sure you’re making the time for the people you love.
6. EXERCISE
I love daily exercise, but I also understand how difficult it can be in the cooler months. It can be harder to get outside, our motivation may be lower, and our beds may be extra cozy. But the reality is that daily movement can be so beneficial to both our physical and mental health. Find ways to make it work for you: you can do some light yoga in the morning, an online fitness class, or an afternoon walk.
Also read: 6 Tips for Staying Motivated With Your Workouts, Even When Busy
7. SET GOALS
They say that we often overestimate what we can do in a year and underestimate what we can do in a day, which makes quite a lot of sense. At the start of the year, we make a plan for everything we wish to accomplish, but our days are quick to fill up with the needs of everyone around us. Goals give us purpose and something to work towards, which are both incredibly important when the weather is cooler and the days are darker. Create smart goals (which are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-oriented), and find a way to work towards them regularly.
8. CREATE STRUCTURE
I’m a big fan of routines. Routines provide structure in your day, which can help with your stress, time management, and overall mood. I'm aware that for some people, the thought of creating a routine can feel overwhelming and daunting, so let's quickly take a step back. A routine can be anything from a carefully planned out morning routine where you complete specific tasks at dedicated times, to creating a general structure or theme to follow through your day. The goal is just to give yourself purpose and plan for your day to keep things moving as smoothly