Here There and Everywhere

It’s easy to stay cooped up indoors all day during the winter frost, so it is good to make sure you stay warm and stay active during this season to improve your overall well-being.

Movement That Warms The Body

It’s common for the muscles to become stiff and strained over winter due to the cold and the fact that we are typically less active in general. Some simple stretching every morning can help reduce stiffness and aches in the body and allow for more energy throughout the day. I like to follow this routine every morning since it is beginner friendly and targets all areas of the body, but if you are wanting to target specific areas such as the back, neck or legs you can do this too.

Yoga is also a great way to incorporate both stretching and breathing techniques which allow your mind and body to be at the peak of their powers during winter. There are many forms of Yoga, so do a little research and find which one works best for you.

Warm Foods For Winter Wellness

Maintaining a healthy balanced diet through the months of November and December is always difficult with mince pies, chocolate and snacks just around the corner, but having some restraint on indulging in all of these processed foods will make you feel well over winter. This is not to say do not enjoy the festive treats, but be mindful of what you eat.

You can still enjoy bold flavours, hearty meals and sweet treats with dishes like soups & stews, baked comfort foods such as lasagna or shepherd’s pie, roasts, and crumbles. These are just a few examples of healthy and heart warming dishes to prepare over winter.

Stay Connected

I always find walking, no matter how long, to be a great form of exercise which can give space to the mind and keep you active over winter. One of the first activities I do when I wake up is take a short 10 minute walk to get some fresh air and get myself moving which I have found has improved my physical and mental health.

Spending time in nature soon after you wake up keeps the mind settled and allows room for creative thinking rather than self-chatter which I have found is most prominent when cooped up indoors for many hours. So if you are like me, take a short walk in the morning and you will soon see the positive effects.

Some simple breath work or meditation is also a good way to start the day and again allow the mind to settle from the previous days’ chatter. You can find some great guided meditations if you do not know where to start.

Nurturing The Mind

Winter is the perfect season to revisit or discover hobbies that keep you engaged. Some ideas could include:

• Painting & Drawing
• Learning an Instrument
• Cooking New Recipes

Challenge yourself to stick to a hobby over the winter and see how much progress you can make. You’ll be amazed by how much you can learn and improve over such a small period of time.

Books & Podcasts are a great tool to engage your mind, inspire new ideas or just to relax. I will set aside time to read just a few chapters of a book every day and you’d be surprised how much you can learn from replacing idle scrolling with 30 minutes to 1 hour of reading every day.

Journaling or creative writing is becoming more and more popular in society as a whole and it’s not a mystery as to why. Since I began writing, my mind has been more creative, I have come to understand myself much more, and my overall mental well-being has significantly improved. We can start small with things like gratitude lists, and reflective journaling.

For just one week, try writing 3 things you are grateful for every morning, and at the end of the day, try writing a few lines about how you feel about the day that has been. I am certain you will learn new things about yourself every day if you do this consistently. I even occasionally spend 15-30 minutes to just allow whatever comes to mind and write it down. You begin to recognize how your personal mind works.

Thriving Through Winter

Winter is a great opportunity for self-care and growth rather than idle activities which are easy to fall into. Balancing the warmth of the indoors and the wellness that nature and staying active can bring is important during these months, so if you struggle to come up with ideas on how to do this, I would be happy to help.

You can get in touch through the contact page and I would be happy to help create a productive schedule to help you stay active over winter. This would include daily routines, some meal prep ideas, or even just some hobbies/activities to try based on your interests.