This year’s pandemic has shown that staying healthy is more important than ever. As we enter the winter period, this is even more crucial as we become more vulnerable to the cold weather and other viruses and colds. To ensure you’re supporting your health this winter, consider the tips below.
Get Moving
While most people are conscious of the importance of exercise, it’s essential to tailor this to your individual needs. Grueling or intense exercise is not always good for the body, especially if you are already stressed or worn out. This kind of activity can weaken your immune system by producing additional stress hormones.
To ensure you’re doing the right kind of movement, check-in with your body to see how it feels. Engage in varied levels of activity such as stretching, yoga or Tai Chi, and combine it with light aerobic activities like walking, cycling, or swimming. The important thing is to keep moving, especially if you have a desk job.
Engage in Mindful Eating
Like exercise, everyone knows that we should eat healthily. But rather than adhering to strict diets or cutting things out cold turkey, try engaging in mindful eating instead. This means listening to your body and assessing what foods feel right while being mindful of not eating healthily. In the winter, our bodies need more fuel to deal with the cold, so try to eat sensibly, but with an awareness of how and what you’re eating.
Prioritise Sleep
Sleep is more important than many people realise. It is during sleep that our body repairs vital functions in the body, which means that even a small lack of it can have big consequences on your physical and mental health. Therefore, it’s important to try and get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. This is important if you are under stress or are feeling run down. Keep a healthy routine and go to bed at the same time each night and avoid stimulating activities in the evening. Consider using supplements such as chamomile tea, and sleeping gummies, and increasing magnesium intake to boost sleep quality.
Make Time for Enjoyment
Part of staying healthy involves doing things that we love. Whether it’s taking time out for a hobby or having fun with friends, making time for enjoyment can boost your serotonin levels and improve your overall well-being. If you’re faced with being stuck indoors due to increased quarantine measures, find ways to enjoy yourself, even if it’s as mundane as playing online games on sites like bingositesreviewer.com. What matters is that you’re taking the time to feel good.
Schedule in Relaxation
It can be easy to neglect relaxation, especially if you have hectic work and family lives. But not scheduling in relaxation can lead to burnout, stress, and increased tension. Try where possible to slot in 20 to 30 minutes of relaxation a day. If you’re stuck for ideas, try taking a hot bath, reading a book, listening to music, or meditating. Even sitting quietly for a few minutes at a time can help slow down the thoughts and help you unwind after a busy day.
Practice Positivity
Whether we’re aware of it or not, our levels of positivity have a knock-on effect on our health. Positivity is linked with positive emotions which can impact on our hormones and other processes in the body. Try where you can to focus on the positive things in life and practice affirmations so that you aren’t plagued with negative thoughts.