Chase your winter blues away |
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It’s well known that the shorter days, bad weather and cold seem to play havoc with our mood and our general feeling of wellbeing. Many of us begin to feel down as the winter nights draw in, but is there anything we can do to make us feel better, happier, and brighter like we do in the summer months? To lift your spirits and put a spring back in your step, try out these great techniques and see which work for you…
Daylight
It may seem simple, but getting out in as much natural daylight as possible is one sure-fire way of chasing away winter blues and increasing our body’s serotonin levels (the feel good hormone). If the daylight hours are short try to get out in bright sunlight for at least 20 minutes throughout the day. Walking the dog, walking to the shops, moving to face a window with natural light are all positive steps you can take. Just remember to keep yourself wrapped up warm!
Exercise
One of the best methods to alleviate the winter-blues is a little exercise. By doing aerobic exercise at least three days a week you boost your metabolism and release those all important serotonin levels. You will feel more energised, cope better with every day stress and enjoy better sleep.
Have something to look forward to
By simply planning a holiday, event or a treat to look forward to we can keep our minds focussed on the positive. Keep a calendar and tick off the days, look forward to preparing for it too; maybe you’d like to lose a few pounds, tone up or eat more healthily. With a focussed mind you are more like to achieve a goal and remain happy in the mean-time.
Positive thinking
With scores of self help books, countless blogs and hypnotherapist offering a million ways to think positively, it’s definitely something worth considering. The simple acts of smiling and laughing are said to release ‘feel good’ endorphins and also reduce stress. Try to amuse yourself daily and you can actually help alleviate your low mood. Replay funny moments in your mind and you’ve got happy thoughts on tap. You can also surround yourself with anything that makes you happy; a picture of a loved one, a picture of yourself when you were happiest, cherished holiday snaps or your favourite piece of music. These can all play a part in keeping you positive on a daily basis.
Healthy eating & low Gi diets
In the spring and summer we naturally seem to crave fresh fruits and vegetables, whilst in the winter we tend to opt for more filling foods that are higher in fat. By choosing fresh winter vegetables and turning to low Gi foods we can keep healthy whilst benefiting from more vitamins. Foods with a low Glycaemic Index can keep you fuller for longer and even regulate blood sugar levels to sustain energy. Good nutrition and sustained energy levels can play a big part in keeping you happy.
Relaxation
Stress can zap your serotonin, so the best way to counterbalance a stressful day is with relaxation. Remove yourself completely from anything that has caused the stress, unplug the telephone, kick off your shoes and relax. Play some soothing music, have a candle-lit bath or watch a feel good movie and you’ll be back to your usual chirpy self in no time at all.
Combined exercise, healthy eating and weight management can help you improve symptoms of winter depression – but it’s not always easy to know where to begin. Why not try Weightplan’s Low Gi meal plan, plan a little exercise or follow one of our multi-day workouts to really get those endorphins racing through your body.
Tags: Diet, exercise, Fruit and vegetables, low GI, Nutrition, weightplan, winter blues
Daylight
It may seem simple, but getting out in as much natural daylight as possible is one sure-fire way of chasing away winter blues and increasing our body’s serotonin levels (the feel good hormone). If the daylight hours are short try to get out in bright sunlight for at least 20 minutes throughout the day. Walking the dog, walking to the shops, moving to face a window with natural light are all positive steps you can take. Just remember to keep yourself wrapped up warm!
Exercise
One of the best methods to alleviate the winter-blues is a little exercise. By doing aerobic exercise at least three days a week you boost your metabolism and release those all important serotonin levels. You will feel more energised, cope better with every day stress and enjoy better sleep.
Have something to look forward to
By simply planning a holiday, event or a treat to look forward to we can keep our minds focussed on the positive. Keep a calendar and tick off the days, look forward to preparing for it too; maybe you’d like to lose a few pounds, tone up or eat more healthily. With a focussed mind you are more like to achieve a goal and remain happy in the mean-time.
Positive thinking
With scores of self help books, countless blogs and hypnotherapist offering a million ways to think positively, it’s definitely something worth considering. The simple acts of smiling and laughing are said to release ‘feel good’ endorphins and also reduce stress. Try to amuse yourself daily and you can actually help alleviate your low mood. Replay funny moments in your mind and you’ve got happy thoughts on tap. You can also surround yourself with anything that makes you happy; a picture of a loved one, a picture of yourself when you were happiest, cherished holiday snaps or your favourite piece of music. These can all play a part in keeping you positive on a daily basis.
Healthy eating & low Gi diets
In the spring and summer we naturally seem to crave fresh fruits and vegetables, whilst in the winter we tend to opt for more filling foods that are higher in fat. By choosing fresh winter vegetables and turning to low Gi foods we can keep healthy whilst benefiting from more vitamins. Foods with a low Glycaemic Index can keep you fuller for longer and even regulate blood sugar levels to sustain energy. Good nutrition and sustained energy levels can play a big part in keeping you happy.
Relaxation
Stress can zap your serotonin, so the best way to counterbalance a stressful day is with relaxation. Remove yourself completely from anything that has caused the stress, unplug the telephone, kick off your shoes and relax. Play some soothing music, have a candle-lit bath or watch a feel good movie and you’ll be back to your usual chirpy self in no time at all.
Combined exercise, healthy eating and weight management can help you improve symptoms of winter depression – but it’s not always easy to know where to begin. Why not try Weightplan’s Low Gi meal plan, plan a little exercise or follow one of our multi-day workouts to really get those endorphins racing through your body.
Tags: Diet, exercise, Fruit and vegetables, low GI, Nutrition, weightplan, winter blues