5 tips to help boost energy and mood during the winter months
Most people will admit that their energy levels change at different points during the year. We may feel happier and more energetic on warm days when the sun is shining and there are plentiful hours of daylight. Conversely, we may have less energy and feel we need to sleep more and lead a quieter life during the cold, shorter days of winter.
It’s believed that decreased exposure to sunlight has an impact on our ability to produce serotonin and melatonin. Both these hormones can have an affect on our mood, motivation and energy levels. Given that we live in a country with long winters and often little sunlight, we looked at some actions we could we take to help get us through the tail end of this winter.
Talk kindly to yourself
If you are beating yourself up for not getting through your to-do list, stop, take a deep breath and try to change your thinking pattern. Celebrate achieving one item on the list rather than berating yourself for still having many outstanding. Wherever possible, re-schedule tasks for the times in the year when you will be having exposure to more daylight and increased energy and keep the more mundane, simpler tasks for the winter months.
One way you can boost your energy and mood in the winter is to keep exercising, in whatever form suits you. You may find it more difficult to motivate yourself, but you will reap the rewards. Be flexible, if you really can’t face heading out for a brisk walk because the wind’s howling in from the North, do an exercise video in your cosy living room instead.
Don’t isolate yourself
It’s well documented that having a good support network is beneficial to our overall wellbeing. Sometimes the combination of a lack of energy and a dark, cold night is enough for us to call off social plans or stop us making them in the first place. Try to remember that the effort will often be re-paid many times over by the benefits felt after an evening full of laughter and good company.
Negotiating icy pavements and difficult driving conditions have negative connotations, but they can also present a good exercise in mindfulness. When out and about, be in the present moment, slow down and really pay attention to your walking or driving.
Consider food and drink choices
Eating regular, healthy meals and snacks stabilise our blood sugar. Although we may be tempted by the sugar spike we experience after eating a sweet treat, remember it’s short-lived and followed by a drop in both energy and alertness. Being in constantly heated environments can lead to us getting dehydrated which can be disguised as feelings of hunger, tiredness or a lack of energy. If drinking cold water in cold weather is unappealing, you can swap it for hot water and infuse it with lemon and ginger for a refreshing winter drink.