How 2 survive winter
There’s no avoiding it – winter is now upon us. There’s a chill in the air and people are trying to remember where they put their gloves. If you love winter, then wrap up warm and enjoy! But if you’re dreading the long months of short days, here are some tips to help you survive the winter.
• If you have a fireplace, light a fire. The warmth and light is great for keeping cosy and cheerful on cold, dark days.
• If you don’t have a fire, light some candles. Obviously, they won’t keep you warm, but the natural light of the flame helps to cheer us up on cold days and dark evenings. Candles do something a radiator just isn’t capable of.
• Our senses send powerful signals to our brains, and affect our mood. Trick your nose by using incense (sandalwood works well). Bake a cake, cook something that smells good, or just make some coffee. It all helps.
• ‘Cosy’ is the feeling that helps us get through the winter. So create an atmosphere in your house of being safe and warm and out of the cold. Make use of all your throws or rugs, and keep a blanket on the sofa. It helps if they are ‘warm colours’, like dark reds, oranges and browns. Block out drafts under doors and close the curtains as soon as it gets dark, to help insulate the house.
• Make the most of what little daylight we have available. Go for a walk at lunchtime or in your coffee break so that you actually spend some time outdoors and get the best out of the day. An hour of natural light can make all the difference, even on a cloudy day.
• Exercise. We tend to become lethargic in winter, but the less active we are, the more likely we are to experience depression or feel de-motivated. A short walk or even something as simple as cleaning the bathroom can boost your circulation, warm you up, and give you some energy.
• If you’re feeling down, tell somebody about it. Many of us feel blue about the gloomy weather over the winter, but for some people, the season brings about a more severe depression. This is called ‘seasonal affective disorder’, or SAD. The reason for this is thought to be the way our brains react to the quality and quantity of light, both of which decrease over the winter months. For more information about the affects of SAD and how to deal with them, visit the MIND website.
Written by Becky Matyus. Posted on 5th November.
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