After the blazing drought of this year’s summer, winter has come with a bit of a bump. Most years, there is time to feel the seasons slowly changing and mentally prepare yourself for the long cold months ahead. This year it seems that winter has caught many people by surprise. Unfortunately, it looks like it will be a particularly hard one for many. So, what can you do to prepare yourself and get ready for winter?
Stay Warm
It’s a pretty
obvious statement but look at what you need to do to stay warm personally.
Bring out those extra blankets and put them around the home where you or others
might sit. If you work from home, have a blanket at your desk – it might feel
foolish, but sitting still for hours on end reduces blood flow which makes you
colder; a blanket will help. Dig out your slippers and replace them if they’ve
gotten too full of holes. You should also look at the rest of your wardrobe –
if you’re running low on jumpers and hoodies, then look to buy some more. If you
are trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle, then check out UK-based
companies like bEE bOSTIN’
who use ethically sourced materials in their products, including t-shirts,
sweatshirts, and hoodies, or head into the charity shops – it is the right time
of year to find jumpers that people have decided they do not want this winter.
Stay Healthy
Staying healthy
for winter is slightly different from staying healthy in summer. Yes, the same
old standbys apply – eat a balanced diet, stay hydrated, exercise. However,
there are a few additional points for winter. Firstly, increase your vitamin D
intake – in the UK, we do not get enough
vitamin D purely from the sun in winter, so take a supplement or try
to increase it in your diet. Increase the amount of fruit and veg you’re eating
– this will give your immune system a helping hand. Your skin routine is likely
to change – over winter, your skin tends to dry out a lot, so you may need to
change the type of soap you use, facial moisturiser, or even shampoo to
compensate for the drying effects of the weather, pollution, and central
heating.
Beware of SAD
SAD, otherwise
known as Seasonal
Affective Disorder, can affect many people without them knowing. It
can happen at any time of year, but for many, the symptoms are worst over
winter. It is a type of depression and can leave a sufferer feeling lethargic,
gaining weight, and with a feeling of worthlessness or guilt (amongst many
other symptoms). You should always go to a GP if you feel different from your
normal self – often, people avoid it as they think they’re making a big deal
over nothing or think it’ll get better. It might; it might not – ask for help.
