Winter Self-Care Tips to Stay Healthy and Cozy
Cold days make you just want to curl up inside and take a long nap. While it may be comforting in the winter to rest, it is also important to plan our days to incorporate productivity and self-care.
Exercise to Fight the Winter Blues
Exercise in the winter is a big one. The morning chill may tempt you to linger in bed until it is necessary to wake up, and the evening is dark, encouraging you to just go home and be lazy. Making time for exercise in you winter routine is tough, especially because you may not be able to get outside as much. My advice would be to find an indoor exercise you enjoy, like following a yoga video on YouTube, lifting hand weights, or hitting the treadmill.
Prioritizing exercise in the morning has been helpful for me, as I jump out of bed (after hitting snooze, I’ll admit), change into workout clothes, grab a piece of fruit to eat, and hit the treadmill. I started out by walking a mile each day and am hopping to run soon as I build myself up. The more you do this the more energy you will find yourself having in the morning, and it will get easier to get out of bed.
Nutrition is Important
Prioritizing taking your vitamins and eating warming foods is a necessity in the winter because of the short, gloomy days. Warm foods will also overall keep you feeling warm and comfortable throughout the day. Warm soups, lentils, pasta dishes, and hearty meals are the best this time of year. I also like to drink juice – right now my favorite is pineapple juice mixed with tart cherry – because it keeps me hydrated and is good potassium. I also just like to enjoy these types of fruits when they are not in season as it reminds me of sunnier days.
Rest, Yes Rest!
And yes, of course rest! Warm baths and showers, naps on the weekends, curling up by the fireplace with a good book on a chilly evening. Rest is essentials to our well-being. In the winter, surround yourself with soft blankets and cozy novels. Make time to catch up on you favorite shows. Maybe even schedule a massage if you feel particularly indulgent in rest.
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