Being healthy is something that is important to so many people. Regardless of your background, age, or occupation, we are brought up to understand the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle while also being informed about what we need to do to lead a healthy lifestyle.
For some people, this is something that comes to them naturally and which they have absolutely no issue in doing. At the same time, there will undoubtedly be other people who struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Let’s be honest; we have all been there once or twice, so we can recognise how easy it is to ‘fall off the wagon,’ as such.
As we make our way into the chilly winter months, and with cases of flu circulating alongside those of COVID-19, you and others in your close circles might have found themselves wondering what they can do to be healthy during this time. If this is the case, you are not alone, for we feel confident there will be thousands of other individuals out there also contemplating these aspects of their lives.
That being said, you have found yourself in the right place at the right time. Detailed right here, you will find some of our best tips for those who want to lead a healthy lifestyle, both this winter and beyond. Whether you are a complete novice or someone who is getting back into the swing of things and simply looking for some inspiration, read on for more.
1. Maintain a Healthy Sleeping Routine
This seems like the biggest challenge as we head into the winter months. With darker mornings and evenings, coupled with the colder weather, we certainly want to spend those extra minutes in bed even more! While we can sympathise with you on this, you should do what you can to break this habit and maintain a healthy sleeping routine instead.
If this is something you find that you struggle with throughout the rest of the year, implement a routine to follow in the run-up to you settling down each day. Swapping your phone for a book is always recommended; the blue light that technological devices omit can often interfere with your sleep, whether you realise it or not.
Ensuring that you get eight hours of sleep a night is crucial, not just for being alert during the day but in contributing to other aspects of your health. Curating a comfortable sleeping environment is also recommended, but what is considered comfortable will naturally vary from one person to the next.
2. Exercise Regularly, Even When You Don’t Want To
Maintaining a regular exercise routine in the darker months can feel almost impossible at times. Particularly if you work a 9-5 job, you will most likely be waking when it is dark and finishing work when it is dark. Finding time to exercise throughout this time, and doing so safely, can be a challenge but is more doable than first thought.
Regularly exercising will do wonders for keeping you in shape, but as we are all too aware, it will positively impact your mental well-being. Exercise releases endorphins into your system; you will feel perkier following a workout of some kind.
At the same time, you should make every effort to look after your body when exercising. This can be done by eating a balanced diet and consuming a range of delicious protein snacks, food, and powders. Protein is a critical component of an exercise regime and will be needed throughout the winter months too. EatProtein and a variety of other reputable companies provide individuals like yourself with these products and more; head to their website for more information.
3. Protect Your Skin
As the colder months approach us, so does a torrent of wetter and colder weather. The common misconception here is that you needn’t wear sun protection, for there is not much sun! While the latter part of this sentence is true, the former is not; you should be wearing some form of sun protection all year around.
While the risk of you getting sunburnt in the winter months remains incredibly low, UV rays can still wreak havoc and harm your skin if you are not properly protected. Relying on cloud cover and shade is not enough to stop the rays from damaging your skin. Therefore, dermatologists up and down the country recommend wearing some sunscreen every day.
This is not to say you have to slather sun cream on your face every day. Nowadays, you can expect to find moisturisers and other creams which have sunscreen and SPF within them. Implement this into your skincare routine, and you will be contributing greatly to protecting your skin.
At the same time, you want to ensure you are using moisturiser in your daily routine for other parts of your body too. Cold weather can trigger a whole host of skin conditions and drastically dry out your skin overall. Combatting this with a moisturiser ensures your skin is absorbing as much hydration as possible.
4. Support Your Immune System
As briefly mentioned before, the winter season brings with it an influx of colds and flu. This winter is looking to be a bit different from the past, for we have the added pressure of COVID-19 circulating. If ever there was a time to support and boost your immune system, it would be now.
While you should be looking after your immune system all year round anyway, you should make an extra effort during this time. Eating a balanced diet that is packed full of nutrients is one way you can do this, for you will be providing your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs to strengthen the defences.
You could also consider taking a multivitamin each day to boost your immune system further. It is recommended that we take vitamins throughout the whole year, but there are other reasons why you should be taking vitamins in the winter, more than other times of the year.
With the decreased sunlight each day, you will be absorbing less Vitamin D than usual. Vitamin D is beneficial to our immune system, and we usually absorb the levels that we need from natural sunlight. As you probably guessed, you will be absorbing less during the winter months, so you will need to substitute this drop in absorption somehow; this is where supplements and vitamins come into play.
If you are not all that inclined to take supplements, you can opt to consume a diet rich in Vitamin D. This includes the consumption of various seafood, mushrooms, and eggs. Who knows, you could even find a new favourite recipe when changing your eating habits!
Understandably, these are only a handful of the ways that you can lead a healthy lifestyle, both this coming winter and beyond. Taking care of your health is of the utmost importance and taking the all-important first step in deciding to change your habits is often the most difficult, but one that will pay off.
Whether you decide to implement just those suggestions above or wish to combine them with a whole host of others, go forth knowing that the changes you are making are for the better and that your body will be thanking you for it!
