So you’ve swapped your favorite crop top and sandals for cozy outerwear and chunky boots (or, if you’re like me, a weekly rotation of various sweatsuits). That’s right: Winter is officially here. Just like our wardrobes, our wellness routines—from skincare to self-care to nutrition and exercise—should look different come winter. Our bodies have different needs throughout the year. What our bodies crave in winter is different from what they need in summer. So it’s time to switch up your wellness routine to support what your body needs during colder months and shorter days. Read on for ways to help “winterize” your daily regimen for a healthy, stress-free season.
Self-Care
Prioritize sleep
Now that we’re experiencing shorter days and less vitamin D than we grew accustomed to during the summer, it’s natural to feel some winter blues, AKA you may feel a little more lethargic and tired this time of year. The body produces more melatonin (a sleeping hormone) during winter because there are fewer hours of daylight. This could have an impact on your sleep patterns. Instead of fighting fatigue, consider this season as a time to rest and recover and adjust your self-care routine accordingly. Personally, I love winding down with a hot, candlelit bath, but if baths aren’t your cup of tea, you can also treat yourself to a fresh set of luxurious sheets, perfect your nighttime routine, or just get to bed earlier.
Concentrate on the relationships
Yes, caring for oneself also includes taking care of others. Because fulfilling relationships can improve our happiness and overall fulfillment in life, connection is an important part a wellness regimen. Winter is the perfect time to prioritize connection because of the holiday season, but your social calendar can extend well beyond New Year’s Eve.Every week, make extra plans to meet up with your mom by phone or to have a movie night with your best friend. If cabin fever gets you down, grab your sister and take a drive with you. You can also test your skating skills at the ice rink with your friends group.). No matter what your self-care routine looks, it should bring joy and help you reset to be the best version of yourself and for those around you.
Nutrition
Avoid cold and raw foods
Nothing is more refreshing than a fresh smoothie or a juicy piece watermelon during the summer. But when the temperature drops and we’re in the thick of winter, you may notice a change in your appetite and your body craving warm, grounding meals like soup, pasta, and warm figgy pudding. Are you feeling the same? Do you feel the same? Remember that salads and smoothies aren’t the only healthy foods. Instead, try making healthy soups, stews, and roasted vegetables.
Incorporate seasonal produce
If you don’t already know, eating in-season is so important. Winter is a great time to enjoy delicious and flavorful produce. Fruits include apples, pomegranates oranges, persimmons (or pears), and persimmons (or oranges). Vegetables include sweet potatoes (butternut squash), sweet potatoes (kale), kale), turnips, sweet potato, sweet potato, sweet potato, sweet beans, kale, Brussels sprouts and turnips to name a few. Listen, if you can’t live without your avocado toast or love eating mangos year-round, it doesn’t mean you should ditch produce that is in season during spring or summer. It doesn’t matter what season it is, the most important thing to do is eat your fruits and vegetables. You should also enjoy what you eat. Instead of replacing, think of what you could be doing. AdditionWinter produce. You can make your avocado toast more delicious by topping it with pomegranate seeds, or a side dish of roasted winter vegetables.
Reward your sweet tooth
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention all the goodies that are synonymous with this time of year: cookies, apple pie, eggnog, Starbucks holiday drinks. Instead of depriving yourself of sweet potato casserole and worrying about how many calories you’re consuming from holiday leftovers, take the time to enjoy the flavors of the foods you love and focus on connecting and celebrating with loved ones. Bottom line: If you’re craving sweets more during this time of year, don’t panic. Try dark chocolate rich in antioxidants or natural sweeteners like bananas, raw honey, and honey. But also indulge in your mom’s famous cookies or a cup of hot chocolate when you want to, totally guilt-free. Being mindful is important at any time of year. So pay attention to how your body feels.
Exercise
You should know that movement is not the only thing that is good for you.
Whether you’re busy with work deadlines and social plans or the aforementioned winter blues have left you feeling tired all the time, workouts can easily fall by the wayside come colder weather. Even the most committed workout enthusiast can feel discouraged at the thought of leaving their warm, cozy bed. That’s OK. If your body isn’t feeling like going on a three-mile jog or doing a HIIT class, don’t force it. Instead, find ways to move your body that feel natural and nourishing. This could include walking for fresh air, doing yoga, or stretching before bed. Also, remember that rest is just as good for the body as exercise, so make relaxation a key part of your exercise routine if that’s what you’re craving. Your body knows what it needs. All you have to do is listen.
You can adjust your favorite workouts to the weather, but get outside as often as you can.
Are you a runner? You don’t need to forego workouts altogether when the weather drops. Instead, you can use these tips to make the outside more bearable. Or, go to the gym and do some sprints on the treadmill. If you’re more into yoga, nothing feels better in the winter than moving your body in a heated room, so opt for some hot yoga (turning up the heat in your apartment or placing a space heater near your yoga mat counts too). Since it’s important to always enjoy the type of workouts you’re doing, adjust what you love best to be indoors while still getting outside for walks or jogs to enjoy the fresh air when you can.
Use these hacks to stay motivated
And if it’s lack of motivation or the continuous rotation of Hallmark Christmas movies playing that’s keeping you from breaking a sweat (same), use small tricks and tips to stay motivated to move your body regularly enough to feel healthy. You can do multiple five-minute movements throughout the day. It adds up!Multitasking can be done by doing bicep curls simultaneously with conference calls. don’t underestimate what a cute, new fitspo outfit can do to get you motivated to move.
Skincare
Add more layers
Let’s face it (pun intended), our sun-kissed and supple complexions are now dry and lacking that fresh-from-a-facial look we had going for us during the summer. It’s a great time to update your skincare routine. Layering is your friend when it comes to dressing for cold weather. The same goes for your winter skincare regimen. Add aYou can add cleansing oil to your routine. To seal it all, you can use a thicker moisturizing serum, a thicker moisturizer, or a hydrating cream. Even if you don’t want to totally change your skincare routine season to season, a couple added basics can make all the difference.
Try a humidifier
Many of us feel dryness and irritation because we spend so much time indoors this time. Consider buying a humidifier for your bedroom, especially if you heavily rely on central air conditioning and heating to manipulate the environment of your home or live in a dry climate—it’ll be your new best friend (goodbye, dryness!). A humidifier can help add a little extra moisture in the air while you’re sleeping and hopefully add a little extra hydration and plumpness to your skin.
Too, you should be focusing on skin care from the inside.
While you’re at it, load your plate with healthy fats (think: avocado, wild salmon, walnuts), which can help regulate your skin’s oil production and soothe dry skin. Radiant, glowing skin is more than what you put on it. It’s also about adding nutrient-rich foods to your diet.
According to Ayurveda
Source: The Every Girl
