By Nicole McCray
Winter is coming, and no matter whether you live in the north or south, there is less daylight. And with the holiday season around the corner, there is a lot of fun to be had with yummy food. Having said that, extra sugar, cold weather, and less light can make it hard to feel like our best selves. Seasonal Affective Disorder is quite common during the colder months and it is important we pay attention to how it can impact our wellbeing.
Prioritizing our mental health and daily wellness with routines to take care of ourselves physically and mentally is key over the next few months. That’s why we have come up with some food for thought.
Having a Thoughtful Morning
Starting your day right is the most important thing you can do. It can set us up for success for the rest of the day and affect our mood and energy levels. Here are some tips
Get Natural Light As Early As Possible
The one thing our body tends to lack is Vitamin D in the colder months. Taking a supplement to boost your levels is incredibly important. It’s also key to find natural light as soon as possible. When the start starts to come up, spending a few minutes outside or even by the window helps wake up our natural circadian rhythm.
Journal To Stimulate the Brain
Brain fog is certainly a thing. Most of them will go right for the coffee. The interesting thing is that the earlier we drink coffee, the sooner we can crash during the day. Holding off on your morning brew and swapping it out for journaling is a great way to be thoughtful and stimulate your brain.
Stay Away From Tech
Technology and social media have the ability to create anxiety. The feeling of urgency created by the incoming notifications is an unhealthy habit that keeps us connected with our phones. This takes us out of a connected and peaceful state. Limiting screen time in the morning will help you limit it throughout the day.
A Mid-Day Break
Once our day gets going, it can be hard to stop. On the other hand, it can be incredibly difficult to get going. When you start your morning productive, you are much more likely to have the former option. However, non-stop activities and work can lead to burnout. That’s why scheduling an active time to take a break can help avoid the early afternoon crash.
- Take time to go for a walk for 20 minutes (outside if possible) and just observe what’s going on around you.
- Head to your local cafe and grab a treat to reward yourself for a good start to the day. Bringing a book, magazine, or something to keep you off the phone to be engaged during your break is key.
- A restful moment in the car can go a long way. Stepping outside work or wherever you have spent the last few hours is important. An audiobook, podcast, or even just a peaceful moment can do the trick.
However, you find joy in how you should spend your midday break. It’s the time to be thoughtful with your time so you feel refreshed to get back to what you need to do.
Your Evening Routine
Your evening routine is just as important as your morning routine because it not only sets you up for the next day but also gives you gratification for the day you had. Winding down and disconnecting here is incredibly important.
Grooming Routine
Taking care of our hair, skin, nails, and body is important to feel good. During colder months, our hair and skin can become dry and brittle. This is true for both men and women. Using beard oil or hair oil will be a great addition to lock in and seal moisture that cold air freezes out.
You should also be doubling down on moisturizer for your hands and face. While we don’t want to create excess oil, our body naturally needs a little more love without any humidity in the hair.
Exercise
Exercise can be done in the morning, mid-day, or evening. It’s very dependent on the person’s schedule and what kind of person they are. But no matter when you feel it is the best time to exercise, it is crucial to keep moving.
This is going to release important hormones that help lift our mood during tougher parts of the year. So, there is a physical and mental/emotional benefit. For those who lack motivation, a group class is the way to go. You can also find at-home workouts for those who find it hard to access a gym. Even 20 minutes a day can be life-changing.
Taking Time and Putting In Effort
The most important thing is being able to set aside time to do some of these things. They do require a little effort, which can be the most daunting task. Having said that, once you get into the habit of taking care of yourself, you’ll see it’s much more enjoyable than you think. When we live on autopilot, it’s easy to fall into bad habits that build up.
You don’t have to do a 180 with your routine. In fact, that’s the easiest way to try it once and not again. What is recommended is to make one adjustment at a time and get good at that. Then, continue to improve other parts of your day.
Nicole McCray is a content creator who spends her time writing about everything, including beauty, health and wellness, pet care, music, movies, and TV. She writes for various blogs and loves using her insight to help any audience.
