Winter Health

Winter isn’t easy……and we’re not just talking about shovelling snow off the driveway.  The cold weather months bring a blizzard of health issues ranging from flu bugs to dry skin to the winter blues. 

The festive period can be a time when we eat more than usual so remembering to stay active even in the cold weather is even more important.  Even if you’re not a keen runner, just doing a quick walk or taking things up the stairs at home, rather than leaving them at the bottom till later can make a big difference! 

Research shows that staying active can increase your productivity and mood.  A 20-minute walk a day can help release endorphins and improve your cognitive function.  How can you achieve this during your day? 

Many of us will be sitting for periods of time during the day.  Some of you may have a clever watch to remind you to stand up, but let’s face it, that’s not always feasible.  

Here are a few stretches you can do whilst seated to make you feel more awake, and generally feel better:

– Seated spinal rotation – grab your shoulders and rotate

– Posterior stretch – hold one arm across your chest and pull your elbow into your chest

– Shrug your shoulders – gently lift your shoulders and slowly let them fall

– Neck rotations – gently turn your head from side to side

– Two-Armed shoulder extension – hold both arms above your head, link hands and push upwards

Something else to look after is the largest organ you have – your skin!  Here are our tops tips for combating dry skin in winter:

– Limit the length of your shower – the heat in the water dries the oils out of your skin and can make it dry 

– Apply moisturiser right after showering – towel dry and then put moisturiser on to ‘trap’ the moisture back in 

– Look for fragrance-free products – apparently the better they smell the more irritating they are for your skin

– Don’t over-exfoliate – soap is known for drying out the oils in your skin

Winter blues are a real thing, and the festive season can be great for many reasons, but some can find it lonely.  Make sure you reach out to those individuals around you.  Are they all ok?  Kindness is free and will mean the world to those around you.