As the weather gets colder and the days start to draw in, it’s normal for our mood to take a bit of a dip. But there are lots of ways to beat the winter blues. Here’s our starter for ten...
1. Be more colourful
Colours have a very powerful effect on personality and emotions, and are a vital factor in happiness, health and wellbeing. From balancing and harmonious green hues to stimulating yellows and warm oranges, colour consultant Jules Standish explains that using the right colours in the home and clothes you wear can “help you create the balance you need to lead a healthy and happy life”.
2. Make time for lunch
Lack of natural light during the winter months affects us physically: we need a certain amount of light to produce Vitamin D, which is essential for the development and maintenance of a healthy body and is linked with mental health too. During winter, it’s normal to leave for work in the dark and to get home after sunset, so getting out at midday for some fresh air and natural light is vital to help the body function properly and give your spirits a welcome boost.
"Out of clutter find simplicity."
Albert Einstein
3. Have a clearout
There’s nothing like a good clearout to cleanse the soul! The process of cleaning and clearing out unwanted items is incredibly therapeutic, and the end results are bound to give you a real sense of achievement. The general rule of thumb here is, if you haven’t used it in over 12 months, you probably never will. Offer good quality clothes and non-electrical items to a charity shop, or donate to your local church or school for fundraising events.
4. Invite friends and family over
Now that you’ve decluttered and made your home beautiful, why not invite friends and family over to show it off? Socialising is one of our most basic needs: it makes us feel accepted and a part of something, so being around your closest friends and loved ones is a fantastic way to boost your mood and make you feel good.
5. Eat yourself happy
It’s really easy to get into bad habits as the weather gets colder and the nights start to draw in. We naturally seek out warming comfort food over the winter months, but that often involves eating foods high in fats and sugars, which in the long run will only make you feel worse. Try to eat seasonal foods high in vitamin C to help boost immunity and keep colds at bay, and make sure your diet is full of energy and mood-boosting B vitamins, typically found in eggs, dairy products and leafy green vegetables.
6. Watch your favourite comedy
Did you know, the average four year old laughs 300 times a day, compared to just 17 times for adults? Is it any wonder children are naturally happier and less stressed than us? A simple way to redress the balance is to watch something that's guaranteed to make you laugh. Turning your attention to something else and letting go of some emotions is a sure fire way to relieve tension and anxiety, so put on your comfy clothes, crack open the popcorn, sit back and watch something guaranteed to lift your spirits.
7. Do some exercise
It might be the last thing you feel like doing on a cold and rainy evening, but even just ten minutes of light exercise can make an enormous difference to your mood - why not try a Zumba dance class!
That’s because physical activity naturally increases the production of serotonin and the release of endorphins in the body, both of which are proven to produce a feeling of exhilaration and help relieve pain, anxiety and stress levels too.
8. Book a holiday
It’s true what they say, a change really is as good as a rest. But combining the two is even better! Having a weekend away or holiday to look forward to will keep you feeling positive for weeks beforehand, and if you’re travelling somewhere warm, the extra sunlight will do you the world of good. Get some great holiday ideas in our Travel & Leisure section.
"The best way to cheer yourself up is to cheer somebody else up."
Mark Twain
9. Do something for others
Doing something to help others is not only a great way of improving the world we live in, but it’ll make you feel a whole lot better too.
Whether it’s offering to get an elderly neighbour’s shopping, or helping someone in the third world set up their own business, you’ll get a real sense of achievement and satisfaction from doing something meaningful and worthwhile.
10. Kiss someone!
Believe it or not, kissing has numerous health benefits, including burning calories and boosting immunity. But it also helps relax you by increasing our levels of oxytocin, the body’s natural calming chemical, as well as releasing those feel-good endorphins.
