We know these cold winter months can be a bit of a mental struggle, with the dark nights and cold temperatures its common for us to feel a little blue! It's thought the winter blues, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), affects around 2 million people in the UK.
We might be restricted with the weather but that doesn’t mean we can’t do things to keep us feeling well. Here are some things we can try at home:
Take care of your body
Keeping your body well can help keep your mind well. Being active is essential for a healthy body but physical activity can also improve our mental wellbeing. Try taking a lunch time walk or have a search on YouTube for some at home exercise videos – there’s something for everyone, it only needs to take 10 minutes!
Eating the right nutrients can combat winter blues and can help us fight off any nasty bugs, it can also have long standing benefits like lessening our chances of getting diabetes and high cholesterol. A healthy balanced diet will give you the right energy, preventing drops in blood sugar and low mood.
Sort your space
Time to bust out the dusters! It’s a common saying that a tidy space means a tidy mind. If our environment feels cluttered or overwhelming it can seep into our mental wellbeing. With a lot of us working from home, creating a calming workspace can help us feel more productive and more relaxed as well as helping us switch off from the working day.
Keep in touch with friends and family
Speaking to our loved ones can make a difficult time seem a little easier and reminds us that we’re not alone – a problem shared is a problem halved. Reaching out could be the first step in getting support. There are plenty of community groups around that can help you get a little social interaction.
Create goals
The winter can feel never ending (that’s the UK for you!) but setting some goals can give you a sense of purpose. The goals don’t have to be anything groundbreaking, it might be you want to learn how to cook, to live a healthier lifestyle or learn a new skill. Whatever you want to achieve, goals can keep us motivated. Make sure your goals are realistic and achievable.
Get some fresh air
This one is simple, get outside. Stand in your garden, get to one of our country parks, walk to the shop instead of driving, whatever it might be try and get a few minutes of fresh air every day. Spend these few minutes really grounding yourself and taking notice of the things around you, try using your 5 senses to see and feel your surroundings.
Practise self-care
Self-care can look different for everyone, but the idea is just taking a portion of your day to do something that sparks joy or makes you feel good e.g., watching your comfort TV show, meeting up with friends, going to bed early etc. Self-care can be as small, big, as you need. Self-care is very personal and can change over time.
If you or someone you know needs mental wellbeing support or you just want to find mental wellbeing services near you, head to our Start a Conversation website.
Emily Rodbourne, Health Improvement Officer