Enjoy winter by making sure you stay positive, active and connected. By
investing just a few minutes each day, the following suggestions can
favorably affect your well-being. Spending time in your hot tub is
another. It’s part of a holistic approach to wellness with significant
positive benefits. Just 20 minutes a day can help you reduce stress,
increase flexibility and circulation, promote muscle recovery and
improve sleep.
Yes, winter is here and the clocks have been turned back. It’s dark earlier
and longer, and it’s getting colder. Your inner voice is probably suggesting
that you eat a mound of unhealthy foods and hide under blankets.
Resist! There’s no reason the winter months can’t be lively, healthy,
enjoyable and energetic. Most of our ideas require only a few minutes a day
but could really help improve your state of mind and body. Start now and
form habits that can carry you through winter.
Stay Active
When there’s snow, some activities are obvious. Skiing, snowboarding,
cross-country skiing and ice skating will all keep you fit. While these are
great winter activities, they also take significant time and may require a
full weekend. Here are a few other ideas that need less commitment.
• Go sledding. Sure, going downhill doesn’t take much energy, but you have
to get up the hill first. You’d be surprised what a fantastic workout you
can get in just a few runs with the kids.
• Try out a fat-tire bike. The super-wide tires with traction treads
finally make it possible to ride in snow. Plus, they’re an absolute
blast.
• Strap on your snowshoes. According to an article on the University of
Utah website, a 150-lb woman will burn 500 calories in an hour on snowshoes.
Compare that to 271 calories without.
• Walk in any weather. As they say in Scandinavia, there is no bad weather,
only bad clothes. Dress in layers and get outside for a calorie-burning,
mind-clearing walk, no matter the weather. Do it daily to maintain a
positive attitude while you stay toned and energetic.
Eat Well
In winter, we tend toward comfort foods that fill us up and make us feel
like hibernating. You’ll do a better job of staying fit and healthy by
avoiding sugary and starchy foods. Instead, opt for vegetables, grains and
other complex carbohydrates. Even at holiday gatherings, there are usually
healthy options available. A good diet should be a lifestyle, not a recovery
plan. A few other ideas:
• Natural Vitamin C. In-season produce can help you get plenty of Vitamin C
during the winter months. Stock up on clementines, grapefruit, kiwi and
sweet potatoes.
• Don’t forget the Vitamin D. With less exposure to the sun, it’s important
to get vitamin D during the winter months. Concentrate on a diet with fish,
soy, mushrooms and other foods high in
vitamin D. You may also want to consider taking a vitamin supplement.
Lighten and Brighten
Besides decreasing your exposure to vitamin D, lack of light in the winter
months has also been linked to
seasonal depression
and lethargy. Take time to get outdoors every day and take steps to increase
your exposure to daylight whenever you can.
• Use your hot tub daily. Besides giving you all the benefits that come
with
20-minutes in a hot tub, you’ll be exposed to sunlight and fresh air as you take a warm,
comforting soak.
• Keep your shades and draperies open while you’re home during the day.
Brighten each room as much as possible. At the office, try to work by a
window when you can.
• Use brighter light bulbs and light the rooms you’re in as much as
possible.
Stay Connected
Winter can tend to isolate us in our homes. Instead, work to keep your
personal connections intact.
• Watch the game. Why watch a hockey, basketball or football game alone
when your friend is doing the same thing in his or her home. Celebrate or
commiserate together.
• Meet a friend after work for coffee or an appetizer before heading
home.
• Invite friends over for dinner, a movie or board games.
• Relax with friends in your hot tub. It’s a great way to keep personal
connections intact and relax in warm water in any weather.
Liven Up Your Home
In addition to brightening your house with lighting, make sure your living
space is clean and fresh. It’ll do wonders for your state of mind. A few
ideas:
• Occasionally open the windows and fill your house with fresh, crisp
air.
• Keep your bedding fresh.
• Clean any area that could harbor mold by wiping up condensation or any
other moisture. Keep bathrooms clean to avoid mold that will grow when
exposed to steam from showers and baths.
• Add flowers for a hint of bright color. Even artificial flowers can help
lighten up a room.
• Play music that helps you feel energized.
Create!
It’s comforting to have a project to keep you busy during the winter. If
you don’t have an activity you can turn to, go to the library and look
through books on craft ideas. There’s a huge trove of project ideas there
that you can tap into and add your own personal touch.
Set Your Sleep Clock
Many of us wander through our days sleep deprived. Yet winter naturally
affects our internal clock and makes us want to sleep more. If you have the
time, give in and catch up on your rest. Use the early dark hours to your
advantage and begin establishing a sleep pattern that will give you eight or
nine hours of sleep.
Use winter’s cold temperatures to your advantage. People sleep better in a
cool room with temperatures ranging from 54 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Take a nightly soak in your hot tub to raise your body temperature and
relax. When you go to bed, your body temperature will drop, signaling to
your body that it’s time to sleep. Read more about how your hot tub can help
you sleep in our
sleep-related blog entry.
Never Waste a Sunny Day
Make a pact with yourself. Any day when the sun is shining, get outdoors
and spend 10 or 20 minutes in the light. It can do wonders for your mood.
But remember, just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you should skip
the sunscreen.
Use these tips to enjoy your winter months, and you’ll feel energetic and
ready to launch into spring when it arrives.
What Do You Think?
What do you do to keep the winter months interesting and fun? Is it
business as usual for you, or do you add activities and events into your
life to keep you moving and inspired? If you have ideas to add to our
list, please share them with us and our readers.
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