The winter months are coming and with them usually come a feeling of laziness or lack of motivation to do things. Luckily there are a few ways to combat those feelings during these harsh months.
1. Let some sunlight in your house: During the winter months the daytime hours will become shorter and the lack of sunlight can make you tired. Your body produces Melatonin that makes you sleepy when you are in a dark space. The best way to help with this is to open your blinds or curtains in your house and let in as much light as possible during the day. You can go outside and go for a short walk or find something to do outside to take in as much natural light as possible. If you sit in a dark house all day it will make you feel down or even a little depressed so get out as much as possible during the day and take in as much light as you can.
2. Get a good night’s sleep: A lot of people think that you need more sleep during the winter months because you feel tired all the time. Actually you do not need anymore sleep during these months as any other time of year. You should aim to get 8 hours of sleep a night and continue to go to sleep and wake up at the same times as always. Studies show that if you sleep too much it makes you feel even more tired and sluggish throughout the day and that’s what we are trying our best to avoid. Make your bedroom as comfortable as possible and get rid of all the distractions you have to get the best sleep that you can.
3. Exercise Regularly: Exercise is something that is necessary all year around, but during the winter months it may be even better for you. It’s hard to find motivation to do anything during this time of year, but getting regular activity will help improve your mood and overall well being. Making sure to get at least 30 minutes of activity a day can increase your energy and can help you get a better night sleep as well. When you keep your blood circulating throughout your body you feel more energized and less lazy no matter how gloomy it is outside. Coming to the gym is a great way to stay motivated or find activities to do outside during these last few days of nice weather, like going on walks or playing a game like tennis in the park. Anything to get your heart rate up and keep your body moving is great and the more fun you can make it the easier it will be to do. Exercise is a major component in helping us feel better during these months so get as much in as possible.
4. Learn to relax: Studies have shown that pushing yourself to get too many things done during the day can contribute to your tiredness. If you feel like you are this kind of person the best thing to do is to try and find new outlets to get rid of the stress. Trying classes like Yoga or doing meditation exercises are a good way to get your mind and body back to a neutral place so you can work through the rest of your day. The less stress you have the less tired your mind and body will be. Make time for yourself and find calming techniques that work for you.
5. Eating the right food: Lastly, be sure you are eating the right foods during these months. I know it’s easy to sit at home and eat a lot of pasta and food that really fills you up, but it is going to help you a lot more if you eat a well balanced diet. You need to make sure to eat plenty of vegetables and lean meats to keep your energy up.
These 5 steps are all great ways to help you battle the laziness that comes with these winter months. If you can incorporate a little bit of them all into your life it will help give your body the extra boost that it needs to get you through this time. The best part about these 5 things is that you don’t have to stop doing them when the weather is nice again. Doing all of these year around will help keep your mind and body in a good place all year long!
Here at WellBound we are happy to help you shake off the laziness!
-Anthony
National Health Services. UK. (August, 2020). 5 Ways to Wipe Out Winter Tiredness