As we make our way into darker evenings and colder weather, it is vital to incorporate some additional health and wellness practices into your daily routine. Self-care won’t fix everything but it is a good start to looking after yourself and making it a priority to fulfill and meet your needs. Make this season a period of spiritual, mental and physical transformation with our ten top tips to be well and stay well this winter.
Supplement
Along with a healthy, varied diet, multivitamins and food supplements can greatly contribute to your general health and wellbeing. Set the tone for your day by adding Revive Active Food Supplements to your morning routine to boost productivity and energy levels. The supplements are in powder form allowing faster absorption into the body when dissolved in water and contain 26 active ingredients including vitamins, minerals and amino acids that support the immune system, heart health and energy.
Feed your Gut
The gut is your second brain and if you look after it, it will look after you. More than 70% of our immune system is found in the gut so it is essential that we keep our gut microbiome healthy. Our gut is the first to respond to harmful bacteria by preventing the absorption of harmful pathogens that could make us sick.
Symprove is a probiotic that will help your gut do just that. The water-based formula doesn’t trigger digestion which means that the live, active bacteria will have a better chance of colonising the gut. It’s a must-have with fitness fanatics, foodies and health & wellness gurus and for very good reason, our tester noticed results within two weeks.
Practice Gratitude
Simply put, gratitude is a state of being grateful. There is a strong link between practicing gratitude and general well-being, it is a way of focusing more on the present and less on negative emotions like resentment and regret. People can express gratitude in many different ways such as praying, meditation or journaling. The Head Plan Gratitude Journal was created by a qualified Life & Wellness Coach to empower you to find the good in every day with over 260 carefully curated pages to document your daily affirmations, grateful moments, positive thoughts, and weekly inspired actions. With practice, you will feel the significance of simply acknowledging the positives in your life.
Add some essentials
The Art of Aromatherapy and the use of essential oils in everyday life is embraced by many across the globe. The holistic healing treatment uses the “essence” of plants, flowers, and herbs, known as essential oils; to improve physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing, enhancing our body, mind, and spirit. Karl Murray, Founder and Director of Kotanical, is now Ireland’s first premium essential oil distiller – teaching himself how to grow an incredible 20,000 peppermint plants to bring the very first Irish-produced essential oil to the market. His hand-crafted diffusers are a safer, subtler, and more cost-effective alternative to scented candles and traditional oil burners. As you inhale, the aroma stimulates your nervous system, reducing anxiety and stress almost instantly. We recommend the lavender for stress relief and chamomile for an improved mood and relaxation.
Exercise
I’m sure you’ve heard all the benefits of exercising but believe it or not, exercising in the winter is even better for your health. As the days are colder, your body is faced with the additional challenge of keeping warm causing the immune system to work harder. Exercising for 45 minutes a day is proven to make people feel more energetic, sleep better, and be more positive but 45 minutes may not always be possible. Any type of movement is positive so try to incorporate something, no matter how small into your daily routine.
Improve your sleep
Your mind and body share a strong connection where one can’t work without the other. To ensure your body is functioning efficiently, it is important to maintain a regular sleep schedule. There are many different things you can try before sleep to help you catch some restful zzz’s like drinking chamomile tea, using an eye mask to limit the amount of light you’re exposed to or spraying your pillow with an essential oil or calming spray. ThisWorks Deep Sleep Pillow Spray contains lavender, chamomile and vetivert oil which are guaranteed to put you into a restful sleep, reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality.
Meditate
Many studies have found that incorporating meditation and simple mindful breathing techniques into your day can help to reduce anxiety and improve sleep. These practices help you to get in tune with yourself and really listen to your body and what its needs are. Sometimes, we need to slow down and simply just breathe.
If you find it difficult to meditate in silence, you can follow along to an app like Headspace or a podcast like the Bressie Meditations Podcast.
Relax
There is nothing like bundling up in front of a fire on a cold winter’s day. The winter months are associated with relaxation and some form of human hibernation and after the stressful year we’ve had, we all deserve a little bit of self-love and serenity. You could run yourself a hot bath with bubbles and some essential oils to ease both body and mind. Add some candles for a finishing touch like the Coconut & Lime candle from Peppermint Grove which contains notes of vanilla, coconut and jasmine – a unique scent to put your mind at ease.
Connect with Nature
Connecting with nature is one of the best things you could do for your mental and physical well-being. According to studies, spending as little as 15 minutes outdoors can leave you feeling psychologically restored. Surrounding yourself by nature reduces your heart rate which in turn relieves stress and anxiety. More benefits include better mood and improved attention span. Galway and the west of Ireland are abundant with outdoor havens of peace and tranquillity to immerse yourself if. From walking trails, woods, beaches, parks and forests, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Nourish
Winter is the perfect time to nourish our bodies with healthy foods to build up our immune systems. We talked about how it is important to restore our mind and muscles, it is equally as important to give the same amount of care when it comes to what we eat. Root vegetables are in their prime in winter and have a multitude of nutrients. You can incorporate them into your diet by cooking vegetable soups, beef stews, shepherd’s pie, broths, etc. You can even get all the fresh ingredients delivered straight to your door with companies like Green Earth Organics.
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