With darker days and colder nights, winter can be a difficult time for anybody. But as we get older, it becomes more important than ever to look after our health during winter. Beating winter depression isn’t easy, but there are loads of ways you can go about it. If you or your loved ones are worried about the impact of winter, you can learn how to fight the winter blues below!
How to beat the blues in winter
- Keep moving
- Maintain a good diet
- Make sure your home is warm
- Prepare with cough and cold supplies
- Stay connected
- Get as much sun as you can
Keep moving
Staying active is vital for your mental and physical health. It can be tempting to sit still and let winter pass, but don’t let a bit of cold weather stop you from enjoying the great outdoors. As long as you wrap up warm, there’s no reason why you can’t step outside and do something productive. From peaceful walks to joining social clubs, there are loads of things you can do to give yourself a boost during the winter months.
Maintain a good diet
While you should always aim to eat well, this is especially important during winter. With a lack of sun, you have to make sure that you are still getting Vitamin D through a well-balanced diet. You also need to eat foods that are rich in nutrients that will keep you more warm during winter. As you’ll likely be spending more time indoors during winter, make sure to stock up on more essentials than usual when you go food shopping!
Make sure your home is warm
During winter, your home should be a warm embrace from the cold of the outside world. If your home isn’t warm enough, you may become more vulnerable to physical and mental health problems. To help fight the dangers of winter, keep your home at a warm temperature throughout the day. Keep windows closed to avoid the draught and close your curtains in the evenings to keep heat inside.
Prepare with cough and cold supplies
You may not be able to completely avoid illness during winter, but you can anticipate it. By stocking up on cough and cold supplies, you can ensure you never get caught unawares by a fit of sneezing or coughing. The last thing you need is to have to step out in the cold when you are already unwell!
Stay connected
It may be harder to see your friends and family out in the cold, but try your best to keep connected and avoid a lonely retirement. Reaching out to friends and family over the phone, or visiting those closest to you can be a great way of lifting your spirits during winter. Whatever you do, don’t suffer in silence - with a Churchill Retirement apartment, there will always be someone to speak to about any aspect of retirement life!
Get as much sun as you can
Winter isn’t the best time to catch some sun rays, but you won’t benefit from spending all of winter indoors. Keep your blinds open as much as possible to take advantage of sunlight. As well as being good for your physical health - plenty of Vitamin D! - sunlight will give you a much brighter outlook on life. Whenever you can, try and get outdoors. It may be cloudy on most days, but some fresh air will do your health a world of good.
Looking for somewhere to keep warm and comfortable during your retirement? With a Churchill Retirement apartment, you can take advantage of our energy efficient heating to ensure you never feel the chill of winter.