Tips to beat the Winter Blues

It’s not uncommon to feel low after all the hustle & bustle of the Xmas period, going back to work after holiday, failing to stick to your new year resolutions, etc. In fact the official NHS says that lots of people get depressed in winter, or suffer from "the winter blues". The medical name for this winter depression is seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Get more light

There's sound scientific evidence to support the idea that the season can affect our moods.

Light entering the eye causes changes in hormone levels in the body. In our bodies, light functions to stop the production of the sleep hormone melatonin, making us wake up. SAD sufferers are affected by shorter daylight hours in the winter. They produce higher melatonin, causing lethargy and symptoms of depression.

If you feel low in winter, get outside as often as you can, especially on bright days. Sitting by a window can also help.

Eat yourself happier in winter

It’s also important to eat well during the winter. Winter blues can make you crave sugary foods and high GI carbohydrates such as chocolate, pasta and bread, but don’t forget to include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet as well as healthy low GI carbs like Grechka buckwheat packed with fibre, protein and vitamins. #lovegoodcarbs

Get active

Outdoor exercise will have a double benefit, because you’ll gain some daylight.

Activity is believed to change the level of the mood-regulating chemical serotonin in the brain. It can also help by providing a pleasant change of scene, and helping you to meet new people. Locals app is a brilliant app to help you find such activities and meet great people by the way.

Less is more

And remember less is more… You really don’t need to make drastic changes to your diet or start doing HITT workouts 5 times a week. Simple little steps that fit into your existing and well established routines work best as so brilliantly described by James Clear in his best selling book #atomichabits. For example: every morning as soon as I finish brushing my teeth I take out my yoga mat and spend 5 mins on exercise or every time I commute to work I choose the route where I walk the longest and get exposure to the daylight by midday.

Note from our co-founder Malika

Our co-founder Malika shares simple and effective 1 minute Pilates exercises on her Instagram. Check them out. Malika herself is exploring the art of balance and how to be able to perform all the roles she wants to perform in life in the best possible way for herself and her loved ones. And sometimes it means that she won’t be a perfect mom or might feel like a failure entrepreneur. And that’s ok. We are only learning after all.

You are enough. I am enough. Let’s look after ourselves ❤️