COMBAT THE WINTER BLUES
With these easy 
MOOD ENHANCING REMEDIES

1. Be kind to yourself is number one on the list and it’s there for a reason. We all tend to beat ourselves up with ‘if only,’ but it’s important to remember that what’s gone has gone and you cannot do anything about it, so stop regretting those impulse buys because, whatever reason you bought something, or whoever you bought them for, it gave you pleasure at the time and that is what’s important.
    

2. Give yourself a 14 day challenge and if you get past that, tag on another 14 days. It can be anything you like but you must commit to doing it every day; for example you might learn a language, take up a new creative hobby, learn to cook a different country’s cuisine, take up yoga, learn to meditate, start a travel journal, identify the stars in the sky, grow something, give up something, tell someone you love them in a different language each day, feed the ducks at your local park, smile at a stranger.
    

3. Take a Duvet Day (but don’t tell the boss!). Use this opportunity to read a proper book (not a tablet), turn off the tech, light a candle and give yourself a face pack. Watch a weepy movie and eat a box of chocolates (dark chocolate of course) all to yourself, tomorrow you get back on the health wagon!
    

4. Exercise, this doesn’t have to mean hitting the gym; any form of exercise is known to be a mood enhancer. Often, it’s just fitting in time for yourself, no matter how small that might be. Whether it’s 10 minutes working along with a fitness video, a brisk walk around your block or a full out run. Alternatively, join a dance class and wow your partner with your belly dancing moves. The important thing is that you make this your ‘me’ time and family are encouraged to allow you some space.
    

5. Book an Experience weekend with your partner or a friend, there are so many opportunities available such as Spa, a murder mystery, cooking classes, foraging, ecotherapy guided walks, acting, watercolour painting, a forest holiday or adventure park. Glamping – the type without electricity!

 

1. Commit to being mindful every day for 10 minutes minimum. Mindfulness goes hand in hand with exercise where ‘me time’ is important to you and your relationships with everyone around you. Mindfulness doesn’t need to mean meditation, although it is closely linked, it can simply be a 10 minute space to sit, without any tech (okay music is allowed) and concentrate on one thing such as a beautiful flower, a flickering candle or pretty scene outside your window. If you have a restless mind and find your thoughts constantly wandering, just keep bringing your thoughts back to the present. Mindfulness is a great tool to help you achieve holistic wellness.
    

2. Don’t diet! For the majority of people, the great New Year diet lasts less than a week before the weather, stress at work or just ‘can’t be bothered’ kicks in. However, a simple switch to deciding to adopt a healthy eating plan can trick your mind into believing you’re not on a diet, and if you choose wisely, it actually isn’t a diet and the side-effects of eating healthier food, can be weight-loss if that’s your goal. Examples of healthy diets include: a mediterranean diet, a plant-based diet, intermittent fasting. Whichever meal plan you choose, ensure it’s devoid of saturated fats and high levels of salt and sugar.
    

3. Make your own natural health remedies. Show me an Apothecary and I’m lost for hours, it’s a world I would inhabit all day every day if I could. The majority of us have lost touch with nature and the natural world, but our ancestors would have known exactly which herb or plant to pick to ward off a cold or fight an infection. Reconnect with nature and your ancestral path by making a few uplifting concoctions, most of which you’ll find around your home or at your local market. Here’s one example:-

DIY sleep pillow, either make your own sachet or buy them ready made and fill with your own herbal sleep concoction. Herbs that a great sleep enhancer are Lavender, Hops, Chamomile and Rose petals. Dried herbs can be bought online but even better grow them on your windowsill or in your garden during the summer and hang them up to dry. Lavender and Rose petals can also be included in biscuits and cakes; Chamomile makes a soothing herbal tea and of course we all know that Hops make great beer. However, Hops are also good for insomnia and help relieve stress and anxiety. Dried Hops can also be bought online. Suppliers list below.

 

Herbs and plants I would suggest you grow at home for making your own beauty remedies and for medicinal use include Lavender, Rosemary, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Roses (for their petals), Geranium, Sweet Marjoram, Thyme, Sage and Garlic. Of course, many of these herbs and plants can be used for cooking too. Most of these will grow in pots on your windowsill if you don’t have a garden.

This article and the suggested remedies are a light-hearted attempt to give you ideas to prevent the winter blues, they not intended to replace professional medical advice. If you feel your mood dip is more serious and you are finding it difficult to pick yourself up then you should seek medical advice sooner rather than later, it takes a strong person to admit when they need help, be that strong person, don’t suffer in silence.

 

 

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Angela Nubbert BA (Hons), MCMA

Angela is a freelance writer, aromatherapist, stress management practitioner and wellness coach; she is also passionate about nutritional health and believes a daily dose of green living is the antidote to the modern tech obsessed world.