The Winter Glow Up
For me it’s about fully embracing the winter. I think it is so easy to fall into the trap of feeling down when the season starts to change from Summer to Autumn. Every year Autumn catches me by surprise and the initial change in season makes me feel out of whack, my routine goes out the window and everything just feels a little meh. Until, around this time when I realise I just have to embrace it and all the winter has to offer and it completely flips my perspective. So, if you feel meh, but are ready to turn those feelings around… here’s what you could do. It works for me, it could work for you too…
The first thing I ALWAYS do is book in some winter activities. This is a great way to embrace and look forward to the months ahead. Here’s an example, (bare in mind I have 2 young children), I have just booked: Pumpkin picking, A winter trail at Kew Gardens to find the Gruffalos' Child, Ice skating at The Royal Pavilion and a visit to Father Christmas. This has straight away got me looking forward. Some other examples could be: a winter wreath workshop, The Beach Box Sauna, Winter Wonderland, A Panto…
Change up your routine. It’s unrealistic to expect your routine to remain the same in the winter months. Trying to fight a routine that worked well in the summer can feel so stressful. You just end up beating yourself up. Instead go with it, listen to your body and if it wants to stay in in the evening, let it! If you need another hour in bed (and are able to), go with it. What do you need to change to make you feel more comfortable, happy and adjusted to the change in season? Perhaps that extra hour in bed could work, but a blustery post work workout on the beach could do the trick?!
This leads me to my next thing…. don’t be afraid of the elements. Embrace the elements! There is no such thing as bad weather (unless it’s really windy because let’s face it, high winds are SUPER annoying) - but like rain, cold, normal wind levels (haha)… embrace it! Tog yourself up, get out there. For me there is nothing more uplifting and energising than an outdoor workout or walk with the family in the pissing rain then coming home and getting warm and cosy. It’s one of the best feelings ever. And, as Joseph Pilates famously says, “By all means never fail to get all the sunshine and fresh air you can.”
Get cosy! When you come home from work (even if you work from home), or come back from a a day out, get cosy. It’s a great way to transition from day to night. And, on those days when it feels like it never gets light this is an especially important transition to make. Rather than throw your bags down and sit around in your day clothes. Try to make a conscious effort to change your clothes. Put on some cosy socks, light a candle, dim the lights and make a warm drink, and even make a hot water bottle. It’s just a nice but simple thing to do for yourself to help you feel safe and warm and ready to hunker down and embrace the dark evening.
For me, the summer is all about the early mornings, sea swims, refreshing smoothies and summer salads. But the winter lends itself to warming drinks (a hug in a mug), woolly socks and comforting soups. Which leads me to my next thing…. A Hug In A Mug! - there is nothing better! I’m thinking warming drinks and soups. Here is a link to some of my fav hug in a mugs from a previous blog post (click here). But for the soups, I highly recommend you get those cook books out and find some soup recipes that take your fancy and you can do these over and over all winter so you always have a go-to healthy delicious lunch that can be eaten at home or on the go. Make a big batch at the start of the week and you can re heat it each day. For an on the go hot meal I would highly recommend the Thermos Soup Flask… it is the best winter accessory ever!
Get a good coffee scrub - or, make your own! A coffee scrub shower is a great winter morning ritual (with a cold shower if you can bare it) - but if you can’t at least make the coffee scrub a thing. It helps with circulation, inflammation, puffiness, skin texture, its energising and uplifting and smells gorg for the morning…. if you like coffee! It just gives you that little pick-me-up and a glow. My fav brand is Frank Body or you can make your own, here’s a recipe from the Coconut Mama but you can find loads of recipes online.
Vitamin D! - get yourself a good Vitamin D supplement. This is a good easy winter health hack, but in my opinion an essential.
Get a glowing complexion with a regular self face massage. On my online video platform, there is a wonderful video by Katie Light that you can follow to keep your skin glowing. She teaches you to use a Gua Sha (which is a rose quartz tool) or your hands to massage your face, neck and jaw. This, along with some lovely face oils helps to ease stress and tension from the face leaving your jaw feeling more released and your skin glowing as you will increase the blood flow to the face.
Schedule your time and be strict on your boundaries. Use the 5 second rule. If you can’t answer ‘yes I want to do this’ within 5 seconds of being asked… the chances are you’re not really that fussed about it or, it would potentially cause you stress by saying yet due to other external issues: child care, finances etc. Use this 5 second rule when committing to projects and social engagements for a more stress free winter. Plus, it’s a good idea to add in some boundaries with yourself, and stick to them. How late do you really need to work into the evenings. How many social engagements do you really WANT to attend a week. Can you get up an hour earlier to make your morning routine better and less stressful? Could you start work later to give you some more headspace in the morning…? And remember, it is always ok to say no.
Keep moving. Whether that be online or in real life. I find the best balance for me is to have an online membership so that I can still do my favourite workout but then I tend to have a pass for a gym I love so that I can drop into classes as and when I feel up to it. Remember what I said at the beginning (point 2) about listening to your body. Well, often in the winter we naturally just want to hibernate more, this is fine but you really don’t want to do this at the expense of not working out. Regular exercises is so good for keeping your head up and your motivation and productivity levels high and this is needed more so in the winter. So, getting yourself a good online membership is a really good way to do those favourite workouts but in the comfort and cosines of your own home on those days when you can’t fit in a trip to the gym or you just can’t face the elements. Online memberships reduces the friction and excuses for you to not exercise. I have a 7 day free trial on my Pilates platform if you want to try this with zero commitment and see how you get on… try now.
And last but not least, try to factor in some mindfulness at bedtime. I have some amazing mindful videos on my platform from the wonderful Katie Light from the Light Technique, to Sarah Williams who is an incredible Yoga teacher to my wonderful Mindful Pilates workouts for busy minds and tired bodies. All available on my Online Platform. However, there are so many apps you can also download to try with an array of incredible mindful audios: headspace, calm, insight to name a few.
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