In the winter, the pace of life starts to slow down and change in many ways. Whereas in the summer the days were longer, and the weather was warmer, in the winter months we tend to spend less time socialising and more time at home.
Adapting to these changes are an important part of good mental health and it is always good to be mindful of the seasons as this does have a direct impact on our behaviour – doing this can help us to manage our mental wellbeing and embrace the season rather than fighting against it.
In the winter months it is also important to look after our mental wellbeing more as the lack of sunlight can have a negative effect on the brain. This is known as seasonal affective disorder and affects millions of people during the winter.
There are lots of things that you can do to help with this. Something that many people tend to do is to get a light box. This is a box that emits light that is like natural daylight. Spending time with this light shining on you can help to lift the mood if you are feeling low especially on those grey winter days.
Having hobbies that you can do indoors also helps you to make the most of the winter. Being creative is a good way to lift your mood and helps your brain to keep busy with productive things, so it can help to reduce anxiety too. Knitting is a great activity for the winter – you can get lots of equipment online like these crochet blanket kits from www.woolcouturecompany.com/collections/blanket-and-cushions-crochet-kits so you dont even need to leave your home, and knitting is also proven to be able to help lower the blood pressure so it can also help your physical health too!
During the winter months, you should remember to take care of your body too. Exercise is essential for a healthy body, so take some time to have a walk through the woodlands on a frosty day, or if you don’t fancy going outside in the cold, join a gym or find some online exercise classes that you can do in the comfort of your own home.