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Motivation in Winter

Staying motivated in the winter months isn’t easy, especially in a pandemic with lockdown restrictions, and shorter days and colder weather all add to this. Sometimes it is much easier to stay in, cosy up and do less.  Here are our top tips to see winter in a positive motivated way.

1. Wake up early, there is nothing more beautiful than seeing a bright frosty day for yourself, wrap up warm and crunch your way through a short walk round the garden or a stroll further afield. Not only will you feel invigorated and release good endorphins, a good dose of natural light will also aid melatonin levels (aids better sleep)and winter sunshine still supports our vitamin D levels.

2. Make a list of the positives of Winter and stick it somewhere you can see it, so that when you are feeling less motivated you can remind yourself of the good stuff the season brings, you can even read it out loud if you want to. It can be a way to help you refocus and not become too caught up in the negatives. Make a list of what you would like to achieve or aspire to do this season and into the new year. The benefit of darker nights we have more time to reflect and plan our new goals for ourselves.

3. Reward yourself with treats that have a positive effect on your well being. In Winter there’s nothing better than coming in and sitting by the fire with a hot drink and a good book or magazine, especially if it’s after being outside for a brisk walk or a frosty adventure. Pamper yourself with a long lazy bath.

4. Make time to connect with friends and family, in a world of social media we can sometimes fool ourselves into thinking we are connected, when in reality we can become more disconnected from each other, so take the time to reach out, give people a call or arrange to meet up where social distancing allows, don’t assume that everyone is too busy.

Winter doesn’t have to be a time of hibernation and isolation, when done with enthusiasm, Winter can be a season of self-care, reflection and connection- indeed the best season of the year!

If you are looking for support this winter to make some healthy lifestyle changes, we can offer this as part of our Stop Smoking, Eat Well, Lose weight, Drink Less and Move More pathways please sign up here