Some people love winter. A time bring out coats and jumpers, enjoying time at home and socialising. For others the darker nights and colder weather is less welcome. Money pressures, colds, flu, COVID and the looming demands of Christmas and winter festivities may feel overwhelming.You might feel your mood slip. Motivation can be low. If you can’t get out for whatever reason feelings of isolation and loneliness may be more prominent and anxiety may feel ever present. It can feel like it’s time to bed down, stay in until things get better.
While there’s no magic wand to solve this, there are some things you can do to support your well-being and might help to keep you going:
10 minutes to yourself – It may not be a long time but if you’re busy with kids or family, caring for others or just pressed for time, taking some quiet time to do what YOU want, instead of what others want you to do, can help you recharge your batteries.
Walk in the cold – it might sound like a contradiction but wrap up as warm as you can and take a brisk walk in the cold. Being outdoors and getting some daylight everyday can really benefit your mental well-being.
Read a book or a magazine – When it’s cold and dark outside, getting into reading can be a great distraction from other things going on or take you away to other worlds and places. Your local library can be a great place to spend time and it’s free to borrow books to take home.
Keep hydrated and drink plenty of water – even if the heating isn’t on stay hydrated it will help prevent your skin drying.
Experiment with your cooking or baking – When it’s cold your body needs more fuel. Stews and soups are warm and comforting meals that you can batch cook you can freeze for the future or share with others. Freshly baked cakes or biscuits are a treat for any time of year!
Connect with friends or loved ones – A good chat or even a quick text or message with someone you love and trust does wonders for our mental health. If you can, arrange a fun cosy night in with them to talk, laugh or to just relax and watch telly with some company.
Share a hug – Give someone a hug, either for warmth or to show them you care.
Sleep well – as far as possible try to get into good habits with our sleep. Have regular times for going to bed and getting up, wind down and relax in the run up to bed. Limit looking your phone, telly or computer.
Think about last year and plan for the future– what was good? What could’ve been better? Did you learn anything? What made you proud? What do you want from the year ahead and what can you do to make them happen?
If it feels like this won’t be enough or they don’t make a difference it might be you need some additional support. There can be a lot of extra demand on services and waiting lists for counselling services can get longer at this time of year but it is important that you ask for help.
If these just aren’t cutting it you might need more help. Your GP should be your first port of call.
If you find yourself in a crisis remember you are important and people do care. There is still support you can access such as:
If you have to wait to get help don’t give up on the ideas above because they important ways for you to support yourself.
Keep an eye out for emails from us for our Warm Drop-in, Peer Groups and other activities. Our support workers may be able to help with money or other worries and our Counsellors can support with me emotional and mental well-being.
If you’re in doubt give Sahir House a ring!
