With only three weeks left of Winter, Charlotte Lloyd is here to give you some tips on how to make the most of this while looking forward to the warmer months ahead.

With only three weeks of Winter left, what better way to soak up those last few days of the cold weather with some tips on how to eat right and keep physical when heading into the warmer months. I know a lot of you enjoy the summer days much more than winter but there are still perks to this time of the year and what we can all do to stay motivated and right in mind and body at this time.

Winter is one of my favourite seasons but there is no denying that it is hard to stay motivated with physical activity and eating right. Not keeping up with taking care of ourselves can cause us to feel unbalanced mentally and staying on top of our game.

There is no doubt that summer makes you want to jump out of bed straight away, not only because we have more energy, but could be due to the fact that it’s too hot to stay in bed anyway. Winter on the other hand makes us want to stay in bed and watch movies all day.

Below are just a few ways to make the most of what we have left of winter so we can all joyfully head into the warmer months. 

Body: 

If you’re thinking that this Winter hasn’t been the most active for you, you’re definitely not alone. Winter has said countless times that it is the hardest season to keep physical and healthy. Our motivation depletes as the weather gets colder and the darker mornings and darker nights make it that much harder. I’ve noticed initiatives that help people to keep up the momentum and work towards something. For example, my gym does a weekly RunFit session in Winter that ends with a swim and a coffee and goes for the 13 weeks of the season. In a year of so much change for me, the commitment that was needed wasn’t ideal. But, setting weekly goals that are both attainable and easy to follow with your schedule makes for a productive Winter. I understand saying this is the last few weeks of the season is not the best thing to recommend, but this is all the more reason to commit yourself to even just 3 weeks of a weekly physical goal that can potentially be upheld as Spring rolls through. 

Food:

Winter is a time that I think many can confirm of being a time of comfort foods, especially the warm kind. Nothing can beat staying in with the ultimate movie and take away or your favourite dessert. However, without boundaries we get angry and this isn’t often about the food but at ourselves for not setting the boundary and indulging in food as a ‘treat’ (that seems to be more of a ritual than a one-off).

But there are some ways that you can both indulge and eat right all in one. The key to this is simply balance. Balance when eating does not restrict but it’s also a way to not go over the top. Eat what you enjoy, but always in moderation. If you have a sweet tooth, you could have a dessert each night after dinner but limit the intake and don’t binge or indulge at other times. If you’re a sucker for some good takeaway, set aside a night that is reserved for that (preferably a day when you know cooking is not on your agenda).

Another thing that gets us caught out, and what happens outside of Winter as well is finding limited time to cook which is usually caused by a busy routine and schedule. Meal prep is a great way to stay on top of your game. Eating right doesn’t have to be a chore, and eating unhealthy doesn’t have to cause distress and frustration. Use these last few weeks to set some goals for eating right and start the routine for a happy end of the year. 

Mind: 

The cold weather is a sure-fire way to make sure we all feel a little less happy than usual. With the weather not allowing for those days of bathing in the sun and swimming to our heart’s content, we often feel less confident and with added self-esteem issues. Constantly being rugged up at the start of Winter is like a dream for me. But as a month becomes two, the joy of having some colder weather has worn off and I think we can all agree a bit more spring in our step would be much appreciated (pun not intended). The added stress that these confidence issues can cause often leads to people feeling less like themselves and can go on to make them feel emotionally exhausted, tired and fatigued, and often demotivated essentially.

By recognising the effect of the weather, there are a lot of things that we can do to make ourselves feel better about ourselves and more alive. Something that I find a great reliever, while this sounds superficial, is to choose an outfit that you feel good in. There is no point complaining about your confidence while consciously wearing something that emits low self-esteem.

Self-care in the form of skin and hair nurturing as well as some much-needed socialisation and confidants can also lead to a much happier person overall. 

With the end of winter quickly approaching, setting some goals that can help you make the most of the last few weeks may be the best way to start Spring off in 2021. Although it may not feel like the end of Winter is near considering the weather we’ve had, I think we all want to enjoy some much-needed Vitamin C and sun as soon as we can get it.

Despite the bad wrap that Winter undoubtedly gets, there are some things that can improve your mind, body, and daily habits that will allow you to make the most of Winter while looking forward to warmer months. 

Feature Image: Photo by Alisa Anton on Unsplash