How to Beat the Winter Blues

After a mild start, the temperature has dropped and winter's arrived in force. If you've found your mood crashing along with the climate, here are a few tips to get you back on track. 

Stay Active

It can be tempting to sack off your daily WOD. Staying at home with a big plate of comfort food seems more appealing, but this isn't going to do you any favours.

We already know about the countless studies that link exercise and mood. In winter, this link gets even stronger. As well as its mood-boosting properties, exercise is key for a strong immune system.

If you want to feel awesome and ward off those winter germs, get yourself down to the box pronto!

Take Your Supplements

Nutrition is important all year-round, but in winter your body has extra needs you shouldn't ignore. 

The most important supplement to consider is Vitamin D.

The benefits of this nutrient are well-documented, yet most of us aren't getting enough. Not only is Vitamin D essential to maintain good health, but it can affect your performance too. Research suggests Vitamin D can help:

• Build muscle,
• Increase power, and
• Improve endurance.

If you tend to pick up bugs often, you should also consider supplements to improve your immune system. Vitamin C, probiotics and turmeric are all linked to increased immunity.

Get Outside

Many of us experience a dip in mood during the winter months, caused by altered exposure to sunlight. In winter, the days are shorter and darker. Even if we spend the same amount of time outside, we're less likely to get our daily quota of natural daylight.

Although Vitamin D supplements will help, there are plenty more reasons to get outside. Research suggests spending time in nature can boost everything from creativity to mood. 

The lesson: don't stay indoors because it's cold. Wrap up warm, and get some active recovery outside the box!

Wake Up Right

Alarm clocks that simulate dawn are a rising trend in health and fitness circles. They treat Seasonal Affective Disorder -  a type of depression that affects people during winter.

You don't have to be suffering from depression to benefit, though. The alarm clocks act like a rising sun, increasing the amount of light in your bedroom as you wake up. 

If you find it hard to get out of bed when it's dark outside, give one of these a try - we think the results will surprise you!

Is your mood affected during the winter months? What are your coping strategies? Let us know in the comments. 

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