How to Stay Active and Healthy in Winter
Besides not being able to get out and play touch football because it is too cold, the lack of sunshine causes us to feel down and sometimes depressed. There are ways to fight these feelings and the fatigue that comes along with it. Following are a few suggestions on how to beat the doldrums of winter without putting yourself to a lot of expenses.
1. Turn on the lights. Make sure to use energy efficient lighting, but turn on the lights to help improve your mood. We miss the natural light of summer, which makes us feel down in the dumps so turning on lights will help to give us energy to move around a little.
2. Turn off the TV and turn on the stereo or your favorite radio station. I have found that up-beat music seems to give me more energy and make me want to get up and move around. It is also nice to have music playing while working out or doing chores.
3. Beat the boredom. Boredom leads to mischief and being a couch potato so if you are bored, do something about it. Get up and move. Clean out the garage, if heated, or the closet or wash the windows or play a game or anything to keep your mind active.
4. Get some exercise. Even in the winter months, we have to go to the store at some point. Yes, I know it's cold, but even short walks boost our energy levels and help to improve our mental state. If you have access to a mall, stop by before work or after to walk a couple of laps inside the mall. No, we aren't stopping at each store to shop, we are trying to be active and walk for exercise. And it's free!
5. Find a friend. Friends help to keep us active in many ways. They are also someone to share our thoughts, ideas, passions, hurts and desires. It is hard to keep a friend when you're on the couch all the time.
6. Eat right. Get off the junk. We all know junk food is not good for us and is very hard to resist sometimes but eating healthy gives us more energy which makes us more active.
7. Check with your doctor if feelings of tiredness persist. You could have a medical problem if your energy level declines and continues to decline, no matter how well you try to take care of yourself.
By Molly Hickman
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Teacher Albert