Wintertime brings out the joy and inner child of everyone during the holiday season, until we’re reminded of the cold, slushy, miserable weather that tends to follow around mid-January to March. A quick glance at the people walking past you every day will tell you that most people tend to feel one way; completely drained of energy and praying for some rest. The issue is that winter is arguably the most difficult season when it comes to being active. People are more willing to stay in and cuddle up under a warm blanket than go out and risk freezing their tails off. Luckily, there are a few ways of re-energizing yourself this winter to get back that motivation and productivity.
1. Make An Effort To Be Active
Yes, you hear it from everyone; go to the gym more, do daily 6am yoga sessions, or exercise between classes. It’s not a new tip; however, the truth is that most of the time, these resolutions are short promises or just words. It’s impossible to go straight into a disciplined routine, unless you have astronomical willpower. That being said, there are better ways to ease your way back into an active lifestyle. Starting by opting to take alternative transportation and healthier options is a great way to bring yourself back to that state of energy. If you can walk, then do it. Choose the stairs over the elevator. Try doing ten push ups every morning. Incorporate small things into your daily routine that you can build on.
2. Up The Greens Intake
There’s a close relationship between our diet and how much energy an individual has. During the colder months, our natural response is to reach for fat and sugar filled foods to comfort us, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But everything should be taken in moderation. Fats and sugars have been shown to cause sluggishness and fatigue, mainly because these compounds aren’t meant to sustain us on a day to day basis. It’s crucial that you integrate some vitamin B-12 foods into your diet. It’s a known fact that many of the leafy greens we love are high in vitamin B-12, which acts to boost your energy and keep you going throughout the day.
3. Drink More Water
Just like the foods you eat, the liquids you consume have a huge impact on how your body reacts. At this point of the year, it’s not uncommon to see a crowd of people surrounding the local coffee shop. Coffee, teas, hot chocolate. These beverages are the most commonly consumed drinks during the colder months, and it’s no surprise. But their warming effect is only a temporary solution, and once the positive aspects run out, consumers are left with a caffeine buzz, a slight addiction, dehydration, and a plethora of other symptoms. The constant cycle of coffee and tea wrecks your system. Our bodies are meant to take in pure substances like water. But most of the population fails to consume the minimum recommended amount of water per day. Drinking more water has proven to benefit both the body and mind, with an increase in water consumption showing as clear skin, high energy, and a lack of insomnia.
4. Treat Yourself
Meditation is beneficial for so many reasons. A practice used by several ethnicities and religions, the act of mediation is meant to clear the mind and alleviate stress. In our modern society, the rapid absorption of information, streamlined thinking process, and busy social scene has left many without the time to reflect and take time for themselves. People become stressed, translating to easy agitation and an unwillingness for motivation. Meditation can be your best friend if you choose to integrate it into your lifestyle properly. Taking ten to twenty minutes to yourself, just breathing in and out, and feeling all the pressures of life leave your body allows for a sense of calm to come over one’s self. Maybe conventional mediation isn’t your cup of tea? That’s fine. Have a bubble bath, immerse yourself in soothing music, dance to your heart’s content. The sky’s the limit when it comes to the wealth of activities you can partake in to relax yourself, as long as you recognize the importance to take a moment for yourself.
5. Cold Showers Actually Help
The last thing anyone wants first thing in the morning is to wake up to a freezing shower. But studies have shown that taking a cold shower in the morning can do wonders for your mood and overall being. Those who incorporate freezing showers into their routine had found that their blood circulation is improved, causing their immune systems to strengthen. A stronger immune system means that there’s a lower chance of getting sick, a condition that is almost exponentially worse in the midst of a winter semester. It’s also a fantastic way to increase recovery time from strenuous workouts, relieving the sore muscles from your harshest spin classes.
6. Sleep Well and Wake Early
Sleep is the natural frenemy of the average student. You can’t get enough of it, but you’re willing to put it off as long as possible. Unfortunately, the inconsistency in most people’s sleep schedules doesn’t do much in terms of helping them to feel rested and energized. A practice to start following is setting a specific time to wake up and go to bed. While it may be a struggle at first, once it becomes an integrated part of your routine, maintaining a set time is easier to stick to. You’ll find yourself enjoying those hours of R.E.M sleep that are so vital to the ideal functionality of daily life. Not to mention, no more days where you just want to crawl back into bed.
So there you have it, six ways that are guaranteed to boost your energy during the winter. From December to March, the winter season is truly a wonderful time to be around, so take the time to make sure you’re up to enjoying it. Happy body, happy mind, happy person overall.