Tips for Improving Overall Health This Winter

Putting your health first is always worth it, but it’s even more important during the winter. As temperatures fall and we become less active, it’s easy for joint issues to creep in and for our immune systems to get easily overwhelmed. We mostly know what we should and should not be doing, but a reminder of health tips for this winter is always useful!

Whether you’re living alone or supporting a family through the colder months, here are some of the best tips for taking a holistic approach to your health.

1. Check your Diet

Consider your typical exercise habits and try to plan your calorie intake based around that, without neglecting your baseline requirements. During the winter months we tend to veer towards comfort foods that are often calorie-loaded, so it is really important to keep the diet under control.

Eating a diet of varying foods helps to ensure you are getting sufficient nutrients and minerals to ensure that your body continues to thrive in the healthiest way possible. Aim for a good balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fibre and fats into your diet and stick to freshly made, natural foods as much as possible. And avoiding high-sugar drinks is an absolutely must!

If we eat vegetables every day, it’s easy to think that we’re getting everything we need. But without looking at the bigger picture, it’s very easy to under-fuel by mistake. Adopting a Mediterranean diet to help you lose weight, that also includes plenty of wholefoods to satisfy those hunger pangs while keeping healthy, is one of the most important health tips for this winter – or for anytime, really!
Listen to your body and help your muscles recover.

2. Keep Active

Just a little bit of exercise here and there might not be enough to keep you fit and strong. It’s very important to think about how your body feels and how you want to cope with daily life.

For example, if you don’t typically do much exercise and you’re struggling to walk up the stairs at home, it’s a sure sign that you might need to start a new fitness routine!

Small changes can make a big difference to your fitness levels. Your strength and conditioning will improve when you start working out more, even with low-intensity cardio. Start with something you enjoy and build up from there.

If you know you need to lose weight but are struggling to do so even with a good diet and regular exercise, you may need some extra support. There may be programmes available near you provided by the local authority or the NHS, or you may prefer to search for online options.

However, if you are considering following a weight loss plan, do ensure you are getting expert advice from trained professionals. If medications are included as part of an online programme, do ensure the company is a UK registered pharmacist.

3. Get Enough Sleep

Never underestimate the importance of quality sleep.
The average adult should aim for between seven and eight hours a night, but the truth is that everybody is different. You might find that you need more sleep than someone more active than you, so don’t feel pressured to follow trends.
Getting enough sleep will help shift your metabolism into gear, leaving you feeling well-rested, alert and ready to face the day.

4. Limit Your Screen Time

As it gets colder, we are inclined to spend more time indoors. But that comes with a health warning if that includes excessive screen time!

Spending excessive periods on your computer or mobile devices could be detrimental to your mental and physical well-being.
Along with the effects on your posture and the risk of repetitive strain injury associated with long hours at the desk, spending hours scrolling social media keeps our brain stuck in an addictive and unproductive loop.

Cutting back screen time will not only help you feel connected to those around you but could lead you to finding different activities with friends.

Conclusion

By trying new things, you could discover a fitter, healthier and happier version of yourself.
Our health tips for this winter don’t include anything new. They are approaches you should build into your daily lives on an ongoing basis. But a reminder never hurts, does it?