Click here to snap out of your winter blues
Let there be light
As the days become shorter, your sleep and waking cycles may become disrupted. The lack of sunlight means your brain produces more of a hormone called melatonin, which makes you sleepy.
To help regulate your melatonin levels, spend as much time outdoors in daylight as you can – make sure the blinds are open if you sit near a window whilst working.
Eat the right food
Once the summer ends, there’s a temptation to ditch the salads and fill up on starchy foods such as pasta, potatoes, and bread. However, you’ll have more energy if you include plenty of fruit and vegetables in your comfort meals.
It’s also important to get more vitamin D into your diet as our bodies are unable to create enough at this time of year. The NHS recommends eating foods which are rich in the vitamin, including oily fish, red meat and fortified food, such as some fat spreads and breakfast cereals. Another good way of introducing more vitamin D into your diet is by taking a daily supplement.
Get moving
When you’re tired and running low on energy, probably the last thing you want to do is venture out into the cold. But you might be surprised by how energetic you feel after getting involved in some kind of physical activity every day. If it’s too cold outside, or you don’t fancy running the dark, try to migrate your workouts indoors. Aim for the NHS guideline of at least 150 minutes of exercise per week.