How To Stay Healthy This Winter: How To Prep Your Mind, Body and Home

With winter setting in, the lure of cozy sweaters and crackling fires is strong. But to stay healthy and active all year long, we must prepare our minds and bodies ahead of time. From stocking up on remedies for itchy ears and throat to planning daily exercise routines, here are three key steps you can take to stay healthy this winter:

Eat a Healthy Diet

The best way to stay healthy is to eat a healthy diet. Sure, there might be a tempting offer of chocolate from your best friend, but don’t be fooled. Treating yourself to a sweet treat once or twice a week, is fine, but if you are craving it more often than that, it is most likely because you are not eating enough nutritious foods. A healthy diet should include a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins such as fish, nuts and beans, healthy fats such as olive oil, and water. A diet rich in healthy foods provides the body with energy, and helps to maintain a healthy weight.

Stay Hydrated

We are creatures of habit. We may not realise it, but what we consume affects us. Keeping hydrated is important throughout the day, especially if you are working or spending a lot of time in the heat. Water is essential to your health, and staying hydrated can reduce the risk of many diseases including kidney and bladder infections, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer. 

Additionally, staying well hydrated makes you feel less hungry, which is especially important if you are trying to lose weight. If you don’t like the taste of water or don’t think you would drink enough to stay healthy, there are many other alternatives you can try including sparkling water with fruit juice, herbal teas and coconut water. Whatever your preference, sticking to a daily water intake of two litres is important for your health.

Plan Daily Exercise

Exercising regularly is a great way to maintain a healthy lifestyle and stay fit as you get older. However, as with eating well and drinking enough water, no one is born knowing how to exercise. This is why it is important to consult your doctor first, so that you know what is safe for you to do. 

There are many benefits of regular exercise, including improved bone health, mental health, energy levels and a lower risk of developing certain diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity. There are many ways to stay active, including walking, swimming or playing basketball with your neighbours. 

When choosing an exercise routine, you should choose something that is enjoyable, that gets your heart rate up, but is still safe and possible to do every day. Find an activity that will fit into your daily schedule, whether it’s doing strength training in the mornings or walking around the block after work.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

Many people assume that if they get enough sleep, they will be healthier and feel better. But this is not the case. Poor sleep is linked to an increased risk of developing a number of diseases and conditions. It also reduces your reaction time and attention, making you more likely to make poor decisions and accidently injure yourself. 

In addition to being important for your physical health, a good night’s sleep is important for your mental health. It is a time for your body to rest, while your mind has the opportunity to process thoughts and feelings and prepare for the next day. There are many ways that you can set aside time for yourself. Try journaling, listening to relaxing music, or meditating to clear your mind. Find a way to get away from electronics and other triggers that might be keeping you awake.

Conclusion

As the cold weather draws in, we all want to curl up under a blanket and watch movies. However, it is important to remember that winter is also the time of year when we are most likely to get sick. The best way to stay healthy this winter is to prepare your mind and body for the season ahead, by eating a healthy diet and staying hydrated, exercising regularly and getting a good night’s sleep.