Ward off those Winter blues

By the time we move into February, one of the coldest months of the year, it feels like winter’s never going to end! If you’re prone to winter hibernation and are feeling a little gloomier during these colder months then, fear not! We have a few great pick-me-ups to keep the spring in your step and help you ward off those winter blues.

1. ENERGIZE YOUR MORNINGS

We know, waking up in the morning during the dark, cold winter season isn’t the easiest thing to do, especially when the snooze button is tempting us with an extra half hour under our cozy comforter. But setting aside just 10 minutes in the morning to bring a natural boost of energy into your body will give you the best start to the day! 

Go for a quick run around the block, a power walk in nature, or if you don’t feel like going outside then put on your favorite uplifting songs and dance energetically around your house! If you’re worried about disturbing others then put on some headphones. You know the saying, ‘’Dance like nobody’s watching”? Well, this is the chance to completely let loose and have some fun! Unleash your wildest dance moves! Exercise increases the release of feel-good chemicals such as serotonin, adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine, which trigger a positive feeling in the body.

So go on, give it a try! You’ll be surprised at how much better you’ll feel afterward and you’ll have so much more energy throughout the day! 

2. Dose up on Vitamin D

During winter, it’s very common for people to become depleted in vitamin D because their bodies are not being exposed to enough sunlight. For some of us, this can lead to very gloomy days indeed. The body can only produce vitamin D when it has access to adequate amounts of the UVB rays in sunlight, so even though it’s cold outside, try and expose your skin to as much sun as you can, which will increase your body’s vitamin D production. If you’re not able to expose your skin to at least 15 minutes of sun every day, then we recommend taking a good quality vitamin D supplement (between 1000- 4000 IU/day).

Vitamin D releases neurotransmitters in the brain and is responsible for many cognitive functions related to learning and forming memories. In fact, every tissue in the body has vitamin D receptors, including the heart, brain, muscles and immune system, which means vitamin D is needed in every part of our body to function properly.  If you are deficient in vitamin D you will likely feel very low energy, are more prone to sickness and often experience a depressed mood. 

So try and get outdoors if you can. Natural light and fresh air will do you good!

3. Eat Beet!

Beetroot is a highly nutritious root plant that can boost your mood and energy levels almost instantly! The high levels of nitrate contained in beetroot, lead to increased nitric oxide in the body, which expands the blood vessel walls and increases their oxygen capacity. This, in turn, increases blood flow to the body and gives your energy levels a boost! Natural nitrates found in beets help to keep blood pressure under control and can also help to stabilize blood sugar levels.

Also known as ‘Nature’s Viagra’, the ancient Romans believed beetroot to be a powerful aphrodisiac, and yes, there is actually scientific research to back this up! Beets contain high levels of boron, which is a trace mineral that increases levels of testosterone in the body. They also contain natural sources of tryptophan and betaine, which are essential amino acids needed to create the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin, also known as the ‘happy chemical’, helps to stabilize your mood and promote a feeling of well-being.

Who wants to go and buy a load of beets now?! We do!

4. Act on your Resolutions

You know those New Year’s resolutions you made? Let’s get manifesting them into being!

Check out our article ‘How to Manifest the Year of Your Dreams’, which suggests some great tools for focusing on what you want and how to get it! Many studies show that focusing on what we want and making positive action towards our goals, can have a huge uplifting effect on our lives. Really, the power of focus is a magnificent thing! When we allow our minds to deliberately become aware of what it is we want and then take inspired steps towards those goals, our energy levels soar and we begin to feel a greater sense of joy.

Brainstorm your ideas, go for coffee dates with friends where you allow your minds to run wild with imagination, plan fun days out doing things you’ve never done before, gently push yourself out of your of your comfort zone and watch what a difference it makes to your feeling of aliveness!

Here at Good-Gums, we care about our customer’s health and well-being and are always looking for new ways to create positive change in people’s lives. If you liked our article, please subscribe to our blog to keep up to date with all our news, offers, natural oral health tips, and more inspiring articles. 

Please feel free to leave a comment below.

The Good-Gums Team