Stay healthy this Winter
Keeping healthy during the colder months can be a challenge, especially with the darker and shorter days.
1. Boost your feel-good endorphins
If you can, get outside first thing in the morning to get your daily dose of Vitamin D. Even on a cloudy day, you’ll feel the benefit. You can go outside for a walk around the block or try and include a walk into your commute.
2. Stock up your medicine cupboard
It’s good to prepare yourself in case you or your family fall ill. Stock up on cold and sore throat remedies as well as healthy food. Your pharmacist can also advise you on what you can do if you are feeling under the weather.
3. Stop the spread of germs
If you are eligible for a flu and/or Covid vaccine, make sure to book it in because they keep both you and others safe. Also, regularly washing your hands with soap and water is one of the best ways to stop germs spreading.
4. Keep your home warm
Heat your home to a steady and comfortable temperate throughout the day. Keep your curtains open during the day to allow heat into your home, and close them at night to keep that heat in. Also, putting rugs down on laminate and wooden flooring can also keep you warm. Using hot water bottles is also a cost-effective way to stay warm, especially if you put them under blankets or duvets to keep you warm and toasty whilst you sleep.
5. Stay hydrated
It’s not only during the warmer months we need to drink plenty of water. Water is essential for hydration and energy levels, so aim to drink eight glasses a day, even warm drinks count.
6. Practice gratitude
Embrace the colder and darker months as an opportunity to marvel at the changing seasons. Taking a moment each day to be grateful for the good things and people in your life is proven to lift your mood.
Festive activities to enjoy at home
The countdown to Christmas has begun and we’ve listed a range of fun things for all the family to do to get everyone into the festive mood!
Create your own Christmas decorations
Creating decorations at home is budget friendly and is better for our planet instead of buying single use plastic or foil decorations.
Paper snowflakes
Take a square sheet of paper and fold it diagonally into a triangle, then fold again. Hold the triangle by the folded corner and trim the edges. When you unfold the paper, you will be left with a paper snowflake. If you wanted to create a more complex design, fold the triangle a couple more times. When done you can hang your snowflakes with a piece of string or display them on your windows to create a snowy scene for everyone to enjoy!
Citrus garland
Choose a variety of bright oranges, apples and pears and cut them into inch slices. Place the fruit on a baking tray and bake the fruit until they are visibly dry. Once out the oven, leave the fruit to air dry and thread them together with a piece of string. The garland will not only look great but will smell festive too!
Create your own Christmas cards
Creating your own Christmas cards is budget friendly and better for our planet. It’s also a great way to add a personal touch for your loved ones and an opportunity to have a paining or drawing session on a rainy day. Why not get creative and collage with left over wrapping paper or materials you can find outside such as twigs and oak leaves.
Create a Christmas playlist
Christmas music brings people together this time of the year, so why not create a playlist made up of your family’s favourite songs. If you have Spotify or Apple music you can create a playlist on your app, or if you don’t, you can make one at www.Youtube.com for free.
Christmas music quiz
A Christmas music quiz is a free activity to be enjoyed by friends and family of all ages. Simply create a playlist and quiz your loved ones by playing the first 10 seconds of each song. The person or team with the most correct answers, wins!