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Winter is a time when many people suffer from low energy. This is often most noticeable in the mornings but can last all day. The good news is that there are steps you can take to address this. Here are four tips to help.
Keep up your healthy habits
It can be hard to lead a healthy lifestyle in winter, but it’s really important that you keep up your good habits. Eating and drinking well, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of sleep all help your body (and mind) to keep going through the harsh weather. They also help to keep your immune system in its best possible shape.
Pay close attention to your brain’s health
Your brain is essentially the control center for both your body and your mind. This means that keeping it in good condition benefits your physical and mental health. As a minimum, avoid bad habits such as smoking and drinking excessive quantities of caffeine or alcohol. Ideally, make sure your diet includes lots of brain-friendly foods.
Keep exercising your brain to engage and challenge it. One straightforward way to do this is by developing a habit of doing fresh puzzles regularly. These can be on paper or on a computer. If you really want to boost your brain’s health in winter (or at any other time), then you might want to look at NAD+ therapy
Focus on maintaining a rhythm
You may have heard the term “body clock”. It’s actually almost literally accurate. The scientific term for it is circadian rhythm. One of the effects of circadian rhythm is that the body has a natural sleep/wake cycle. This is governed by the availability of light. As light levels increase, the body produces hormones that promote wakefulness and vice versa.
In the modern world, however, people often need to be active during the hours of darkness. This goes against their natural circadian rhythm, hence they feel tired. One solution to this problem is to invest in an alarm clock that simulates a sunrise. These can be a great way to wake up gently on a winter’s morning and to start the day feeling good.
If you live in a city, then make sure that your bedroom curtains are thick enough to keep out street lights. If they’re not, then upgrade them and/or buy an eye-mask.
Make sure you still get enough sunlight
Over-exposure to sunlight is a major health risk, but under-exposure to sunlight is also bad for you. Sunlight plays an important role in keeping the body healthy. In particular, it triggers the production of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is used in the production of calcium and phosphate. This means that it’s essential for healthy bones, teeth, and muscles.
The best way to get sunlight is to get outdoors, where you will also get fresh air, exercise, and a change of surroundings. If, however, this is not possible, then you might want to consider investing in a “daylight lamp”. These simulate the energy of sunlight and can give your body the same boost. They are definitely not used for tanning!