It can take a lot more than coffee to kick-start your energy levels on cold and frosty mornings. Here’s our top tips on how to get you motivated and banish those winter blahs.
The forecast shows grey skies and temperatures to make your toes turn blue but there’s one shower you’ll be looking forward to, especially when accompanied by an invigorating shower gel.
The wintertime blues, aka Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), can rear its ugly head when the days start getting shorter and the temperature drops. Symptoms of SAD can include depression, brain fog, easy sleepiness, carb and chocolate cravings and winter weight gain.
At the core of winter blues is a lack of the feel-good brain chemical serotonin, together with your brain’s storage of sleep-inducing melatonin, which can make you feel like a hibernating grizzly bear.
Women are more prone to winter blues because we start life with less serotonin in our brains than men. But stimulating your brain to produce more serotonin will colour your day a whole lot brighter.
Fight the inclination to hibernate under your doona with the pick-me-up scents of flowers, fruits and herbs. Opt for lavender, citrus, peppermint, juniper, rosemary, bergamot, Australian natives and anything from the eucalypt family – especially tea tree. Naturally invigorating, these will blast you out of bed faster than your alarm clock.
5 other ways to jumpstart your day
A good breakfast
Fuel up, fill up. Breakfast not only ignites your metabolism but a fibre and protein-rich meal helps prevent constipation (which can make you feel sluggish) and keep your muscles super-strong.
Supplements
Vitamins and minerals. Eat small, frequent meals rich in Vitamins B and C, iron and omegas – and back it up with daily supplements.
Liquid love
We mean water, not the boozy or caffeinated variety. Keep well hydrated with water and antioxidant-rich green tea. A glass of water on your bedside table is the perfect energising way to start your day.
Exercise
Exercise your heart muscles. Every little bit counts, so set aside 30 minutes in the morning before breakfast to do some form of exercise – it’s at this time of the day when you burn the most calories.
