The winter months can be a tough time of year. The days are short, the sun doesn’t seem to shine quite as bright and it certainly doesn’t feel as warm as we’d like it to! If you’re not so fortunate as to enjoy the winter activities – and even if you do! – you may find yourself hibernating, feeling less energetic, and experiencing the “winter blues”.
Here are 5 ways to help you improve your energy levels:
1. Stay Hydrated!
Dehydration can be a major cause of feeling tired and lethargic. With our bodies being about 75% water, it’s much easier than you think for your cells to start to feel the effects of dehydration. The effects can start as soon as you start to feel thirsty. It’s cold out and sometimes the last thing you want to do is drink a cold glass of water. Whether you choose to warm it up, add some fruit, or drink it as an herbal tea, it’s very important to keep your water intake up in the winter.
2. Focus on your Food!
Don’t forget that food is fuel and the proper fuel is required for your body to create energy. With the cold weather, heavy, fast, comfort foods are an easy draw. With a little preparation you can make nutritious meals that are warming and energizing.
3. Get Moving!
Exercise and being active are key ways to for your body to generate energy. It helps to improve circulation and deliver nutrients and oxygen to your tissues to get you pumped!
4. Run Hot and Cold!
With water that is! Alternating hot and cold showers are a great way to improve circulation, boost the immune system, and increase energy levels. If you’re a person who showers in the morning, this could replace your morning shower. Simply use the last 2 minutes of your shower for this exercise. Increase the temperature of your shower water to hot as you can tolerate (without burning yourself) for 30 seconds. Immediately afterwards, turn to the water to as cold as you can tolerate (again without burning yourself) for 10 seconds. Repeat two more times and finish with cold water. The temperatures don’t have to be drastic but there should be a noticeable difference. Challenge yourself to do this for a week and see how you feel.
5. Supplement!
Shorter, colder days mean less sun and less vitamin D. Supplementing with vitamin D is certainly something you might want to consider. This vitamin is created by the body but requires energy from the sun to activate the process in our skin cells. Ongoing research into vitamin D continues to show more and more benefits, from improving our immune systems, to improving our moods, and increasing our energy levels. This being said, it’s always best to talk to talk to a knowledgeable healthcare professional before taking any supplements.
Having low energy levels can be a sign of underlying health concerns. If you have questions, or concerns about your energy levels and would like to learn more about the ways that naturopathic medicine can help, please feel free to contact me at info@drcatherinenewry.com.
