Beating the Winter Blues

Not many of us can claim to be cheerful and raring to go all year round, and wintertime tends to take its toll more than other seasons. In recent years this has been recognised to be due to the reduced amount of light and possibly the cold weather that we are exposed to over the winter months.

How blue are you?
Luckily for the majority of people these conditions simply result in us being a little bit lacklustre and perhaps feeling like hibernating. To establish just how much cheering up you actually need, why not try some of the following tips:

• Keep a diary of your moods and energy levels If you notice peaks and troughs at certain times of day and see a pattern emerging then you could be suffering from light deprivation or lack of foods that sustain energy through cold days.

• Note down any food cravings that you might have If you're diving for the sticky buns every five minutes, your body is probably trying to stock up on carbohydrates, but in the long run they will only make you feel worse!

• Do you need more sleep than usual or not feel like going out? This is the hibernation instinct kicking in, it's sometimes good to let your body decide what it wants to do in this situation, but making yourself get out and about can stop a downward spiral that could actually make you more depressed.

Save our Skins!
Unfortunately the effects of the weather on our skin can contribute to how gloomy we feel during winter. Parties and nights out can become distinctly unappealing prospects when you're not looking your best - but thankfully this is one area that can be improved fairly easily!

From the inside out

• Herbal and fruit teas, and drinking lots of water will help improve sluggish dull looking skin. Green tea may also aid your ability to fight off colds and help detoxification.

• A shot of vitamin C can help too, combating stress and anxiety and fighting off colds - all of which can take their toll on your skin.

• To aid circulation make sure you expose yourself to the elements. By giving yourself a blast of cold water during your morning shower and taking brisk walks on bright days you can avoid looking pasty and ill.

• Nobody wants to hear it but a good dose of regular exercise (wrap up and take the dog for a walk if you can't face the gym) will boost your circulation and help renew skin and keep it looking fresh.

From the outside in

• Save on those extra bottles of wine and chocolates that you pretend to yourself are 'for guests' and instead treat yourself to a professional skin care treatment. For example, an aromatherapy massage can help to boost your spirits and banish the winter blues.

• Give your skin an extra shot of moisture. For example, if you now use an oil-free moisturiser, consider upgrading to one that contains small amounts of essential oils for an extra moisture boost.

• Apply a hydrating masque on a weekly basis to help restore suppleness to the skin, diminishing the appearance of those fine lines caused by dryness.

• Don't sit too close to the radiator or fire, if you can stand it, turn the heat down a bit and put on an extra jumper instead - artificial heat causes dryness and poor skin texture.

• One of winter's most profound effects on the skin is to slow the skin renewal process, leaving your complexion looking dull and maybe even a little congested. Knock your skin out of its hibernation with an exfoliation treatment.

• Create a spa experience at home. Hidden under heavy clothes all winter, your skin can begin to feel a little neglected. Keep your body feeling its best by stocking up on goodies and turning your bathroom into a spa!

And finally…
Create an uplifting environment at home!

• Ditch tradition and deck the boughs with bright colours and go OTT on the fairy lights.

• Take inspiration from a sunny Australian Christmas - have a themed party complete with Barbeque style food, beach balls and cocktails!