My Winter Wellness Tips:

I have dealt with harsh winters my entire life. I grew up in Toronto, Canada – winter is a way of life for nearly 6 months of the year. And now living in Michigan, I am still living with the full force of winter every single year. Yes, I can escape here and there to sun – but for the most part I have to endure what winter does to my body physically and mentally. I know first hand how difficult this can be in both capacities. The cold, dry and grey climate can really take a toll! The good news there are things we can do to keep our health in good shape during the winter season. Below I have outlined what is currently helping me stay well this winter.

DAILY MOVEMENT:

It is so hard to get to that early morning gym class when it doesn’t get light out until 7:45am! The struggle is real… I get it. So maybe you cancel on a few 6ams, but prioritizing movement in the cold winter months is SO important. Movement is so healing for our bodies – both physically and mentally. Even if you do a short at home workout or just get some lunchtime fresh air (bundle up) – it all makes a difference. It can be so easy to get out of our regular routine and lack motivation when the day are cold, grey and short. I get through this by booking a workout with a friend – that way you can keep each other accountable and also get in some nice social time while getting your sweat on. WIN WIN.

HYDRATION:

I know this sounds silly, but I think people forget to drink water in the winter sometimes. It is so easy to forget to drink water when you aren’t sweating about your day like in the summer! We have to remember! Set a reminder on your phone. A great habit to start is drinking a large glass of water every single morning before you even leave your bed. I drink a huge mason jar first thing and it has been life changing.  It is SO dry and we need to make sure we are drinking just as much water. In these months, I also enjoy LOTS of tea and hot water with lemon. These become my beverages of choice to keep my body warm and hydrated.

SUPPLEMENTS:

I make sure to keep on top of my supplements in winter, especially because it can be so hard on our immune system. This regime has me feeling good about what I am putting in my body for optimal health during this harsh time of year.

I have been using Swisse vitamins this season and I am feeling really good. I trust their ingredients, sources and appreciate their brand values. The first is Swisse Vitamin C + Manuka Honey chews. I am sure you have heard of the rich antioxidant properties of Manuka Honey and coupled with the immune power of Vitamin C – this is truly a great combo during the winter months. Did I mention these were chews ? I  love how easy they are to take (without the mess of actual honey of course).

Swisse also has a great immune booster called Immune Forte that has vitamin C, zinc and also the balancing power of adaptogens and elderflower. This is my go-to defense for the sniffles, colds, and coughs that seem to be lingering everywhere this time of year. This is especially helpful for me because I spent a lot of time with my niece and nephew who get frequently sick – like all kids in the winter! And my husband works in a hospital… enough said! Lastly, I have been covering my bases with the Swisse Women’s Ultivite Multivitamin to check off all the boxes and keep my energy high! It also has 50% of my vitamin D needs which is super important for the lack of sun in Michigan!

NUTRITION:

I am convinced I am the only one who craves salads and smoothies in the winter! Seriously, all anyone wants is comfort food – stews, pasta and soups and honestly I do not blame you if you are one of those people. As delicious those things are, a lot of the time they are super heavy with “brown foods” and not enough vegetables and phytonutrients aka the greens. Do not forget about greens, you guys. I always add tons of greens to my comfort food dishes. If you’re not into salads, add a handful of spinach to your soup or Tuscan kale to your pasta. It is so easy to toss in a few servings of greens to these warming foods without compromising the dish! Plus, it makes it a lot more nutritious.

SUNLIGHT:

When I first to Michigan from Toronto, it was not the cold that shocked me (d’uh), but it was the painful grey-ness that lingered for months. I am not joking when I say that are two week periods here where the sun is nowhere to be seen. It is so hard on our immune system, our physical bodies and our mental health. If you live in a place where the climate is similar, I highly recommend purchasing an LED therapy light. For just a few minutes per day, you can mimic natural outdoor light. When there are those weeks where the sun does not come out, this helps me considerably! And of course, if it is possible to you try to get away to the sunshine once throughout the winter. I travel a lot in the winter for this reason and I am very grateful for it.

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you learned a thing or two on how to stay well in the winter! Only a few months left until spring – hopefully!

—————————————————————-

All opinions in this blog post are my own. They are not intended to treat a medical condition, just simple a share of what is currently working or me right now. Thank you to Swisse for sponsoring this post. I am honored to work with a brand hat helps me with my healthy lifestyle daily.