How to Look After Your Mental Health in Winter
13 December, 2024
Wonderful scenery, sacks full of cosy activities, and plenty of hot chocolate come part and parcel with winter, but it can also be a blue time of year for some.
Short days, cold weather, and other stresses all contribute to some people feeling down during winter.
Here are Oakwood Theme Park’s top tips to look after your mental health during the chiller months that you can make use of year after year.
How to recognise if you are struggling with your mental health
We can all have fluctuations in our mood depending on things like the weather, stress at work, or other personal issues, but identifying if there’s a deeper issue is an important distinction.
If you notice you’re persistently suffering from low mood, decreased energy, lack of quality sleep, or a lack of motivation, then it might be worth thinking a little bit deeper about whether you might be struggling with your mental health.
Don’t be afraid to seek support
If you’ve noticed a dip in your mental wellbeing, it’s time to reach out for support.
Mental health support comes in many forms. Some people find speaking casually to a friend is incredibly useful. Others, however, may seek professional help either through their GP or by reaching out to charities such as Mind or Samaritans.
Whichever path you choose to take, there’s always somebody ready to listen.
6 ways to boost your mood in winter
Talking to someone is a great start to improving your mood, but there are also plenty of activities you can take part in that will provide a much-needed lift to your mental health.
Here are Oakwood’s tips for boosting your mental health if you’re in a bit of a slump.
Make the most of the natural light
During winter, the days are short, and the nights are long, with the sun setting as early as 4 pm.
Natural light is a great mood booster, so you should take full advantage of it whenever you can by doing things like going for a walk during your lunch break or before you start your working day. A change of scenery every once in a while can also be a great way to improve your mood.
Stick to a routine
While it’s easy to hit the snooze button and stay in bed for an extra 5 minutes, this disturbs your routine and can lead to a groggier start to the day.
Keeping up with your routine for the basics, like sleeping, eating, washing, and cleaning the house, should be your priorities in winter since these can give you a good foundation for building up your mental health, as well as supporting your overall wellbeing.
Sleep is crucial in this respect because it allows you to properly structure your day and be at your best, whether you’re going to work or meeting friends.
Move your body
As well as being great for your physical health, exercise is fantastic to help your mental health. As well as being something you can incorporate into a routine, it will also help your body release endorphins (feel-good hormones) like serotonin and dopamine.
You can even double the effectiveness of this little trick by incorporating exercise into your outdoor time.
Stay connected
Although winter is dark and cold, that doesn’t mean you should neglect your connections. Winter is also a great time to organise a catch-up with friends or pop over to a family member’s house for a brew.
There are also plenty of winter-specific activities to take part in like lights shows or Christmas markets [link to 5 ways to make Christmas more memorable blog once live].
Meditation and mindfulness
While you’ve got time on your hands in the house, why not begin practising mindfulness or meditation? These activities can help to reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing during a busy period.
Set goals for the year ahead
As mindfulness teaches you to be in the moment, planning for the future can also be a great way to motivate.
Spend an evening or two writing a few goals down for the following year. These goals could be personal or professional, ranging from reading 10 books to getting promoted or even riding 10 rollercoasters.
That’s our tips for looking after your mental health during winter. Wintertime might be bleak, but luckily there’s lots to do during this time to keep your spirits high, even when the temperatures drop.
Once the frost thaws, make sure you’ve got lots of things to look forward to, like an exhilarating trip to Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire!