STAYING ON TRACK WHEN IT’S COLD OUTSIDE
Julia Pilliar, MPH, RD, CK
It can be difficult to stay healthy when it’s gross outside. Here are a few tips for getting through the winter and coming out refreshed (or at least not completely stressed!) on the other side.
1. Stay warm. This might seem obvious, but staying warm is not only important for health, but for posture as well. When we’re cold, we tend to move into body positions in an attempt keep heat in: huddling over, rounding the shoulders. To reinforce good posture, it is important to have good, tall posture as much as possible. Staying warm makes it easier to stand tall and keep shoulders low when it’s cold outside. Remember what your mom used to say and use that scarf and hat when you need to !
2. Stay active. Although going outside for a walk, run, or bike ride is not too appealing during this season of ice, rain, and snow, staying active is important for many things. Physical activity helps not only waist lines and muscle, but also helps to keep mood elevated when it`s grey outside. Also, once the warm weather returns, it will be easier to pick up the activities you enjoy doing if you’ve been maintaining a good level of aerobic conditioning and strength.
3. Stay hydrated. It’s easy to feel the dryness in the winter, but people often fail to realize that it is not only skin that craves moisture, but the internal body as well. When it’s cold out we tend to forget about drinking water, perhaps because it’s a cold liquid and we don’t want to cool down further! But, our bodies are constantly releasing moisture, through our skin, mouth, nose, eyes, and so on, and it is important to replenish this hydration. The best way to do so is with water. Warm beverages can also help, but beware - alcohol dehydrates, and other beverages like hot chocolate and specialty beverages often come with extra calories in the form of refined sugar and cream. Eating soups and vegetables that have high water contents can also help to keep hydration levels up.
4. Stay stress-free. This can be a busy time of year – work might be busy, clean-up from after the holidays might still be needed, and various commitments can take time away from ‘you time’. Make sure you build de-stress time into every day. This is different from one person to the next – exercise can have very effective anti-stress effects, but others might need some quiet meditation time, yoga, massage, or other form of TLC. We are all most productive when we feel stress-free, so be sure to prioritize ‘you time’ every day despite the busyness of the season. Staying stress free also helps to keep the immune system topped up.
