Winter Wellness
Around this time of year, I’m constantly on high alert for how to stay healthy throughout the cold winter months. Here are a few of my essentials as soon as the seasons begin to change.
- Flannel sheets. No one wants to be chilly in the middle of the night, so run to the nearest home-goods store and get some of these bad boys ASAP! Granted, it makes it a bit harder to rouse yourself for your morning workout (see below), but they’re well worth it.
- Slippers. Probably an old wives’ tale, but I think keeping your feet nice and toasty helps. If you are in search of the perfect slipper, look no further. L.L.Bean’s “Wicked Good Moccasin” is where it’s at!
- Emergen-C. I’ve always sworn by this stuff. Whether it’s a good old placebo effect, or the extra boost of Vitamin C truly does work, either way I always keep a box on hand. A packet or two a day does the trick. But beware: this stuff tastes pretty horrendous no matter what flavor you get, so I just chug a small glass. Oh and never dump a packet in your mouth then take a sip of water, because it will fizz uncontrollably. Not like I’d know from experience or anything…
- Multi-vitamin. Nuff said. Just take one!
- Teas. I’m a die-hard coffee drinker, but I still make sure to increase my consumption of tea during the fall and winter. Peppermint, Sleepy-Time, Black, Green…I don’t discriminate!
- Veggies. I had a scary realization the other day: I couldn’t remember the last time I had a salad for dinner! I booked it to Trader Joe’s with Kman to stock up on spinach, bell peppers, tomatoes, and all that good stuff. Phew! All is right in the world again.
- Hand sanitizer. Germs, germs, go away. Oh and washing your hands. Common sense, but I’m always shocked and how often I see people leave a public restroom without doing it. Nasty!
- Body lotion. No one wants to be a scaly lizard, so pile the stuff on. I’m partial to a baby oil/Eucerin lotion two step post-shower system, plus some Pond’s face cream.
- Slow cooker. Duh…did you think I’d leave this one out?! It’s also the perfect way to make sure you’re getting loads of veggies.
- Working out. I usually play the Sissy Card when it comes to winter running, and opt for spinning and yoga instead. However, since this is the first time in my life I haven’t belonged to a gym (our building has one, so it’s a waste of money to join another), I’m going to man up and take my workouts outside. I loathe the treadmills we have, so unless we get a big ol’ blizzard, this chickadee will be hoofing it (in my Vibrams!) outdoors.
And while we’re on the subject, here are some good articles (from people who are far more qualified than I am to dispense health advice) that I’ve been perusing lately! Check them out and let me know what you think.
Why You Should Workout in the Morning - FitSugar
Natural Cold-Prevention Strategies - Real Simple
The Once and Future Way to Run - New York Times
8 Winter Health Excuses, Busted - HuffingtonPost
Aging Well Through Exercise - New York Times
Winter Wellness Guide - Whole Living
4 comments
Ahh, Wicked Good Moccasins are seriously wicked good! Love those slippers! I should order a new pair, as mine are pretty scruffy looking.
I definitely need to start drinking more tea…I drink so much coffee, I’m sure my body would thank me if I eased up a bit and substituted a cup of joe with a cup of ginger tea–my favorite!
Thanks for posting these tips and the natural cold prevention link! I feel my body fighting something off and wanted to stop it in its tracks ASAP!
I used to wear mine outside to class when I was in college, so I went through a pair a year! Now that I actually use them only in my apartment, they still look good as new.
Glad I could help! I try to avoid cold medicine if at all possible, so I definitely believe in the “ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” adage.
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