It’s lovely to be back in clinic, seeing our patients and hearing all about your Christmases and plans for this year. Hope you got some wonderful presents and, more importantly, created some incredible memories. How about the new year? Did you make any resolutions? For once, January has flown by – the signs of Spring are already starting to sprout!
“Despite taking time off (I have children, so really, there’s no such thing, is there?), Christmas was busy. I went to Spain; it was lovely to be in the sun. Although it was only 20° or 22° it was definitely warmer than here (and the total opposite of Lyndsay Cornwall’s weather). As ever, I practised what I preached and always, ALWAYS, used SPF.
Obviously, it was all about the children. With two girls there’s a lot of very pink so we gave them a bike each to encourage outdoor play. It wasn’t all rest – it never is, really, is it? I worked hard on a new project ready for our first quarter and finalised details of our next event – as ever, watch this space. There’s more info coming soon. 2024 is set to be exciting that’s for sure!”
Lynsey and Amy are Here to Help Your Wellness
Lynsey says: “Christmas brought the whole family to mine. There were fourteen of us, so it was busy, busy, busy! We had so much fun, though.
We always head to Cornwall for New Year. I reckon this was the soggiest one yet, but even so, we loved walking on the beach and sampling ice cream shops. Despite the kids’ protests, we arrived back at home feeling relaxed and recharged, ready for the year ahead.
This year, I intend to focus on my health and relieve pain from a long-term illness. I started as I mean to go on, with an instructor-led ice cold lake dip session. My friend and I completely surprised ourselves. We really did NOT feel like going on that cold Sunday morning, but we did it! We genuinely felt amazing afterwards, so much so that we booked our next one. We can’t wait!”
Revolutionary Resolutions
Resolutions can be tricky, can’t they? We all want to start afresh and be better, somehow. Sadly, this all too often means setting unrealistic and unattainable targets, or at least vague and therefore unmeasurable aims. This can lead to a feeling of failure, of not being good enough – and can easily escalate into full-on January blues. Stop doing it to yourself! If you want to lose weight, get fit, save money, or start a new business (you get the idea), you CAN – but start small. Plan. Set small, achievable targets – keep a record of them, perhaps by journalling (which also appears to have mental health benefits) and enjoy the feeling of ticking off those milestones. Celebrate your successes and remember the little ones add up to bigger ones.
Take GOOD care of yourself
That whole feeling of unfulfillment, failure, and general miserable weather-induced malady explains how and why Sky Holidays coined the phrase ‘blue Monday’ a few years ago. Consulting a psychologist, they recognised that the third Monday in January was peak time for people feeling low. What better time to market holidays? To promote blue skies and sunny climes? But nobody needs to succumb to so-called blue Monday. Take care of yourself, physically and mentally and recognise your achievements, your wins – however insignificant. And don’t feel you have to wait for the first day of a new year to make changes. The best time to start something good is always NOW. And if those changes involve your health and wellness, we can help.
Resolve to Look After Yourself
There are also many ways you can help yourself. Maintaining good mental and physical health can be especially challenging in winter due to the colder weather and reduced daylight, as we discussed in an earlier blog, so here are some tips to help you stay well:
- Stay Connected: Socialise with friends and family regularly, ideally in person, but at least keep in touch. Perhaps look for clubs or groups to join; arts and crafts can be therapeutic, and of course, sports have physical health benefits.
- Light Therapy: Consider a light therapy lamp to simulate natural sunlight exposure, especially on gloomy days. Natural sunlight is a major source of Vitamin D, essential for wellbeing, so it’s little wonder we can feel down through January and February. Do spend time outdoors during daylight hours, even if it’s brief – ‘fresh air does you good’ was not just an old wives’ tale!
- Mindfulness and Relaxation: Practice mindfulness or meditation to reduce stress and anxiety, and consciously count blessings – however small. Gratitude can really improve mood. Try deep-breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation. Or even yoga – which also ticks the socialising and fitness boxes.
- Set Realistic Goals: As above – break tasks and targets into smaller, achievable goals to avoid being overwhelmed and celebrate even the small victories to boost your mood.
- Regular Exercise: Exercise is linked to improved mood and reduced stress. Make it something you enjoy, and it’ll never feel like a chore – after all, the gym or road running isn’t for everyone. Consider indoor activities like yoga, home workouts, or joining a gym.
- Healthy Sleep Habits: Try to maintain a consistent sleep schedule to regulate your body’s ‘internal clock’. Create a relaxing bedtime routine to improve the quality of your sleep and make bedtime something to look forward to – no phone, no telly.
- Eat Well: Aim for a well-balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and ensure an adequate vitamin D intake, either through diet or supplements. It’s so easy to reach for stodge and processed food when you’re feeling low or tired – but good food (or at the very least, quality supplements tailored to you) can make such a difference. Read our earlier blog on nutrition and sources of vitamins and minerals here.
Remember that these are general suggestions, so it’s essential to tailor them to your specific needs and circumstances. If you ever experience persistent low mood or have any concerning physical symptoms, it’s crucial to seek advice from healthcare professionals. That’s non-negotiable!
Best Foot Forward
So, chin up, look up (honest, it really helps) and onwards.
Everywhere’s already dotted with nature’s little harbingers of hope, snowdrops, and as we segue into February, its abundance of crocuses cheerily announce that spring is only round the corner. There are always little things to appreciate and to look forward to – and it’s proven that doing so is a real benefit for mental and even physical health and wellbeing.
Snowdrops are here, and crocuses are coming. Spring isn’t too far off now
Need help or advice? Just get in touch, and we’ll do what we can to help.
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