If the last few months have made you a bit blue, especially with this very monumental year in 2020, we’ve come to your rescue to perk yourself up with these 5 winter tips so you can keep healthier, and happier.
The motivation to stay well can sure be a difficulty. This is the time to keep yourself nourished, in more ways than one. Keep reading to find out how to sooth your soul, and throat, if need be.
1. Winter Soup
The benefits of a healthy, hearty winter soup is well known, fitting so much nutrition all in one bowl, all while it warms your bones.
Who's ever looked forward to the soup more than the main dish at dinner? Really, while you're at it, soup at home is a meal you can enjoy any time of day! Simply use any vegetables lying around in your fridge, add together with some salt, herbs, ginger or garlic, and voila, you'll have a recipe for success every time!
Pair together with your favourite multigrain, sourdough, or rye bread, and your soup is complete.
2. Time for Tea
Drinking tea dates all the way back to ancient China. Why is the tradition so popular now? Tea offers numerous health-promoting benefits. It refreshes the mind and clears heat within the body.
Both black and green tea are very rich in antioxidants, and studies have shown that people who drink tea regularly, have healthier blood vessels and a lower risk of heart diseases.
There are plenty of herbal teas to choose from, that can help ease anxiety and depression by calming your nerves and body. The most common tea to heal a sore throat is chamomile, which can also help you sleep better.
Don't forget to check out a wonderful selection of teas by our friends at Madame Flavour while you're at it. They're in full swing of business with orders available at the click of a button!
3. Hey honey!
Honey is a game changer if you’re feeling a bit sick or need an extra health boost to survive the cold. Make sure you go for a nutritious raw honey to get a hold of these health benefits, as pasteurized and filtered honey does not contain any antioxidants.
Mix about a teaspoon of raw honey with a warm glass of milk, water or a cup of tea. This makes a nice hydrating, cough-soothing and antibacterial cuppa.
Fun Fact: Some raw honey has such strong antibacterial effects that it was used in wound dressings by the ancient Egyptians, and is still used for this purpose today.
4. Winter Meditation
Aside from your body and health, it’s also important to pay attention to your mind during this cold time. If the weather allows it, take a walk outside and concentrate on being present. Being mindful and practicing meditation does not have to take up a lot of time.
“Use the feeling (and message) of winter’s big chill to slow down drains on your mind and body and to turn up the positivity – naturally. Be there to witness the changes that are brewing so that you can successfully navigate them.”
Says Dr. Joseph Cardillo, PhD, a nationally best-selling author in the fields of health, mind-body-spirit, and psychology.
Sometimes when we have too much we are attending to in our minds and lives, even big change is hard to detect. The busyness of life hypnotizes, controls, and impedes, he says. If you haven't tried to meditate before, Dr. Joe explains it further here.
5. Virtual Movie Dates
While there's nothing like seeing friends and family face-to-face, in 2020, we know that's not so easy. So don't miss the opportunity to catch up with them on apps like Zoom, and arrange a Stan or Netflix marathon on all those shows or movies you've always wanted to see.
Hear their laughs, share some stories - and don't forget, of course, the popcorn!