It's fair to say that most of us dread the change in the fall clock... On October 25, the clocks will turn back, signifying shorter, darker, colder days, and many of us wish we could just make ourselves at home. hide for the time being. It is important to remember that the clock change has advantages. We get an extra hour in bed during the day and our mornings get lighter during the winter as we essentially wake up an hour later.
However, the overall reduction in hours of sunlight can leave us feeling tired all day and severely lacking in motivation in the evenings. The lack of sunlight also affects our vitamin D levels, which in turn affects sleep quality and has been linked to seasonal affective disorder.
But do not worry; there are some simple measures you can add to your daily winter tool kit to ensure the physical and psychological impact of the shorter, dark days isn't as severe.
Give yourself a head start
There is simply no such thing as a relaxed morning before work – everyone is in a hurry! So get ready by packing your bag and ironing your clothes the night before. You can even prepare breakfast the night before – soak oats overnight so you can grab it in the morning and take it with you or reheat. Oats are also a good source of slow-release energy, so they should keep you satiated and focused until lunchtime.
Make the most of your morning power hour
With all the time saved by preparing your essentials the night before, you'll have time to do something you love:a jog, meditation or just time to do nothing but enjoy your cup of tea in the morning.
Add some sunshine to your diet We all love to alternate raw salads and cold sandwiches for warm soups, curries and stews in the winter, but try to include more vitamin D-rich foods in your diet. Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to seasonal illness, also known as the "winter blues." Egg yolks, fortified grains, mushrooms, fatty fish such as mackerel, tuna and salmon are all good sources. Vitamin D supplements are also readily available.
Beat the cold Make the idea of getting out of a cold bed less daunting by setting your heating to come on 15 minutes before you plan to wake up. Warm your bed in the evening with a hot water bottle and enjoy a warm milky drink to help you fall asleep more easily.
Prioritize quality sleep Sleep is essential to maintaining both mental and physical health, so should be a year-round priority. However, with the onslaught of winter coughs and colds and a lack of sunlight affecting everyone's moods, it is even more important:adults should aim for 7-9 hours of sleep every night to allow their minds and bodies to rest and recover.
