{"id":2132,"date":"2026-10-26T12:47:50","date_gmt":"2026-10-26T12:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redzine.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/10\/26\/five-ways-to-look-after-yourself-as-winter-approaches\/"},"modified":"2026-10-26T12:47:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T12:47:50","slug":"five-ways-to-look-after-yourself-as-winter-approaches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redzine.co.uk\/index.php\/2026\/10\/26\/five-ways-to-look-after-yourself-as-winter-approaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Five ways to look after yourself as winter approaches"},"content":{"rendered":"
It’s important to make time for friends and loved ones.<\/span> Luis Rojas Estudio\/ Shutterstock<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When the clocks \u201cfall back\u201d in the autumn, it signals the start of the winter months. And, for many, this time change also signals the start of a difficult period \u2013 where the cold weather and long nights wear on their mental health.<\/p>\n

To help you adjust to the darker evenings, here are our five top tips for easing your way through the winter:<\/p>\n

1. Make the most of the daylight<\/h2>\n

Natural light regulates our body clock \u2013 the internal system which influences our sleep quality and alertness<\/a>. Your body will take time to adjust to the changes, notably the evenings being darker, earlier. This in turn may disrupt your sleep patterns, which might mean grumpier mornings due to a lack of sleep. <\/p>\n

Try to make the most of the day\u2019s light by spending time outdoors \u2013 even if this is just a walk around the block during your lunch or while on a coffee break. A change of scenery can offer a welcome pause from the pressures of everyday life and help you feel refreshed, particularly if you focus on the greenery<\/a> around you.<\/p>\n

Even if you cannot find time to leave the building, try sitting next by a window to enjoy some natural light and a different perspective on you surroundings.<\/p>\n

2. Keep moving<\/h2>\n

When it\u2019s cold and dark, it\u2019s all too easy to skip your workouts and hunker down inside with a hot drink or favourite snack instead.<\/p>\n

But exercise has many benefits<\/a> for us beyond just the physical ones. It can reduce stress and improve your mental health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Taking a stroll, visiting the gym or even walking laps around your kitchen table or garden will help you cope with the change in the season. You could even combine exercise with seasonal activities \u2013 such as walking to see Halloween decorations or Christmas lights in the local area.<\/p>\n

3. Be kind to yourself<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s perfectly okay to adjust your expectations about your daily accomplishments in the winter months. With less daylight and worsening weather it can be hard to keep to the pace of life you\u2019ve set yourself and enjoyed over the summer months. <\/p>\n

Self-compassion<\/a> supports your wellbeing<\/a>. This can involve being kind to yourself, recognising the things you have achieved and celebrating the small wins along the way.<\/p>\n

\n \"A
\n Try to do one \u2018fun\u2019 thing each day.<\/span>
\n Yuganov Konstantin\/ Shutterstock<\/a><\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You don\u2019t have to make the most of everyday, or be productive all of the time. Find the balance and allow yourself some slower days. And rather than criticising yourself for not completing everything you had lined up for the day, acknowledge what you have achieved. Having this kind of self-compassion is linked with better mental wellbeing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4. Stay connected to others<\/h2>\n

When it\u2019s dark, cold and wet, it\u2019s easy to want to prioritise \u201cme time\u201d at the expense of catching up. But making time for your friends and family is key during the winter months. This is because strong social connections<\/a> are important for good mental health.<\/p>\n

Even if it\u2019s just a short chat about a new film you\u2019ve seen or a great book you\u2019ve read, this time spent connecting with loved ones and maintaining these meaningful connections can help to support your mental wellbeing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

5. Enjoy life\u2019s simple pleasures<\/h2>\n

Make time for the little things in life \u2013 whether that\u2019s reading, cooking, listening to music or picking up a hobby you forgot about.<\/p>\n

Research on behavioural activation<\/a>, which involves reconnecting with rewarding and meaningful activities, shows that these kinds of endeavours improve mood \u2013 particularly when motivation has fallen.<\/p>\n

Planning one \u201cfun\u201d thing to do each day \u2013 no matter how big or small \u2013 can help ease the darker evenings and colder nights. You can also make the most of the longer evenings by snuggling up under the duvet to watch a box set without feeling you have to make the most of being outside, or enjoy more at-home activities \u2013 such as cooking a favourite meal or indulging in seasonal treats.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead<\/h2>\n

If nothing else, remember the shortest day of the year (in the UK at least) is only a few weeks away. After that, the evenings will start to get lighter again.<\/p>\n

Looking after your mental health during winter isn\u2019t about forcing yourself to be positive \u2013 it\u2019s about finding the small ways that provide you with support, happiness or enable you to connect with other people.<\/p>\n

Feeling less energetic during the winter is common, but if you have persistent low mood<\/a>, a loss of interest in activities, feel hopeless or loss your appetite, seek additional support via the NHS. Self-care is important, but you do not have to manage everything alone.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s important to make time for friends and loved ones. Luis Rojas Estudio\/ Shutterstock When the clocks \u201cfall back\u201d in the autumn, it signals the start of the winter months. And, for many, this time change also signals the start of a difficult period \u2013 where the cold weather and long nights wear on their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/redzine.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/redzine.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/redzine.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redzine.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redzine.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2132"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/redzine.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2132\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/redzine.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redzine.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/redzine.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}