So it certainly is turning out to be another challenging year! Given that most of us are either currently in lockdown or feeling the effects reverberate around the country, now is the perfect time to pay attention to any lurking Winter melancholy and transform it into some Winter joy.
In Ayurveda, a good daily routine is considered super important for wellbeing, so no wonder we may be finding Winter particularly difficult this year as our routines are likely pretty disturbed. The disturbance to our whole way of life can leave us feeling distorted, scattered, heavy and down.
If you are feeling this way, the below are a few specific symptoms to look out for:
- fatigue
- lethargy and tiredness
- difficulty falling asleep
- difficulty staying asleep/ constantly waking up
- difficulty concentrating
- fluctuations in appetite
- struggling to start your mornings
If all of this sounds familiar, now is the perfect time to take inventory and create a new solid routine. A good Winter routine will help keep your immunity strong, your mood more positive and your body and mind feeling more balanced and grounded.
While many of us would like to curl up in a ball and hibernate until Summer, let’s kick the Winter blues to the curb! Here are a few tips to get you started.
Stay Active
Exercising your body releases serotonin, not only making you feel good about yourself, but promotes a more positive frame of mind. Try walking around the block for 20 minutes every day, or if it’s raining, download our FREE Tulsi & Yoga eBook and attempt a few yoga poses each day.
Stay in Touch with Family and Friends
We are likely all feeling a little isolated by this stage which is why making an extra effort to stay connected with friends and family is essential. Using tools/apps such as FaceTime or Zoom isn’t as beautiful as the real thing, but being able to see loved ones via video is a wonderful use of technology. These interactions help to improve our mood and enable us to unpack our thoughts and feelings. Even if you’re feeling great, taking time to check in can assist others who may be going through a tough time; this could be invaluable for their wellbeing. Why not share a virtual cup of Tulsi this Winter; add it to your routine.
Nourish Yourself with Healthy Food
It can be easy to gravitate toward heavy, comfort food and over eating during the colder months! It’s easy to grab that packet of chips from the pantry or have your favourite takeaways on speed dial.
A great way to nourish yourself over Winter is to be conscious of what you’re eating and go for warm, cooked, slightly oily nourishing wholefoods to really satisfy that Winter hunger. Eating nutritious food helps beat the blues by keeping your energy, mood and immune system boosted.
Pick out your favourite proteins, vegetables and fruits and get creative in the kitchen this Winter. For some inspiration, visit our Organic India Blog for some new recipe ideas that include Tulsi.
Get your Dose of Vitamin D
Throughout the more southern parts of Australia, Winter may not provide as many sunshiny days as other times of the year. This makes it important to consider getting Vitamin D from other sources, such as your food or a good quality supplement.
Foods that are known to be high in Vitamin D include: Salmon, Mackerel, Tuna and dairy products.
Create an Upbeat Winter Playlist
A fabulous way to lift your mood is with a killer upbeat music playlist. Listen to anything that is going to make you feel uplifted, sing or dance (so delete all the slow and sad tunes)! A good dance around the house to your favourite music is the perfect way to feed your soul and beat the Winter blues. Remember your old dance classics, find them on Spotify!
If you aren’t a big music buff, your favourite comedic television shows and movies can also really help.
Drink Tulsi!
Tulsi is a wonderous and powerful adaptogen: an agent that helps the body adapt more efficiently to stress and promotes homeostasis. Adaptogens are known to reduce the intensity and negative impact of the stress caused by mental tension, emotional difficulties, poor lifestyle habits, disease, infection and pollution.
Regular consumption of adaptogens such as Tulsi can enhance your capacity to maintain balance (mind, body and spirit) in the midst of stressful times, so Tulsi can be considered your best friend right now!
Having Tulsi as a herbal tea infusion is an easy an delicious way to incorporate a little Tulsi magic into your daily life. A cup or two (or three!) every day throughout Winter is a wonderful way to support of enhance our ability to remain calm and resilient, helping us all come out the other side of Winter stronger. Find your favourite blends this Winter.
When creating your Winter routine, I hope a few of these tips will nourish your body, mind and soul, and help you kick those Winter blues to the curb.
Remember, we are all in this together and the renewal of Spring is not far away!
Repost: Organic India