I don’t know about you, but I find February tough. Very tough indeed. The one positive aspect is that there is light at the end of the tunnel and spring is within sight.
But how do we not only survive the deepest part of winter, but actually thrive? In this article, pharmacist at Victoria Health, Shabir Daya, gives some simple but effective tips on how to hunker down and give our systems a boost.
Depending upon where you are in the world, surviving February can be difficult. Although the days are getting longer, they appear to be grey, dark and cold. February is considered so bleak that even scientists have a name for it.
Scientists have actually labelled a syndrome called the February Slump
But we can all endure February with some slight changes that can make a positive difference.
Light some candles and take a hot bath. A bath can be a ritual and should never be a task. It should be something that you enjoy experiencing rather than on your ‘to do’ list such as washing dishes and reading on the internet. Magnesium flakes will work wonders to relax the mind and the body and one’s that I often reach out for are Better You’s Magnesium Oil Original Flakes.
Add some spices to your dinner
When the temperature drops, introduce certain spices such as ginger and turmeric into your food. These spices warm our bodies from the inside and at the same time provide numerous benefits which include aiding digestion and enhancing circulation.
Moisturise your face, body and hands
A rich face moisturiser is a must for winter but your hands will also require some extra care. You should be washing them often to ward off cold and flu viruses but the cold, dry weather can cause cracked skin. Fulvic Acid Nail Cream is a concentrated hand and nail cream which will nourish your cuticles as well as target cracked skin on the hands.
Take some Omega-3 supplements
Moisturising on the inside is just as important as moisturising on the outside. Krill Oil supplements are a great source of omega-3’s which moisturise skin but also help to calm inflammation. Astaxanthin found naturally in krill oil is a powerful antioxidant working like an added layer to shield skin from free radical damage. Krill Oil contains phospholipids which dissolve in both fat and water, maximising the omega-3 absorption. The supplement of choice is Neubria Krill Oil.
For those allergic to shellfish, Bare Biology’s Life and Soul Omega 3 Fish Oil capsules provides the best sourced oily fish oil.
Boost your humidity. Dry winter air leads to dry skin. A lack of moisture in the air will not only cause dehydration within skin, it also makes us more vulnerable to airborne viruses, sinus congestion and coughs.
Try and get some light
Experts say that you need a special light to get rid of February Slump however if there are days when the sun is out then go out for a walk. This is not only a good form of exercise but even a small amount of exposure to the sun will help enhance your mood elevating vitamin D3 levels. It might still be prudent to supplement vitamin D3 given the deficiencies that widely exist in the population at large. Micro-Liposomal Vitamin D3 or Better You’s DLux Oral Sprays are the best in class.
Get appropriate sleep
Sleep deprivation is unfortunately very common these days and it is very likely associated with our lifestyle. Quality sleep can be highly restorative both to the mid and body. If you are struggling to sleep, consider taking Herbal Sleep PM which works to induce sleep without grogginess upon arising in the morning.
Finally, let us be thankful that February is the shortest month of the year and although it is a leap year, we just have 29 days to get through before we head into March and all that it brings.
