3 tips for surviving the winter

Don’t let sickness or sadness get you down. Check out these 3 tips for surviving the winter

Winter isn’t that bad. It really isn’t. If you ignore the longer nights, shorter days and lack of sunshine, there’s loads to enjoy: Christmas, crisp, fresh air and a brand new wardrobe. However, we’ll also be the first to admit that feeling sad and sick is one of the parts of winter we’d rather avoid. That’s why we’ve asked one of David Lloyd’s national master trainers, Joe Newbold, to give us his top three tips to survive the winter.

1. Stay hydrated

Since our bodies need water to run smoothly, it’s not a surprise that hydration plays a huge role when it comes to a functioning immune system. ‘To work out how much water you need, calculate 0.033 x your weight in kg. For most people that equates to around 2 litres/4 pints a day, although many struggle to consume this amount of water on a daily basis,’ advises Joe. ‘Although achieving this amount straight away might seem daunting, the main thing to concentrate on is improvement, not perfection.  Habits take time to change, so a gradual increase is always the best way to implement and maintain those positive changes for life.’

2. Eat well

‘The body functions at its best when it has a balanced intake of good carbs, quality proteins and essential fats, so you should aim to combine all three together when eating your meals,’ explains Joe. Make sure you also load up on antioxidant-rich foods to fight those colds, too. Try broccoli, red peppers and dark chocolate.

3. Get moving

Here’s where you need to tap into your motivation this winter. Exercising when it’s dark and cold anywhere outside of the comforts of your bed might seem like a real effort, but the pay-off is worth it. ‘To avoid the chances of suffering from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), this can be the best time to stay active, whether it’s at the gym, going for a run, playing football, snowboarding or dancing,’ says Joe. ‘The endorphin lift you receive from staying active will help to keep your mood high until the brighter, warmer months return.’