Winter means snowfall, delicious pies and soups, and unfortunately flu season. Winter is such a wonderful season however it is easy to get caught up in the beautiful outdoors and forget to protect yourself against the illness that can come with the cooler weather and spending more time indoors.
Combat Dry Skin
The air is getting dryer, and the weather is getting colder, so understandably, it is getting harder and harder to keep your skin hydrated. Exposed to the harsh elements of late fall and early winter, your hands and joints can become dry, cracked, and painful! There are many ways to combat and heal your painful, angry skin.
- First switch your laundry detergent. Lots of laundry detergents can smell wonderful but are incredibly dry for your skin. There are many detergents that are made for sensitive and dry skin. Be sure to look for hypoallergenic laundry detergent and avoid detergents with fragrances and/or colorant.
- Buy a humidifier. Blasting the heat in your home all winter can dry out the air in your house, so investing in a quality humidifier can make a significant difference to your skin. There are many humidifiers on the market that cater to many situations so choose the one that works best for you. Even just turning your humidifier on at night while you are sleeping can do your skin a huge favor.
- If your skin is drying out, consider switching your lotion and moisturizer to something a little more hydrating. There are many lotions marketed toward dry skin and finding the ones with the least number of unnatural scents and ingredients will be best. Lotion is fantastic, but some are better for certain skin types than others so be sure to find the kind that works for you and your skin.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a certain type of depression that is associated with the changing of the seasons. People with SAD usually start experiencing symptoms in the fall and they last through the winter months. Symptoms can include reduced energy, changes in mood, loss of concentration, sadness, and feeling down, depressed, and worthless. Most people can feel a little down when there is less sunlight.
If you notice your behavior or a loved one’s behavior change in the fall or winter months SAD might be the culprit. Decreased motivation and lack of interest in doing things you would normally enjoy is a large indicator. So, if this is you or a loved one, consider taking some steps to increase your quality of life this winter. If you suffer from this disorder, there are steps you can take to ease some of the symptoms before fall and winter occur.
- Start taking vitamin D. Majority of the population is vitamin D deficient, especially during the winter months so increasing your vitamin D should be your first step.
- Talk to your doctor about psychotherapy. Having a therapist to talk to and give you some personal suggestions to help your situation can be incredibly helpful.
- Consider Light Therapy. Light therapy or “sad lamps” are lamps with a higher level of LED light can be incredibly helpful when natural sunlight is not in abundance. Sit by your lamp consistently for about 30 minutes every day and you might notice a difference in mood.
How Fresh Air Can Prevent Sickness
The phrase “get outside and get some fresh air” has been said for years, but it isn’t just a phrase your parents say to get you out of the house. The CDC says that getting daily fresh air can prevent sickness. Respiratory viruses are a serious issue as the weather gets colder and more time is spent inside. In the warmer months, windows are open more often and the air is fresher and flows throughout the house. However, in cooler months windows stay closed, and the air tends to stagnate and become stale. This increases the chance that virus particles can build up in the still air and infect your lungs. Respiratory virus particles have a harder time building up when air flow is newer and more constant so getting outside and taking a daily walk in nature is better for your physical and mental health. A nature walk exposes your lungs to fresh air that doesn’t contain the stagnant, virus particle air.
If you don’t like nature walks or can’t get up and exercise as much, do not worry. You can update your home’s HVAC central air system and change its filter regularly. This will filter the air circulating in your home to not circulate stagnant, unfiltered air. Whether you get outside to get fresh air or not, keeping up with your air filters can significantly increase the circulating air quality in your home this fall. Stay ahead of respiratory illness this fall by keeping your lungs happy and healthy.