Wintertime is often associated with flu season, so I’m sharing 6 winter health tips I’m using to stay healthy.
The winter season is not only cold, but isolating. It’s full of dark and short days that seem never ending. Staying cooped up can make it easy for germs to travel and get sick.
Below are the tried and true winter health tips I use not only for myself, but also my young family that have kept us healthy in the wintertime.
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Winter Health Tips
I personally use these 6 winter health tips to keep myself and my family at our best during the coldest months. Adding any of these tips to your lifestyle will not only improve your physical health, but also your state of mind this winter season.
1. Use a humidifier
The winter is incredibly dry plus you are probably running your heater or furnace which will only suck up more moisture. Your body needs humidity, so consider using a humidifier to add more moisture back into your air.
Do you ever wake up with a dry, scratchy throat? Or congested? From my experience, I benefit from a humidifier most in my bedroom and have one in my kids’ bedrooms too that we run at night. If we are stuffed up, coughing, or experiencing nose bleeds, this helps to moisten the air and make it easier to breathe, which helps us sleep better too.
It’s important to clean them often to prevent mold growth. Some recommendations say to clean them after each use, which isn’t always easy. This stainless steel humidifier or this one make cleaning them quick and easy because they can just be put in your dishwasher.
Another tip: be sure to only use distilled water to eliminate any mineral build up in the tanks or other mechanisms within the humidifier.
2. Get fresh air
There is a misunderstanding that going outside in the cold will make someone sick. While there is some truth to that, cold weather also stops people from going outside. When you are inside more, and in close contact with others, germs are more readily available and spread between people.
Also, due to the air being drier, viruses tend to hang out longer than they normally would. This is often why so many people get sick in the wintertime.
For all those reasons, plus the benefit of getting vitamin D from the sun, it’s a great idea to get out and breathe in the fresh air. It can also help you sleep better – a German concept called Lüften, which involves opening windows to air out the house.
If you’re experiencing inflammation, cold weather can help decrease that as well.
3. Stay hydrated
Hydration is vital throughout the year, but is especially important in the dry, cold winter months.
That’s because your body your body loses fluids at a higher rate in the wintertime. Whether it’s from the additional effort it takes to breathe in cold weather, which has to be warmed up before it can pass through to your lungs, sweating from physical activity or being warmer under multiple layers or clothing, or by your body’s efforts to conserve heat which can contribute to producing more urine, called cold diuresis.
To lessen the impact of those things and prevent dehydration, drink plenty of water.
How much should you be drinking in the winter? The American Heart Association recommends women drink 8 glasses of water and men drink 12, given you are getting around 20% of your hydration from food on a daily basis.
To make it easier to drink enough, I use a stainless steel tumbler with a straw or if you’re on the go, I love and use this water bottle with a straw daily.
My kids love these water bottles that have a wide variety of patterns they can choose from, are stainless steel, and dishwasher safe.
4. Keep moving, even if it’s just a little
Any movement is good movement. Everything slows down in the winter and it’s okay if that includes you.
It can be difficult to find motivation to get up and move when it’s cold. Lean into the slowness of winter by inviting your body to explore slower movement.
Try gentle stretching, yoga, hot yoga for added warmth, or strength training.
There are also a variety of indoor fitness options that could be the perfect time to try when it’s less enticing to be outside. Some ideas include: rock climbing, bowling, visiting a trampoline park, or ice skating if you’re not as concerned about the cold.
If you don’t mind the cold, there are tons of cold-weather activities you could engage at every pace from playing in the snow and building a snowman, to sledding, and skiing!
Whatever you decide to do, it’s a good idea to keep your body mobile and flexible during months when it’s easy to move minimally and become stiff.
Keep reading: The Best Winter Self-Care Activities and How to Make Use of Them
5. Stay in contact
If we learned anything from the pandemic, it was how essential human connections are. Staying in contact with those you love and care for is hugely beneficial to your health, especially your mental health.
It’s always a mood boost to talk with someone who makes you laugh and smile. Since the weather is not as favorable, it can be harder to see those important people in your life.
That’s why it’s important to keep in touch with them whether it’s inviting them over for a meal or scheduling a video chat.
The short, dark days can be depressing, so by talking to someone who brings lightness and joy on a regularly basis, you can focus less on the cold and darkness and more on a positive relationship.
6. Focus on warmth
When it’s cold outside, it’s natural to want to get warm and cozy. Do things that bring you and your home warmth.
That could include dressing in warm, cozy clothing, putting out more blankets in areas where you typically hang out, turning on the fireplace or using a happy lamp, and nourishing you body with more warming and seasonal foods and drinks.
It’s natural to seek comfort when you’re cold and there are many ways to get it. It can be summed up well by the Danish concept of Hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”).
Conclusion
Make this your best and healthiest winter yet! You can do this by following the 6 easy winter health tips in this article:
- Use a humidifier
- Get fresh air
- Stay hydrated
- Keep moving, even if it’s just a little
- Stay in contact
- Focus on warmth
You’re probably already doing some of them! I hope these winter health tips benefit you and your family in staying well and warm during the coldest months.
This year we have been using a humidifier and it has made a huge difference! I don’t know why I was so surprised by that, but love that it made your list too.
It’s a must for us too! One in every bedroom. 🙂
Love these tips! Our humidifier runs 24/7 in winter!
Thank you! Yes – it’s a game changer!
Love these! Warm, cozy vibes all winter long, 100%
Yes – all about the warm and cozy vibes!