Aubrey Zaruba: Avoid Winter Mistakes

Winter is coming! Even though I have lived in Utah for many many years, I am never really ready for winter. This year is no exception. I am not ready. Ready or not, it is coming..soon. Maybe this will be the year that I am finally able to handle winter a little better.

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There are several winter mistakes you will probably make in the upcoming season. These can make your life a little more unbearable during a miserable time. But you can avoid most of them if you are aware of what they are and how to spot them. So, here are a few hand suggestions.

Steaming Hot Showers and Baths

Winter is, of course, cold, and it's only normal to want to get warm. For some of us, this means taking longer showers and baths at higher temperatures. But this is a terrible mistake for your skin. One of the most effective tips for healthier skin through winter is to keep your showers short and at a moderate temperature. This is because the natural oils will be removed by heat, and you need these to provide protection through the cold and to keep your skin moisturized.

Winter Mistakes Include Food

There are actually biological reasons why we eat more in the winter, and they mainly relate to providing ourselves with more energy. But as we have evolved, we don't really need to do this, but we still overeat anyway. Christmas and other holidays don't help, as we are aggressively exposed to commercial ads. Still, the average person puts on around 0.5 kgs during winter. The weather can also make you feel like you need to eat more as you feel colder even when warm.

Also, What You Drink

Drinking also comes into it and can contribute to seasonal issues throughout winter. You can crave high-calorie drinks as you do food because of biological urges. But alcohol consumption also increases during winter. This is higher during high-stress periods like Christmas and New Year but never really has a positive effect. Be kind to yourself this year, and try to drink less alcohol. You never need a drink to have fun, and you may even find you have a much better time.

Staying Inside for the Season

You need to get outside in winter. Of course, it's much harder to motivate yourself to do this when there is no sun and the wind is outrageous. But as long as it is safe to do so, you should take a few minutes to take in some nature. Walking the dog is always a good motivator. But it helps to force yourself to take a walk. Doing so will help increase your vitamin D production, and some fresh air and UV rays can help get the blood circulating as it should to stay warmer.

Not Protecting Yourself from UV Rays

Further to exposure to UV rays, you still need to be careful. Summer might be long gone, but the sun can still be dangerous. To protect yourself in winter with the following handy tips:

You still need to wear sunscreen even when it is cloudy during winter.
Be aware of the different types of sunscreen, such as UVA, UVB, and SPF.
Wear clothing that UV rays cannot easily penetrate, such as dark and thick fabrics.
A hat with a brim will protect your head, neck, and nose from excess UV radiation.
Sunglasses may look silly in winter, but they will protect your eyes on a high UV day.
Stay inside and out of the sun if possible, which is easier in winter anyway.

Even a cloudy day can be high in UV exposure, and sunscreen is a great protector. This is for your skin, of course, so a hat and sunglasses can provide further protection when UV is high.

Ditching the Exercise Routine

You may be prone to less energy when the sun says its goodbyes. And this means not exercising as you usually would. But this is a costly mistake, and it is made worse if you overeat and drink too much during winter. This could lead to substantial weight gain, making all your previous efforts worthless and even harder when the sun comes back next year. And you know you won't stick to the New Year's resolution to exercise more after buying unused gym stuff.

Staying in Bed for Too Long

There's nothing quite like a warm blanket on a chilly night and a cooler room when you are deep into sleep. But the cold gets colder in winter, and this can make it much harder to spring out of bed. However, sleeping for too long has effects like fatigue, brain fog, and decreased focus. It can also contribute to weight gain. Fortunately, all you need to do is set a timer for your heating to warm up the home for getting up in the morning. And Alexa can even start some appliances.

Winter Mistakes Include the Home

You need to look after yourself during winter. And this includes taking care of your property. It can be a disaster if anything goes wrong with your home during winter, especially the heating, plumbing, or drainage. These can all be dangerous under the right (or wrong) conditions, so prepare your home for the season ahead. Check the gutters once a week when it is safe, bleed the radiators and, reset the boiler pressure, and have an expert inspect your home's pipes.

Not Addressing Your Well-being

Of course, there might be genuine medical reasons why you find it harder to get up in winter. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is now a recognized condition where the lack of sun has a physiological effect on your well-being. It affects around 3% of the general population and up to 25% of people with previously diagnosed depressive disorders, including bipolar. There are ways to combat SAD, including using a SAD lamp that mimics the rising of the morning sun.

Summary

Taking steamy showers and baths is one of the worst winter mistakes you must avoid for skincare. And even though it is less sunny in winter, UV rays can still have an impact on your health. Also, you must take steps to make sure your home is as safe as it can be for winter.