Fall may have just begun, but winter will be here before we know it. With this transition from colorful autumn leaves to snowy landscapes right around the corner, there has never been a better time to start taking steps to make sure your body is prepared both inside and outside for the chilly months ahead.
Not sure where to start? Let’s look at some tips that will help you prepare your body inside and out for the upcoming colder months.
Preparing Your Body on the Inside
As the seasons begin to shift from one to another, our bodies embark on an internal journey of adaptation. These transitions, often accompanied by shifts in weather, daylight, and temperature, signify more than just a change in scenery; they signal a time for our bodies to adjust and prepare for the challenges of the new season. It’s during these critical junctures that we must pay special attention to our well-being and, in particular, find ways to support our ever-important immune systems from within by incorporating some of these tips.
1. Elevate Your Vitamin D Intake
Vitamin D plays a pivotal role in supporting your immune system. During the colder months, when we tend to hibernate indoors away from the sun, our vitamin D levels may decline. To counteract this, it’s essential to explore alternative sources of this vital nutrient. This can include adding a natural supplement to your routine or selecting vitamin D-rich foods like fatty fish, fortified cereals, and enriched milk.
2. Nourish Your Body with a Bounty of Nutrients
While vitamin D is crucial, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. To keep your body functioning optimally, you’ll want to stock up on a diverse array of nutrients. Carbohydrates, for instance, are essential for maintaining healthy serotonin levels and supporting overall well-being. And don’t forget other immunity-supporting nutrients like zinc, vitamin D, fiber, and a variety of minerals when planning your meals as they are all key components of supporting your health from the inside out.
3. Prioritize Hydration
When the temperatures drop, it’s tempting to indulge in caffeine-filled beverages or sweet treats like hot chocolate. While these can help provide temporary warmth and a cozy feeling on a cold day, be careful not to overindulge. Instead, opt for hydration through water or soothing herbal teas as your body still requires you to be properly hydrated in order to function well during the winter months.
4. Embrace Regular Exercise
While the colder weather may not inspire you to get your daily workout in, physical activity is still essential during the winter months. Exercise benefits you both internally and externally by aiding in digestion, promoting restful sleep, helping to generate heat within your body, and supporting the maintenance of a healthy weight throughout the colder season. Even a modest commitment to regular exercise can make a difference for your body as you step from one season to the next.
Preparing Your Body on the Outside
During these transitional periods, our bodies bear witness to the changes happening around us not only on the inside but also on the outside. The crisp, cold air and plummeting temperatures can take a toll on our skin, leaving it vulnerable to the harsh elements. To counteract these external challenges, consider taking a few of these proactive steps.
1. Embrace Indoor Respite
While it is ideal to still spend some time outside during the winter months so you can breathe in the fresh air and soak up some sun, it’s also important to recognize that some winter weather conditions can be unforgiving to your skin. The blustering winds, cold temperatures, and dry air can dry your skin out quickly. Not to mention that, without us thinking much about it, the sun still emits those harmful UV rays during the winter months, so skin damage from sun exposure isn’t out of the question either. With that in mind, keep your eye on the weather forecast and consider keeping indoors as much as possible when the freezing winter conditions arrive.
2. Shield Against Outdoor Elements
For those times when you do opt to spend some time outdoors, be proactive about shielding your skin from the winter conditions it is about to face. While you’ll likely be wearing long sleeves, a coat, and warm pants, it’s still important to apply a layer of sunscreen to the areas of your skin that will be exposed to the sun. Additionally, you can protect your skin from the chilling winds by covering your face with a scarf and ensuring you are wearing a hat and gloves.
3. Moisturize Religiously
One of the best defenses against dry, winter-weary skin is consistent and thorough moisturization. During this season, opt for a nourishing moisturizer that contains natural skin-loving ingredients. For optimal results, moisturize your skin while it is still damp, such as right after a shower. This helps trap moisture in your skin so it stays hydrated longer.
4. Exfoliate and Cleanse Your Skin
As winter unfolds, you may find yourself dealing with the accumulation of dead skin cells, which can clog up your pores and dry out your skin. To prevent this, it’s important to facilitate the natural respiration of your skin by exfoliating as needed. While exfoliating once every week or so can be great for your skin, it’s important not to overdo it—excessive exfoliation can irritate your skin and end up doing more harm than good. On a similar note, take a look at your cleansing routine as well. Excessive cleansing or cleansing with water that is too hot can strip away your skin’s natural moisture and dry it out. While some areas of your skin may require daily cleansing, such as your face, other areas like your arms, legs, and torso may benefit from less frequent cleansing.
Live the #NewEarthLife
While you’re enjoying the beautiful scenery and cooler weather that the fall months have to offer, don’t forget that your body will greatly benefit if you start putting in a little extra work now to get it prepared for the next seasonal transition. By taking a few small steps now, you can start to live the #NewEarthLife by fortifying your body’s internal and external defenses so you can navigate the change of seasons with grace.
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