“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” – World Health Organization

 

Whether you like winter or not, the fact is, a harsh winter day can be, well, very harsh. It can chill you to the bone. It can soak you through. Your face can be so icy you can hardly feel your nose, and your fingers so frosty they can barely function. Here are some comforting and cosy things to help you to recover from such wintry conditions!

1. Fresh Face

This is underrated, I think. Giving your face a good wash; removing the grime of the day and leaving it tingling and fresh is a great way to give yourself a little energy boost. As much as it is nice to slump straight onto a sofa as soon as possible after work, washing your face will give you a bit of a list so that you might enjoy your evening with a little more verve and lucidity.

2. Dim the Bright Lights

If possible, try and keep the vibe in your home calm. Soft lighting is a great way to do this. The cold of the outdoors, and often the brightness of offices and other workplaces can be intense. To help bring your mood into a softer place, try to keep stark lighting to a minimum. All of our senses require regulation, as they are all sensitive to stimulation. A warm house will help to relax your sense of touch, low lighting will help to relax your sense of sight.

3. House Clothes

The first thing I recommend you do is to change out of your work clothes. Personally, my work clothes are informal, yes, but also practical… and so, not especially comfortable. Fitted jeans and a button-up shirt are not the clothes I would wish to relax in, especially if I have been running around the city in them all day. If you work in an office and wear formal clothing to work, I imagine you might find it hard to relax in your work clothes as well.

Even since I can remember, I have always had designated house clothes to wear. Usually, it is a T-shirt, a pair of light trousers (sometimes pyjama bottoms) and a loose jumper, all earmarked specifically for wear in the house. This change is about comfort, but it is also to help my brain switch from work mode to leisure mode.

4. Sound Bathing

I always feel at my cosiest and calmest when I am in bed or under a blanket listening to the rain falling outside. White noise or chilled music are wonderful ways of making your home feel chilled and safe. They also help to occupy the spaces in your mind where there might be worry or anxiety.

5. Blankets

As well as keeping you warm and aiding the illusion of cosiness, blankets also help to dull worry and anxiety. A little weight on the body, a little light pressure, helps to connect us with the ground and to release all of those muscles that have become tighter throughout the day.

6. Hot Drinks

Hot drinks are more than just a way to hydrate. I mean, if you are reading this and you are English, I need not reiterate the healing properties of a humble cup of tea to you. Hot drinks can warm you up from the inside when you are cold to the core. They can be used to show love for others. They will warm your hands. They give you an opportunity to be still for a moment, to ponder and exhale.

7. Know Yourself

Regulating your wellbeing and staying resilient is helped enormously when you are conscious of both what triggers you and what calms you. Whatever your routine is when you get home after a busy day, whether in the Winter or the heights of Summer, make sure it is a routine that has been considered and offers you what you personally require to look after yourself.

By Chris Thomson

 

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