We have been through a long year, not to mention a winter that has been quite uneventful and less social than in the past. As we transition from winter to spring over the next several weeks, while in and out of pandemic lockdown, here are some hacks for the final stretch of winter!
Using both technology and nature have helped me get through the cooler season, big time. I hope that they will get you through the final stretch of cold days while keeping you comfy and uplifted as mother nature tests our patience!
Technology
YouTube Travel Destination Videos
Watching luxury beach resort views and EDM music set to showcasing exotic destinations has been a major lifesaver to get me through this winter. This virtual reality hack has helped me stay sane during a year without travel or escape to a sunny destination. Afterall, the mind cannot tell the difference in the way it can make you feel and evoke that sense of relaxation. I am amazed with the content that people have put out there for all of us to enjoy. Sunny views and drone shots of beautiful beaches and far off cities have fulfilled my yearning to get away. I have really fallen in love with The Luxury Travel Expert and Queen Club music as well as Wind Walk Travels to name a few. Take a look and see how they can help you find some respite even for a couple of hours from the comfort of your couch.
SiriusXM or your favorite music app
It goes without saying that listening to tunes can put you in a happy mood. For me, having SiriusXM in my car gives me pure bliss as I drive to the office. It feels so wonderful to experience something so in vibe without ads and really makes a commute in traffic so much more enjoyable. Here is your gentle nudge to saying yes to music that nourishes your soul and lights you up inside!
Reading/Audible App
Short days and long nights are a great opportunity to curl up with a good book. As the winter days tend to be more quiet and internal, I find that reading satisfies my soul. I have been listening to several books on the Audible app and have found that it’s a great way to get some fiction or nonfiction in depending on what I am in the mood for. I also love reading a hard copy book or having it available in digital format to get my own picture and imagination of what the author is depicting. Now is a great time to get lost in the words on the page and give yourself an escape through story.
Alo Fitness App
As much as it’s easy to turn to comfort food during the chilly nites, we have all heard about the Covid 20 lbs of weight gain from the past year dealing with a pandemic. Without access to gyms or workout studios, it has been a tough winter. It has proven to be quite challenging to get a proper workout done, especially when the elements of the outdoors play a role in what we can do. Again, technology has been a saviour, with apps like Alo, Peloton, and several others, fitness classes are readily accessible to do in your own home. Many inspiring instructors are cheerleading us on to keep in shape and get moving especially from all that work from home stress and tension that has built up.
Restaurant and Grocery Food Delivery Apps
We have been so lucky that during such a trying time, services that bring food directly to our door are readily available. Grocery stores deliver whatever we need to stock up our kitchen and to stay home and stay safe. Restaurants are still open and serving customers thanks to the magic of Uber Eats and other food delivery companies. Meal prep kits make it easy to menu plan and have all the ingredients you need without wasting food. It is incredible that we can simply click a button and whatever we desire shows up within minutes to a couple of hours. How awesome is that?
Nature
Walks in Fresh Air
We have been wearing masks for the past year and they are required anytime we are inside a building, store or space where we interact with others. Taking walks outside with lots of room to breath the fresh crisp air can open up the tight and contracted feeling from being inside, sitting all day. My personal fave is taking a walk by the beach, anything to get me closer to water, even in the cold.
Vitamin D
This sunshine vitamin can help boost mood, improve your immunity, and build strength in your bones. It is typically deficient in everyone living in a cool climate and is really important to get enough in our systems to keep the winter blues away or at least at bay. It is important to supplement with Vitamin D drops or capsules along with Vit K2 to help with the absorption. You can also aim to get some Vit D by soaking in the sunshine and sitting in a sunbeam daily for at least 15 minutes.
Feeling comfy in your skin
Layers and Bundling up. This is absolutely essential. When your body is warm, then it is protected against injury and strain. I recommend two to three layers of clothes (my trick is to have a sherpa layer underneath my jacket which basically blocks out the cold), a scarf that completely covers your neck, a hood to keep your head warm, mitts and boots to keep your hands and feet cozy. Even when the temps start to rise, it is important to keep layering, so the muscles don’t get confused and tense up because they are not quite ready as the winter thaw and freezing temps let up. My recommendation is to wear comfy clothes that are soft and cozy and make you feel good!
As always, if you want help implementing these life tips or have any questions, please be in touch! I am here for you. :)
Dr. Anita Rajan