While the lead up to Christmas is all about festivities and cosiness, it’s also a time when many people start feeling less energised and motivated.

Self-care is more important than ever during these darker months, even though it may not be the easiest thing to accomplish if you’re feeling down. The good news is that it doesn’t have to take much to give your mood a positive boost; a few small changes to your daily routine can make all the difference.

Here are five tips for winter-proofing your well-being: 

Make a habit of going outside

While we may not get to enjoy many sunny days during the winter, even the small doses of natural light that these months allow can help boost your serotonin levels and improve your mood. So, try to get as much of it as you can by going out at least once a day for some fresh air and exercise.

Eat well

The cold, dark days can often make us crave comfort foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugar, not to mention the ever-present temptation of festive treats. While there’s nothing wrong with treating yourself to the occasional mince pie, it’s important to maintain a balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, nuts, wholegrains and fatty fish to keep you energised too.

Exercise

Not only does exercise benefit your physical health but it can also relieve stress and improve your mood. Even if exercising at the gym or outside isn’t a preferred option, there are plenty of ways to keep moving by joining a virtual fitness class or following a YouTube yoga workout, for example.

Make time for the things you like to do

It’s incredibly important to make time to do the things you enjoy. Whether it’s reading a book in the evening, playing a video game or going for an autumnal walk, scheduling in little moments like these to look forward to can make all the difference to your mood and motivation.

Stay in touch with others

When you’re feeling down it can be easy to cancel plans but talking to the ones you love is a powerful way to boost your well-being. Even if you’re not in the mood to do much, consider reaching out to a friend to have a coffee or simply pick up the phone for an old-fashioned chat.

It’s important to remember that if you’re finding it hard to cope, help is out there. Telling someone you trust how you’re feeling can be a great way to get support or consider talking to your GP or a mental health support service; many are now offering support sessions online.

The next few months may be challenging, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t help ourselves to feel better. The tips above can certainly help you inject a daily dose of positivity to lighten up the wintry days.