After the festivities, noise and fairy lights of December, January feels bleak. The excitement of Christmas and New Year has completely worn off and days are short and dark. But what if we take a different approach and lean into the spirit of winter, embracing its natural slowness?
With everyone spending more time indoors, January is a perfect time for reading, reflecting and resting. Feeling inspired by her dedication to a sustainable and healthy lifestyle, we have teamed up with Magdalena Reeves, a certified health coach and asked her to share tips on how to embrace winter and find joy in slowing down.
Could you tell us what motivated you to lead a more health-conscious lifestyle?
A few years ago, I went through a period of being unwell, it took the NHS close to two years to diagnose me and in that period, I came to a realisation that no one truly will ever care about your health as much as you must. I concluded that the absence of disease does not equal health and that for my body to thrive I need to become an active participant in my well-being.
I took a very holistic approach of reviewing everything I consumed starting with food and drink, what I was watching and reading to the people around me. I then enrolled with the Health Coach Institute which allowed me to further my understanding of being healthy.
How do you take care of your health & well-being during the winter months?
It is important to become aware that we are meant to live seasonally, and it is truly impossible to expect our bodies to feel the same during the short winter days as if it was the summer.
Resting plenty and slowing down is one way to connect with your body during the winter months. Many people believe that to rest you must sleep often for hours, but the opposite is true. Laying down for 15-20 minutes in a quiet room where all your senses can take a break can be very powerful too.
Vitamin D – a good rule of thumb is to take Vitamin D when we start wearing clothes that cover most of our bodies which in the UK is quite a long period. Vitamin D is both a hormone and a vitamin thus it has a big impact on our well-being. I recommend liquid Vitamin D supplements as they are better absorbed by our body.
Move your body – this does not need to be a sweaty session at the gym. My favourite way is to go for a walk and connect with nature. It might require a little bit more effort to get out of the house currently, but the difference it makes is truly noticeable. As the days are very short, a lunchtime stroll is one way to achieve that. Not only it gives you a break from the screens and work overall, but it leaves you feeling fresher and more energised.
Finally, what are your tips for embracing the first weeks of the new year?
Be gentle with yourself and listen to your body, it is always communicating with you. Don’t feel bad if you don’t have massive goals and New Year resolutions in place, maybe it is easier for you to focus on those around early spring or another time of the year.
As I see it, we have too many homogenised and “one size fits all” recommendations in place. Whether you look at the food pyramid or all the “start the year strong” slogans, the advice might be totally incorrect for you right now and that is ok. Allow yourself to be you.
Magdalena Reeves is a Human Design guide, a certified Health Coach and Gallup Talent Coach. https://msha.ke/Splenic_projector_life#magdalena
