How to Help Your Body Adapt to Colder Weather

January 19, 2021

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For many of us, the onset of colder weather is a dreaded event. Long gone are those long, warm summer evenings, replaced by shorter days, less sunlight, more nights in, dry skin, and unexplained bouts of sickness.

And if you’re like me, the colder weather months can also mean feeling the winter blues from time to time, and experiencing general feelings of blah.

Luckily, there are a few ways I’ve found that help to combat the colder weather, and have even helped to make the winters far more enjoyable and memorable. Read on to learn how you can adjust better to the colder temperatures this year.

How to Help Your Body Adapt to Colder Weather

1. Get as much sunlight as possible. Now that the days are shorter and there’s less sun, it’s not as easy to get your daily dose of vitamin D. Make getting enough light exposure a top priority in the colder months, even if it’s just for a few minutes every day! Getting enough light exposure is key to keeping the winter blues at bay, while also supporting your immune system.

2. Enjoy outdoor winter activities. It’s all too easy to stay indoors where it’s warm, rather than getting outdoors. But by doing this, you’re actually sensitizing your body even more to the colder temperatures, which makes it even harder to get outside in the colder weather. Find ways to enjoy the outdoors every day. Bundle up and go on a walk with a cup of hot chocolate. Go sledding, or go ice skating with friends. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors during this time of the year.

3. Don’t take super hot showers. As tempting as it is to turn on the hot water full blast when you shower, doing so only makes adjusting to the colder temperatures that much harder. Try cooling your shower to a more moderate temperature. Not only will you enjoy a number of health benefits that come with taking cold showers, but you’ll also be acclimating your body to the cold and building up your tolerance, making colder temperatures more comfortable.

4. Reframe your perspective on cold weather. Half of the battle with colder weather is in our minds. We fear and loathe the cold which makes the experience of colder weather that much worse. Try reframing your perspective on colder weather this year. For example, instead of resenting having to be indoors all the time after the summer, see it as a time to rest, get cozy, and spend time with family and friends.

5. Incorporate honey and ginger into your health routine. Honey and ginger are the dynamic duo when it comes to fending off illness throughout the winter months. Studies have shown that honey is a fantastic natural cough suppressant and anti-bacterial. Coupled with ginger, a natural immune booster and inflammation reducer, the two are essentials for supporting your health and boosting your immune system.

XOXO