With the shortest day of the year fast approaching, some employees might already be starting to show signs of the winter blues. Staying all day in a warm cosy bed, or wanting to snuggle up on the couch after a days work can be hard to shake off.

Below are some tips to pass onto colleagues to help boost your energy levels throughout winter:

• Get some natural sunlight: open up your curtains to allow as much sunlight in as possible, and try and get outside at lunchtime to get some natural light on you, especially if you work in an office and are not near the windows at all.
• Get a good night’s sleep, but try stick to a similar routine with going to sleep and waking up at the same time.
• Keep active. Sometimes the last thing we want to do is head back out in the cold once we are home to hit the gym or the park for a walk, but maintaining your activity sessions can help boost energy and wellbeing levels. Why not try out a winter activity like ice-skating to get the blood flowing.
• Make you comfort foods as healthy as possible by adding winter veg such as sweet potato, parsnips, carrots, swede and turnips that can all be added to your weekly roast, or thrown into a slow cooker with some lean meat for a hearty stew or casserole. Swap your normal salad lunch options for some roasted veg to give your lunch that feel-good factor whilst still providing plenty of nutritional value.

Whilst it is pretty normal for most of us to slow down over the winter months and feel more tired and fatigued, lethargy can also be linked into a more serious condition, called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

SAD is generally characterised by greater effects and changes to your mood and energy levels when the seasons change, with symptoms including feelings of anxiety and depression, sleeping issues, and concentration problems.

Many people might find they experience small or mild changes in some of these symptoms, but not feel the need to seek specialist medical advice, however it if you do notice significant and experience more severe symptoms please speak with your GP for further advice and discussion about SAD.
For more information on fighting the winter blues or for more information about SAD, please follow the link to http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/about-sad/