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Why your ‘New Year’ self-care routine needs to start today

Why your ‘New Year’ self-care routine needs to start today

by | Oct 4, 2017 | ANXIETY, BEAUTY, DEPRESSION

Look let’s not beat around the bush. Christmas is coming. Depending on when your reading this, it may be nearer than you’d like to admit.

As I’m writing this in October, I’m aware that many of you are December Deniers. You’re refusing to accept that the festive season is imminent, soaking up the the thick stench of Autumn and bathing in pumpkin spice lattes with Hocus Pocus playing on repeat in the background. I feel you.

I’m all about that Autumnal life. I live for that sweet season where it’s too warm to wear my Practical Coat but cold enough to buy new scarves, hats and boots. But here’s the thing – Jon Snow was right and Winter is coming.

I’ve written at length before about coping with Seasonal Affective Disorder over the colder months, as well as my general disdain for Christmas in general, but I can’t avoid that December is on the cards.

So what do those of us with anxiety do when something is worrying us? We prepare, goddammit and we prepare WELL. Say what you will about my mental illness but I really know myself, so now is the time for my ultimate self-care protocol to come into full effect.

We all know that January is all about a ‘new you’ (I can smell the bullshit diet books already) but I have a plan. I want to take all the sadness and disappointment that comes in the new year and I want to deal with it now, before it becomes overwhelming.

Dealing with things before they get out of hand is becoming my thing. I just set up a Facebook group called Get Stuff Done with Depression (if you have depression or even just feel unmotivated you should definitely check it out) which is really flourishing.

I realised that I’ve been heading towards this big mental barrier which occurs in December and January so I wanted to get organised. So that’s what we’ve been doing. I’ve created a Get Organised in October challenge which offers a tip every day of the month to help me and my group get on top of things. It includes everything from savings plans, to emails, to clearing out the cupboard under the sink. The best part is, we’re dealing with it before it gets out of hand.

Then I was invited to the Superdrug Christmas event where they showcased some of the new products they’ll be releasing for Christmas, and I just had to share the best ones with you. This is not sponsored, and I honestly hadn’t planned on doing a blog post about the event but I was just SO blown away by what they had on offer that I felt obliged to share it with you.

So here are some of this ways I’ll be taking care of myself in the lead up to Christmas to ensure I have a mentally stable holiday:

Take dem vitamins

I’m proud to say I’ve been following a plant based diet since January this year, but the one thing I’ve noticed is that my hair hasn’t been as healthy as it used to be. Maybe it’s the lack of animal products, or stress (or a combination of both) but it’s been starting to get me down. When I was offered these Hairburst Chewable Vitamins I was so chuffed, cause it’s really exactly what I’ve been looking for. Hopefully by January the breakage will have calmed down and I will be feeling a bit better about my hair.

Famous for nursing even the worst hangover, these Blackcurrant flavoured Vitamin C effervescent tablets are xx flavour and are a great little pick me up for those days when you’re low on energy. I’ll be knocking these back with my hair supplements and my usual daily dose of b12.

Treat those feet

It’s funny how in summer feet are out main priority (sandals don’t get much of an outing in the UK) and when Christmas comes we forget all about them. These treatment socks are doused in moisturiser and promise to keep your tootsies in tip top condition. Perfect for the party season too.

Flu jab

It’s bad enough if you suffer with mental illness over winter but to be struck down with flu as well is a total downer. It’s exhausting and can really have a knock-on affect to your mood if it takes a while to shift. That’s why I opted for the flu jab from Superdrug. Although it’s not guaranteed to stop you getting the flu it does help protect against the strains which are most likely to take hold this winter. I didn’t even know you could get the flu jab in Superdrug stores so check out if your local one offers it here.

Spruce up your make up bag

Now is the perfect time to invest in updating your make up bag before you blow your next pay check on Christmas presents for everyone else. I love the B. range which is exclusive to Superdrige and the Revolution range is always a favourite of mine. Did you know you can get E.L.F make up in Superdrug now too? It’s so reasonable and great for updating your colour range every season.

Time for a holiday?

If possible, schedule a little break away before the Christmas madness starts. I’m lucky enough to be having a week in the sun in October and I think it’s really going to help me through the winter months. Maybe get a long weekend away in a hotel or even stay with a friend to get a change of scenery. A walk along the beach even on a cold day does a lot for my mental well  being so I’m really looking forward to soaking up some rays this month.

Are you prioritising your self-care routine this Winter?

Tips for coping with SAD over winter

Tips for coping with SAD over winter

by | Dec 16, 2016 | DEPRESSION

Like the rest of Britain I’ve spent the last week weeks commuting to work in the pitch black and complaining about the sudden drop in temperature. It’s easy to see how so many of us can start to get a little down in December. As soon as the schools go back and the nights start to draw in, we start missing the long summer evenings and notice that we’re more sluggish than we were just a few weeks ago. I find it hard to stay calm as Christmas approaches, and there are few of us that are unaffected by the relentless greyness.

It’s not surprising to learn that one in three people will be affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder – or SAD – and those winter blues become a debilitating depressive illness. Usually diagnosed after two years of more severe symptoms, SAD is far more than cravings for stodgy food, sluggishness, and wishing winter would hurry up and end.

If you simply can’t get out of bed, go to work or go about your daily life then there’s a good chance that your suffering from SAD rather than just ordinary winter blues. This kind of specific winter depression is caused by sensitivity to low daylight levels and the disruption to our body clock. Our brains work overtime to produce melatonin, which regulates sleep patterns and has also been closely linked to depression. It’s also a form of depression which is more or less exclusive to the Northern Hemisphere – for example only around 1% of people in cities closer to the equator suffer from SAD.

Our body clocks are thrown out of sync by the delay in sunrise, so the obvious solution is to get as much sunlight as possible – not easy in winter without jetting off for a holiday with better weather. If only NHS prescriptions included a week in the Maldives, right? Because it’s cold, we’re also less likely to be outside as much as we are in warmer months, meaning that our daylight exposure is even less.

The best plan is to get outside as early in the day as possible to make the most of what light there is. Indoor lighting is completely ineffective, but artificial light boxes – often marketed as SAD lamps – can be extremely beneficial. These have special fluorescent tubes which mimic sunlight, and are equally useful for those who just have the winter blues.

Just half an hour early in the day can trick the body into thinking its Spring, and can break the winter depression cycle. A quick trip to the seaside might also help; research shows that the negative ions which are in higher quantities close to crashing waves may be beneficial in lifting depression.

It’s also important to keep an eye on your general health through the winter months, as symptoms you shouldn’t ignore are easy to write off as ‘just the winter blues’. If you’re worried and your symptoms aren’t normal during the colder weather, then ask your GP to refer you to the Chelsea Outpatient Centre for further investigation. Many conditions can also become much worse over the winter months, so it’s equally sensible to review treatment and care plans throughout the year to make sure that you can continue to enjoy life, whatever the weather.

If you find your anxiety is heightened over the festive period you might want to read this post on how to minimise symptoms and take care of yourself over the busy holiday season.

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