Winter’s almost over! . . . or not, depending on how you measure things.
Regardless of how much winter we have left, health is important any time of year.
And it’s true: the components of a healthy life remain the same year-round - sleep, hydration, socialization, nutrition, exercise - only the conditions and obstacles change.
As winter wanes into spring, the days slowly warm and brighten – but it can still be more difficult to get outside to exercise or socialize, or the cold might encourage unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Perhaps it helps to think of the cold as a challenge rather than an undefeatable difficulty.
We always need to hydrate - but the need to hydrate is more apparent in the summer heat. Winter can be a time for conscious health decisions.
Similarly, as the seasons warm up, people are more likely to stand around outside or chat with passing acquaintances. Spontaneous social interaction - and social interaction in general - are both markers of positive health outcomes. In winter, it’s useful to ramp up social planning, visit places you’re likely to bump into acquaintances (position yourself for spontaneity at coffee shops or even the Himmelfarb Library :P), or attend winter activities (see items that recur into March and April).
And those who do seek winter exercise can enjoy the low humidity and lack of bugs. It’s great to plan even a walk in these shorter days, not just because of seasonal effects on mood, but because schedules might preclude seeing any sunshine at all.
With the right effort, we can make the most of winter as we welcome spring.
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