A Busy Mum's Guide to Keeping Your Winter Wellness Going Strong

Winter is that time of year where we tend to rug up, feel more inclined to stay indoors and, more often than not, make excuses for the changes in our behaviour during the cooler months because it’s easy to do. Chuck some kids into the mix and then you’re already knackered, so now you’re cold and knackered.

Have you ever noticed that when people go on a holiday, if it’s sunny and warm, they generally head outdoors, go swimming and go for walks to discover? For those who choose a colder holiday in the snow, have you noticed that these people still manage to head out and go skiing, snowboarding and throw snowballs at each other, keeping active?

Now if that’s the case, why do the excuses to stop exercising amp up during winter at home?

Lauren with her youngest, Cooper.

As a mother, I always say that if we don’t look after ourselves, who is going to look after everyone else? Speaking from experience, I had my third baby eight months ago and the longer I go without exercising or meditating, the more I spiral into a state where I find it hard to leave the house and my anxiety pretty much rules my entire existence. 

Right now we’re in the middle of winter and although it would be nice to sit by the fire and have baby cuddles, I have a baby who loves to move and isn’t a cuddler and I don’t have a fireplace – so getting outdoors for a workout and a park play with the two bigger kids might be bloody cold, but it’s also great for all of us (even if I spend half my time making sure that my baby doesn’t crawl around chasing the bin chickens).

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Life doesn’t stop in winter, so as a busy parent, you’ll find that consistency is not only great for you so that you can keep up with the good habits, it’s also good for the kids too. They see everything that you do and will generally learn their habits and ways of life from their parents, so if you begin making excuses, more often than not, so will they.

Some of the greater ways to look after you and your family during the colder months are usually quite similar to those you’d opt for during the warmer ones, except you’ll wear more layers of clothing.

• Get the kids to help you choose some veggies to roast or turn into soup. If they’re more involved, they’ll be more intrigued to try and come up with their own recipes!
• Rug up, head out to your local park and play. Take the footy, scooters or bikes and make a play date out of it. The colder you are, the more you play!
• Stay hydrated. Water helps to keep your body at a normal temperature, plus all the other benefits of course!
• Introduce yummy, warm oats as a winter brekky. Not only is it full of fibre, oats are great for reducing inflammation!
• Remember to RELAX. Stress in the colder months is often amplified, and can really take a toll on the body. Your immune system is already running on overdrive, so the more you can listen to your body and have a rest when you know you need to, the more chance you’ll thrive.

If you feel like the winter blues are beginning to take a toll on you, heading to your trusted GP is a great way to get on top of it. Believe it or not, there’s a defined mental illness called S.A.D or Seasonal Affective Disorder, which can affect people during the colder months when their healthier habits are decreased, such as exercising and eating wholesome foods.

Remember, habits become behaviours when they’re practiced consistently, so try not to let the fact that it’s cold delay you from living your best life!

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