Refresh: get outdoors
There’s nothing more invigorating than a stroll in the fresh air. The hit of daylight ups your levels of serotonin (your body’s very own feelgood chemical) and vitamin D, which help boost your mood and immune system. It’s great for your mental health, and can help with seasonal affective disorder. Plus, one Japanese study found that ‘forest bathing’ (basically walking in woods) decreases levels of stress hormones and increases intracellular anti-cancer proteins. Wrap up warm to fully prep: stock up on base layers like women’s thermals, men’s thermals and kids’ thermals.
Rejuvenate: sleep better
Nearly half of adults in the UK admit they don’t get a decent night’s sleep; not great news when sleep has so many health benefits, from lowering stress to boosting our immune systems. A minimum of seven hours a night is recommended for an adult, so what do you do if you don’t feel like you’re getting enough? It could be your bedroom setup. Simple changes, from choosing the right pillow for your sleeping style to making sure you have the correct duvet for the time of year, all help. Another tip is practising good pre-sleep rituals, such as a warm bath filled with sleep-inducing essential oils – it’s said that the temperature drop our bodies experience when we get out of the bath mimics the natural cooling we experience when we’re ready to fall asleep. Clever.
Replenish: eat yourself happy
After the indulgence of Christmas, a healthy diet is a great way to feel better come January – and it really doesn’t have to be complicated. “First, think about getting your five fruit and veg a day,” says M&S senior nutritionist Laura Street. “Choose wholegrains to add fibre and a source of protein every day. Keep it varied – choosing seasonal fruit and veg can be a great way to get lots of different vitamins and minerals.” During chilly winter months, vitamin D is also important. Look out for our special vitamin D mushrooms and bread enriched with vitamin D in store. Another easy step to making healthy choices is to pick foods with the Eat Well sunflower on the pack – it’s been developed by our in-house nutritionists with guidance from the British Nutrition Foundation, and “makes following a healthy diet easy and delicious,” says Laura.
Words: Michelle Chai and Claire Askew