Winter fatigue? 6 tips to regain energy!

Short days, bad weather, and lack of light... Winter days can bring a feeling of chronic fatigue, and a small drop in morale and motivation.

I had a somewhat complicated start to the year due to severe fatigue. I decided to rework my pillars of health to regain tone. I share with you what I put in place, it may be able to help you!

1-Return to the basics of a healthy lifestyle

Food: parties and galettes have been there. It was nice. Now we have to get back to good habits: digestible and balanced meals, rich in quality protein (poultry, fish, egg, tofu), seasonal fruits and vegetables, and anti-inflammatory starchy foods (sweet potato, buckwheat, quinoa, millet ). Good fats are added: first cold-pressed vegetable oils: olive, flax, or hemp oil, for example

We also remember to hydrate well: 1.5 L per day is a minimum! Nettle herbal teas, and remineralizing are our allies.

Sport: we set up a little routine. For my part, I no longer had the energy to go to CrossFit. I have set up, in recent weeks, a small sports routine: 3 muscle-strengthening sessions of 30 minutes at home.

"Sport is when you least want it that you need it the most!"

Sleep: we take care of our nights! Diffusion of essential oils (lemon, mandarin, or lavender), meditation, infusion of chamomile, hawthorn, or lime blossom. We read instead of watching the screens. We go to bed before midnight, in an airy room and away from light and surrounding noise (sleep masks and earplugs are our friends!)

2-Forcing yourself to get out and walk:

The gray weather and the night that arrive in the middle of the afternoon do not encourage you to go out for some fresh air... However, it is essential for morale and the immune system!

To fill up with vitamin D, you need to be exposed to light.

Vitamin D is essential for the proper functioning of our body and strengthens our immune system. During the winter months, when its synthesis is naturally reduced due to lower exposure of the skin to the sun, acute infections of the lower respiratory tract are more frequent and fatigue increases.

To fight against this, we force ourselves to go out for a 20-minute walk every day, during the lunch break for example!

We also favor a diet rich in vitamin D: oily fish, egg yolks, and cheeses (but not too much!)

3- Write

"Everything that is not expressed is printed," they say! We put down on paper the somewhat sad ideas, the little moods but also the desires, the inspirations, which makes you want to move forward, which makes you think. In the last book I read “Perfectionism, my best enemy”, the author recommends forcing yourself to write three pages a day, in intuitive writing, to clear your head. I tried the exercise. The verdict is clear: it feels a lot of good!

4- Plan a vacation

I won't hide from you that I took tickets to go to Rome for 4 days in mid-February with my best friend and it did me a lot of good! So if you can, organize your next stay or a small wellness weekend in the countryside now. It's lifesaving!

5- Natural aids

In my little witch-naturopath bag, I have a few things to support the return of energy and morale!

St. John's Wort: The plant that supports positive mood, emotional balance, and optimal relaxation. It is an ally of choice for periods of low morale:

This plant, in the form of a small shrub, has been used orally for centuries to treat mood disorders. Even today, it is recognized for its action on relaxation, emotional balance, and sleep. During periods of low morale, it is common to observe sleep disorders. St. John's wort will then act to find a healthier sleep and promote relaxation. It also allows you to regain a certain emotional balance to maintain the body in a state of general well-being, both mental and physical. It is also perfect for maintaining a positive mood.

Magnesium: An ally against stress and fatigue. Magnesium plays an essential role in the proper functioning of our body and has long been recognized as essential to our well-being. It contributes to the proper functioning of our nervous balance for stress management and fatigue reduction.

6- Agree to do nothing, to live more gently

I had a discussion with my mom, about fatigue in winter. She reminded me that “back then” in winter, people spent a lot of time in their homes as if they were “on a break”. Activities were reduced, nature was asleep until the spring… Finally, there was a greater awareness of natural needs.