Winterize Yourself

It has been really dry and cold here in the Pacific Northwest for the last couple weeks and it is wreaking havoc on my body. Climate changes can have an impact on our health if we don't take measures to offset them.

The winter months being dark and cold can often times make us lackadaisical about taking care of ourselves because we are often tired and less motivated. However, this is an important time to stay on top of your self care to combat that fatigue and inclination to hibernate. So, I've got a list of some easy things you can do every day to make yourself feel better and help your body function at it's peak.

HYDRATE - This one always seems to top the lists of self care. But one thing I notice, personally, is that I tend to be less thirsty in the cooler winter months, however, that does not mean my body needs water any less than it does in the middle of the summer heat. In fact, during these dry times our bodies need to be hydrated even more. If drinking cold water is a challenge for you during the cold months (as it is for me) try drinking more teas or warm, lemon water. Even homemade ginger tea is a great idea! I have been loving this baked cinnamon apple tea from TAZO - add a splash of almond milk - YUM!

DRY/ITCHY EYES - This is probably my least favorite "winter condition". If your eyes are feeling dry, itching, red and painful, make sure you are using a non-medicated eye drops to keep them from drying out.

SWITCH TO BODY CREAM - If you're a lotion user, switch over to body cream during the cool, dry months. Body cream is better for locking in moisture than lotion is and will help help your dry skin and keep it from getting itchy and red. My favorite is Bath & Body Works body butters. They are super moisturizing and last all day! Another alternative to body cream is coconut oil. I use coconut oil all year long instead of body creams and lotions. It's a natural alternative and is very good at locking in moisture.

LIPS - Dry lips curses most everyone. Keep a lip balm or hydrating lip gloss in your pocket or purse with you all the time. Don't let your lips get dry - you may need to reapply often. Exfoliate dry skin off lips gently with a toothbrush.

LIMIT YOUR SHOWER TIME - My least favorite tip for sure because I would love nothing more than to take a long, hot shower on cold mornings. The long, hot shower is one of the worst things we can do for our winter skin. It is extremely drying. Try to limit your shower time and use "warm" water instead. Make sure that you slather your body with body cream or coconut oil immediately after your shower to lock in moisture.

Just because we're covered up in the winter months it's so easy to let these things go, but it's really important to take a few easy measures to protect and keep our bodies healthy inside and out.