Did you know that there are nearly 270 million people all over the world who struggle with chronic anxiety and depression? This type of mental problem seems to be more prevalent during cold winter months, as everyone strives to adapt to lower temperature conditions and reduced daylight.

If you don't want to be overwhelmed by negative thoughts this year, then you should put into practice a few winter self-care tips and tricks. Your mental health can be improved by following simple daily habits. Keep reading to find out how to stay healthy in winter.

Sleep More 

Sleep is very important for both your physical and mental health. During your sleep, the body repairs damaged tissues and recharges your batteries. This is when stress hormones are also metabolized, so make sure that you get at least 8 hours of sleep during winter days.

However, this is easier said than done for many people. The key to a good night's sleep is to create a more relaxing environment around you. For example, make sure that you don't look at electronic screens for at least 30-60 minutes before going to bed.

Secondly, make sure that you also invest in a good quality mattress and pillow. You deserve to sleep like a king or queen, and the quality of your bedding can significantly influence how rested you will wake up the next day.

Also, try to drink a cup of chamomile tea before bed, as well as taking a hot bath. These habits will help you relax and get rid of accumulated stress and worries. Try to add a few Epsom salts to your bath water so you can relax completely before going to bed.

Spend More Time Outdoors

Spending more time outdoors is beneficial for your mental and emotional health. First of all, you don't feel "trapped" inside closed doors, and your mind has time to wander around and become more creative.

Secondly, spending more time outdoors exposes your skin to sunlight — even during cold weather. The more sunlight hits your skin, the more vitamin D you will produce. Vitamin D is essential to keep anxiety and depressive feelings at bay.

If you don't get enough vitamin D on a regular basis, you can also take it as a supplement from most health and supplement stores. This vitamin can help your immune system, and it's recommended for people of all ages. 

Meditate More Often

If you don't know how to meditate, now is a good time to learn. You just have to find a quiet place in your house and focus on your breathing for a few minutes each day. Step by step, you'll learn to protect yourself from distracting thoughts and experience a new level of relaxation and fulfillment.

Once you become more experienced, you might be able to meditate for 30-60 minutes at a time. This will lower your blood pressure and make you feel much better about yourself. Meditation is linked to improved mental and emotional health, and it can be a great tool to fight depression during cold winter days.

Exercise or Do Yoga

Another great habit that could improve your mood during winter days is exercising. Don't worry: Nobody asks you to go to the gym and lift heavy dumbbells. You just have to focus on moving your blood and breath for a few minutes each day.

For example, you could go for a light jog, even when it's cold outside. This might give you a boost in confidence, as you're going outside to do something healthy instead of sitting on the couch. You can also train indoors by doing mild calisthenic exercises.

Working out can be very helpful during the winter months because this will force your body to release endorphins. These are also known as the hormones of happiness, and they will make you feel much better every day.

If you don't like to exercise, at least do 20 minutes of yoga. This activity is very easy on the body, so you don't have to lift anything or run a few miles. You just do basic stretches and beginner yoga positions to improve flexibility and feel better about yourself.

Reduce Alcohol Intake

Alcohol in small quantities shouldn't be a problem for most people. However, this substance is known for making people feel slightly anxious or depressed — especially if consumed often. This might not be noticeable during hot summer days, but in colder winter months, it's another story.

Although many people abuse alcohol during colder seasons of the year, you shouldn't do the same. If you like to have a drink, go for it, but don't rely on it to make you feel better or warmer. Find other activities that might lift your spirits instead of going to the bottle when you feel depressed.

At the end of the day, alcohol is nothing else but a glorified poison. If you feel that it worsens some of your negative feelings, avoid it during the colder months of the year.

Eat Healthier

This should be your priority year-round, but it's even more important during cold winter days. Healthy food consisting of fruits, vegetables, and legumes contain a lot of vitamins and minerals. When these nutrients get into your body, you will automatically feel better — no matter how hard your day was.

That's because your body is supposed to function with plenty of vitamins and minerals. Make sure that you get these nutrients from foods as well as multivitamin and multimineral supplements. Each meal should contain at least one type of vegetable — and don't forget to eat at least one fruit every day.

These Winter Self-Care Tips Should Keep You Safe!

Remember that the best pieces of advice are nothing more but words if you don't take action right away. Therefore, make sure that you try at least one of these winter self-care tips every week and see how you feel. 

For example, you could go for our high-quality pillows and significantly improve the quality of your sleep each night. The more restful your "ZZZ" time, the better you'll feel about yourself every day.