This time of year is hard for a lot of us. The fun of Christmas has been and gone, spring and summer still seem a very long way away and it seems to take all our energy to just keep going in the cold and damp winter months.

I see a lot of clients who experience seasonal affective disorder or SAD. This is a very real illness which affects people mentally, physically and emotionally. Often people suffering with this disorder find that they have very little energy and enthusiasm to do the simplest things. Motivation can be affected and it’s often very common for the person to want to sleep a lot more and crave carbohydrates.

It is very important that we cut ourselves some slack and keep things as simple and stress free as we can when feeling this way. Rest as much as possible, but also take every opportunity to get some fresh air and daylight. Even though there may not be a lot of sun some days to provide us with vitamin D, this is still very important. Consider taking supplements such as Vitamin C and zinc for immunity, as well as B vitamins and magnesium for good mental health.

With regard to nutrition, make sure that you are eating lots of healthy protein as well as loads of veg. Keep fruit to a minimum as it tends to increase sugar levels and make you more hungry. Try to cut carbs down as much as you can, particularly the highly processed sugary ones as the more you eat of this type of food, the worse you will feel. Think about reducing your alcohol intake as it is a depressant and that initial good feeling will be followed by a downer.

Arrange to see people that give you a boost and limit contact with toxic folk, you know who they are.

Most of all take it easy, be kind to yourself and look forward to those little signs of spring. They will be here before you know it.

warmest wishes everyone,

Wendy xx