Staying healthy on the inside:
Winter has well and truly arrived in the southern states of Australia and it’s when we mostly retreat inside for warmth and lots of soup cooking. For some winter warming recipe inspiration check out this fantastic First National blog, featuring 8 Winter Food Warmers with a Wellness Twist. Yum!
It’s easy to stay indoors and tuck into comfort foods during winter, but coupled with too much time on the couch you might find yourself having to work extra hard come spring to ensure you’re as fit and healthy as you can be.
Why not get moving this winter and kick-start a new health or exercise regime, create a new daily habit or join a gym or local swimming pool where you can exercise no matter what the weather is doing. The cooler months are ideal for starting a yoga practice, which is a perfect and gentle way to get the body moving and stretching during what is naturally a less active time of year.
Get outside for some sun and forest bathing:
If the weather is sunny, which is pretty typical in Echuca Moama where we enjoy more sunny days than QLD (we have fact checked this and it’s true), get out for a walk with the dog, bike ride with the kids or a bush walk with a friend.
Ever noticed the difference you feel, both physically and mentally after you’ve been for a walk? Dragging yourself off the couch into the great outdoors is always worth the effort and research now tells us why? Forest bathing is a thing and you don’t need to hike Mount Kosciuszko to tap into it.
As explained in Outside Magazine, forest bathing or Shinrin-yoku is a Japanese phrase coined in 1982 to describe a form of relaxation and peacefulness that comes from being in nature. Airborne chemicals called phytoncides that plants use to protect themselves from insects emit antibacterial and antifungal qualities that we take in without realising when we walk in the bush, which, as a result, boosts our immune system! And all you have to do is take your time, walk slowly and be present and engage your senses in nature to reap the benefits - it couldn’t be simpler or more accessible and it’s free!
Not to mention, how lucky here in Echuca Moama to be surrounded by three rivers (it’s where our name comes from) with an abundance of walking and bike trails that incorporate bushland and green space in both postcodes. For a full list of walking trails visit Echuca Moama Tourism here.
Protect yourself from the winter blues:
Forest bathing aside, long winter days indoors can reduce our exposure to the sun, and our important daily dose of serotonin and melatonin, which help to regulate our sleep-wake cycles (circadian rhythm). Interruptions to a healthy sleep routine impacts our daily lives and can be a slippery slope to mood swings and the ‘winter blues’. In addition, low levels of vitamin D, which we also get from the sun, are linked to depression, low self-esteem, irritability and a depressed mood. The simple solution here is to schedule regular time outdoors, especially when the winter sun is shining. Lack of vitamin D is also linked to a lower immune system, which can leave us exposed to winter colds and the dreaded flu. Don’t forget to get your annual flu vaccine, as well as your COVID-19 booster jab if you haven’t quite got around to it. Note: it’s always advisable to seek medical or emotional support if depression becomes a long term issue for you.
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