This year has been hard for all of us. For those of us who live alone, however, it has been particularly difficult. We want to help our those of you who might be feeling a bit out-of-sorts this winter. Here’s a few things to think about to keep your spirits up…
Gardening
It’s a well-known fact that getting out in the fresh air is not only good for your physical health, but also your mental health. What better way to enjoy the fresh air than gardening? It’s something you can do year-round and gives you the benefit of watching your hard work come to fruition – quite literally in some cases. If you don’t have any outside space, you could consider applying for an allotment – giving you outdoor space where you can grow whatever you like along with a read-made community of fellow gardeners! Alternatively, window boxes are a great way of being able to stay in whilst still growing flowers, plants and vegetables.
If, like the author of this blog, you’re not quite sure where to start with gardening, the Gardener’s World website has a section for those new to gardening here: https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/gardening-for-beginners/
Binge On Those Boxsets and Cuddle Up With The Kindle
If you need a break from reality, now’s the time to escape into someone else’s world. We live in an age where the internet makes streaming whole boxsets possible – from Line of Duty to The West Wing, you can step away from Winter and into a whole new world. There’s also a whole range of films old and new available on most streaming services – ideal for cosying up with a warm jumper and a hot chocolate and marshmallows!
For those of you who don’t fancy that, it’s also an excellent time for us to catch up on all that reading we’ve been thinking about doing this year and still haven’t got round to doing! Just think how impressed people will be when you tell them you read all of War and Peace in a few days! It’s a fantastic way to keep your mind whirring without having to leave the comfort of your sofa.
The Nights Are Beginning To Get Longer
The Nights Are Beginning To Get LongerWe’ve passed the shortest day (it was the 21st of December!), meaning that the nights are going to get longer. It may look a little grey outside for now, but in less than 12 weeks we’re likely to be having a whole 11 hours and 53 minutes of daylight, with the sun not setting until just after 6pm!
Before we know it, the summer will be here and we’ll be enjoying the warm Summer nights again. Daylight is good for our mental health as it increases the serotonin levels in our bodies. Serotonin is also known as the “happiness hormone” and helps to keep us calm and alert whilst decreasing the risk of depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder. So , sunlight and longer evenings will definitely help us to feel better after this long year!
The Coronavirus Vaccine Is On Its Way
We’ve seen some special things this year – the nation coming together to Clap for Carers and the NHS and the amazing Captain Sir Tom Moore to name two – but one of the most inspirational things that has happened this year is the development of the vaccine against Coronavirus. In the space of less than a year a vaccine has been developed which will hopefully stop the virus in its tracks and allow us to begin to return to normal once more. This development showcases the phenomenal advances in science and technology and can only serve to give us hope for the future. If you haven’t received the jab yet, hopefully it won’t be too long until you do!
It’s A Great Time To Enjoy The Outdoors
Alongside gardening, as mentioned above, getting out for a winter’s walk is an excellent way of improving both mental and physical health. We’ve mentioned in previous blog posts how enjoyable an autumnal walk can be – and winter is no different. Bright, crisp mornings, the crunch of frost (or snow!) underfoot is almost as rewarding as the cuppa when you return home.
There are plenty of accessible outdoor activities around the UK. Motability have a list of such activities – including rambling, cycling and even canoeing – here. Getting out and about and enjoying outdoor adventures has never been easier. When the summer comes around, you might even start thinking about a short break away. We stock a range of travel sized folding mobility scooters that can help you get around your chosen destination.
We hope this little list of things might give you some ideas to make your winter brighter. There’s still a lot of reasons to be cheerful this wintertime – you just have to know where to look for it.
For those with older friends and relatives, Age UK has a range of advice for older people’s health and wellbeing here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/
The Mobility Hire Team
