Our Guide to Winter Wellness
Stay Healthy and Happy During the Cold Season
As the weather turns and the days draw longer, many expats in colder countries wonder: how can I keep fit and well? And as someone who moved to a country famed for its cold winters and limited sun, I feel I picked up a few tips and tricks I can share with you. No matter where your new home is, following our guide will help you over the rough parts of this magical season.
The Realities of the Winter Climate
Your first job is to adapt to your new home’s winter climate. While the idea of living in a semi-permanenlty snowy city is lovely and romantic, but the realities are different: it’s cold, damp, and snow gets really annoying after a while. So what can you do?
Before the winter season properly starts, research what it’ll look like. Find the average temperatures of winter in your country, and talk to both locals & other foreigners about what it’s like. Also find out if winter is consistently cold in your new country, or whether it alternates year on year! By talking to people and researching it online, you can, at the very least, mentally prepare yourself for the new season - which is half the battle.
If you’re living in a country where it is consistently cold and snowy, think through the implications. There’s no snow days (that’s just a normal December day!), and snow sticks around for several days even if there’s no fresh snowfall - making for, in some cases, quite nasty conditions! You’ve also got to be aware of the dangers of ‘warm’ days and the beginning of Spring; as the long-standing snow melts, the icicles that form on roofs fall…
Eating Well and Staying Active
Despite that, those winter days are magical. To enjoy them to the fullest, you need to set yourself up right - and that starts with good eating and an active lifestyle.
Boosting your immune system and keeping your energy levels up is critical, and I’d advise focusing on incorporating seasonal, nutrient-rich foods like root vegetables, leafy greens, and citrus fruits, which are packed with vitamins and antioxidants.
Staying active might feel more challenging in colder months, but it’s essential for both physical health and mental well-being. That being said, people have lived in those cold countries for centuries - and have figured out what works. Eat those traditional winter foods and embrace winter-friendly activities like walking, hiking, or even ice skating, or find indoor alternatives such as yoga or home workout routines to keep your body moving and your spirits high!
Looking After Number One! Boosting Your Mental Health
The other side of the coin is your mental health. Good mental health allows you to look after your physical health well, while fighting those winter blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) often stops you from looking after your physical health. Of course, one way to combat this is by including people in your winter activities. What’s better for looking after yourself than inviting your friends out ice skating, or for that Instagram-perfect hike?!
Looking after your mental health requires going that one step further, however. With all the talk of family over the holiday season, you’ll be thinking of home. And you should indulge that! Get in contact with friends or family back home, and arrange calls with them - it’s never been easier. And while you’re at it, have a look within your local community for expat meet-ups. Living abroad doesn’t require completely giving up your home country, and indulging that will help you feel far more balanced overall.
Staying Cozy at Home and Outside
When your outside is cold and monochrome, you’re home shouldn’t be. And winter’s the perfect time to start investing in creating a cozy environment! Get blankets, pillows, warm lighting, and a good heating setup to transform your space into that warm haven. Even putting a fireplace on your laptop or tablet goes a long way to making you feel cozy at home.
But the only thing worse than coming home to a cold apartment after a cold, gray day out is being cold and wet outside too. Layering is your best friend when it comes to dressing for winter weather - start with thermal base layers, add insulating mid-layers, and finish with a high-quality coat to protect against wind and snow. Don’t forget essentials like hats, gloves, and scarves to keep extremities warm and waterproof boots to stay dry on snowy or rainy days!
If you’ve never lived in a cold country before, you’ll likely need a whole new wardrobe - and you won’t want to buy it all new. I’d suggest asking around friends (either locals or other expats who’ve lived there for a while) in case they have anything spare they’ve grown out of/don’t need anymore, and going around thrift stores to pick up some of those lovely, warm sweaters. With the right winter wardrobe, you’ll feel cozy and stylish whether you’re lounging indoors or exploring the frosty outdoors.
Enjoying Winter Traditions in Your New Home
The cherry on top of the cold season in your winter wonderland are the local holiday traditions, unique to your new home! Whether it’s Christmas markets, winter solstice celebrations, or regional holidays, embracing these customs will help you feel more connected to the culture and community around you - which is, after all, why we decide to live abroad. Find your friends, invite them along, and throw yourself into them headfirst.
At the same time, you’ll still be missing home somewhat. There’s no shame in bringing your own winter traditions from home - whether it’s decorating, cooking favorite seasonal dishes, or celebrating with friends. Blending your old traditions with your new country’s will help you create cherished memories and allow you to enjoy the winter season to the fullest as an expat.