Getting Ready for Winter
With August behind us and September firmly taking hold, it’s time to start thinking about winter once again.For many, winter is a challenging time, but a little planning can ensure you have what you need to face out the darkest, coldest months of the year.
Getting the Garden Ready
If you’re a gardener, then autumn is the time you get to enjoy the last of the work you put in over the summer: the last of the flowers bloom, fruit and vegetables ripen but, aside from a few plants that are really in it for the long haul, the garden sleeps through the winter. To make sure it remains a pleasant, safe environment, there are some steps you can take in the autumn.
Sweep paths free of leaves to avoid trip hazards – rain and frost can make fallen leaves on the ground extremely slippery, and bagging and composting your leaves will give you a great garden resource!
You should also prune, deadhead and clear away dead plants, and even cover flower beds to protect them from frost. If you’re expecting a very cold winter, it’s worth isolating and draining exterior taps so they don’t freeze.
Exercise
If you mostly exercise outdoors, the cold, wet and dark of winter can put a dent in your fitness regime, which can have quite serious knock-on impacts for your mood. Think in advance about what you’ll do to compensate, whether that’s to simply stock up on warm clothes and keep on with your regular runs, or to look into temporary gym memberships and classes. Planning ahead will ensure you can make a smooth transition to a winter routine.
Don’t forget dehydration is as much a problem – potentially even more of one – in cold weather, so make sure you’re stocked up on rehydration products like isotonic drinks or ORS hydration tablets to keep your fluid levels and electrolytes balanced.
The Dark Nights
Many people find winter to be an emotional and mental challenge: the short hours of daylight sparking a depressive condition known as SAD – seasonal affective disorder.
Think about what you can do to sustain yourself during this darkest time of the year: if you enjoy crafting, set up some projects you can work on through the winter. The sense of achievement they give can be very sustaining. If you’ll suffer for lack of sunshine, planning a winter trip can help take the edge off the blues.
Of course, if you find you’re suffering a mental health crisis then contact your doctor – no hygge practice is a substitute for medical help.