How to lift your mood in January
ARE you feeling fed up now January is here?
There is often a sense of anti-climax after the holidays and many people find their mood dips.
Here are my tips for shaking off the January blues so you can face the new year with a positive outlook. Eat well Most of us overindulge during the holidays which can leave us feeling lethargic and guilty.
It’s tempting to opt for a quick fix crash diet which promises you’ll lose a stone in a month. Often these diets are unrealistically restrictive, especially when you’ve got leftover Christmas treats lying around. Starting a diet then failing will likely just make you feel worse.
Rather than trying to cut out unhealthy foods altogether, concentrate on getting plenty of natural, whole foods like fruit, veg, nuts and pulses. Alongside plenty of water, you’ll soon see your energy levels rise. Get outside While the days are short and the weather cold, it’s easy to stay cooped up inside, but actually a brisk walk, jog or bike ride on a crisp winter’s day has lots of benefits.
Exercising will get your endorphins (the brain’s natural mood enhancers) flowing.
While any form of exercise is beneficial, new research has found that “green” exercise that exposes you to nature gives you an added boost.
Aim to get out during the middle part of the day to maximise your chances of catching some elusive winter sunshine.
Just a few minutes of sunshine a day is enough to raise your level of vitamin D which is important for overall health. Try something new Is there a hobby or activity you’d like to try but have never got round to it?
Make this the year you do! Learning a new skill has been shown to improve our wellbeing by giving us a sense of achievement and boosting self confidence.
It can also be a great way to meet new people and make friends. Strengthening your social support network in this way can also help protect your psychological wellbeing in the future.
Don’t forget that feeling “blue” is not the same as having depression, a serious illness that can strike anyone at any time of the year. If you think you may be depressed talk to your GP for more information and advice. 2016 has been a very popular year with patients at Nuffield Health Cardiff & Vale Hospitals.
Starting as a joint venture with local surgeons, the Cardiff Bay Clinic opened in 2008 and the purpose-designed hospital at the Vale of Glamorgan opened in 2010.
Together, from April 2015 with sole ownership, both sites form part of the Nuffield Health group, the largest UK healthcare charity.
It is not just the superb facilities but the first-class doctors, nurses and support staff which make it the finest group of private healthcare facilities in Wales.
Simon Rogers, at Nuffield Heath Cardiff & Vale Hospitals, now in his fourth year as hospitals director said: “Our specialist centres – the Joint Replacement Centre which focuses on orthopaedics, the Prostate Centre with green light laser therapies and our programme of expansion of the Cardiff Bay hospital over the last two years as a diagnostic daycase surgery and endoscopy centre, are particular highlights.
“On the sports medicine front, we have a pedigree in working with high-level sports teams, exclusively with Cardiff City, doing all Swansea City’s pre-signing medicals, working closely with the Welsh Rugby Union and elite players as well as Cardiff Devils Ice Hockey team.
“We also sponsor a number of youth teams as health and wellbeing is what we are all about. We want patients to become healthy and stay that way.
“We have equally excellent services in all types of eye surgery, ear, nose and throat medicine, general surgery, breast care, gynaecology and bariatric surgery.
“I am pleased that in the past 12 months, we have attracted some of the best expert consultants in Europe to base their private practice here with us, which is a testament to the quality of our staff and facilities.
“Our imaging and physiotherapy services are also held in high regard.
“As a charity, we do not have shareholders and can therefore continually reinvest our funds in staff and maintaining and improving the best and most modern independent hospital facilities in South Wales.
“As well as our two hospitals, we also now have a health and wellness centre in Bridgend.”