How To Get Through Winter With A Smile On Your Face

We’ve just had a very chilly few days here in the UK, with much of the country receiving a beautiful blanket of snow and temperatures dipping to a ridiculous -7 degrees in some places!. It honestly has no business being that cold and we’ll have summer now, please and thank you.

Sadly, we have at least six weeks of winter left (unless the groundhog is on our side!), so we’re all going to grin and bear it as best we can, warming ourselves with nothing but thoughts of sunshine and the sand between our toes.

But winter doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom, there are plenty of wonderful ways in which you can transform your seasonal woes and put a smile back on your face.

Don’t believe us? Here are just a few little ideas to help you make it all the way through till spring.

1. Go on holiday!

It seems obvious, now we’ve said it, doesn’t it? If you’re not happy with the wind, rain and snow, you don’t have to put up with it… all you need to do is hop on a plane and hightail it outta here!

Winter sun is what it’s all about and there’s no better way to start a new year than to jetset off somewhere warm.

Even better than that, you can do it without having to go on a big expensive splurge, since we’ve got lots of lovely travel discounts, deals and offers running right now, covering your bases for flights, hotels, transport and everything else.

You could, for example, save up to £450 on a trip to mainland Spain, the Canaries and the Balearics with TUI. Or what about £100 in savings on your dream trip to Egypt? And then there’s £50 off your first On The Beach package holiday waiting to be snapped up.

Take a look to see what fabulous trips you can find!

2. Get some exercise

We’ve said it before (and we’ll say it again), but exercise does wonders for the soul! This is true at all times of year but perhaps it’s particularly poignant in winter, when we’re more likely to be sedentary and hide from the elements indoors under the duvet.

As tempting as it might well be to hibernate over the next month or so, you’ll do yourself a very real favour if you do force yourself to work a bit of regular exercise into your routine as and when you can.

Exercise is really good for banishing the winter blues, boosting your immunity, helping you deal with all sorts of stress from different areas of your life, making you feel good and even helping you feel more socially connected just by getting out and about.

If you don’t fancy heading outside right now, we’ve got some great gym membership deals running right now. And for those of you who want to get some fresh air while working your body, check out some of the outdoor equipment discounts we’ve got on offer, as well.

3. Eat well

Viruses run rampant at this time of year so you’ve got to do all you can to give your immune system a big old boost - so eating well and prioritising nutrition is a great way to make sure you navigate your way through winter successfully.

Stock the fridge and cupboards with plenty of vegetables, fruit, seeds and nuts so you can get all the essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals to help your body keep infection at bay.

You’ll also use more energy to keep your body warm when it’s cold outside, so munching merrily away on root vegetables, wholegrains and healthy fats will help give you the energy you need, while warm food will keep you cosy from the inside out.

If you don’t have the time (or the inclination) to cook entirely from scratch, check out the different meal box deals we’ve got on offer at the moment, including options from Gousto, Hello Fresh and Green Chef.

And if you really, really don’t feel like hitting the kitchen but still want to enjoy delicious and nutritious food, we’ve also got a vast array of different restaurant discounts to take full advantage of, everything from 33 per cent off Harvester and 20 per cent off Greene King to 20 per cent off Rosa’s Thai.

You’ll never go hungry again!

4. Practise self-care

Self-care is a wonderful pursuit no matter what time of year, but you may well find it particularly restorative at winter time.

Really dialing down into skincare, for example, can make you feel like you’re glowing from head to toe at a time when the weather can really take its toll on your skin, leaving it feeling dry, chapped and sore.

We’ve really got your bases covered where skincare discounts and deals are concerned, you’ll be pleased to hear - so check out the offers we’re running with Look Fantastic, Cult Beauty, No7, Gruum, Eve Lom and many, many more.

5. Cosy up at home

When the weather outside is frightful, make your home environments delightful! Embracing the hygge season is all about making your living spaces warm, welcoming and cosy, serving as a beautiful escape from the harsh realities of winter.

Wrap yourself up in snuggly blankets, turn the lights down low, light some scented candles and warm your veritable cockles with some deliciously comforting hot chocolate and marshmallows.

If you need to decorate with hygge in mind, we’ve got some amazing discounts running with big name brands, including Debenhams, Matalan, Orla Kiely, John Lewis… and the rest!

You’ll find that by going all out with hygge you’ll really help your mental health, making you more resilient to stress, reducing anxiety and depression, enhancing your mood and making you feel generally far more optimistic - all without really having to do very much at all!