EL AL | Atmosphere

Lifestyle I Wellness

5 tips for a healthy and wholesome winter break \ By Shiri Brook-Sagie Nice and Cozy

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well. The good feeling you get from this even has a name: outdoorphins – a term coined by the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute Meik Wiking – it’s a combination of “outdoors” and “endorphins”, the body’s natural painkillers.

2 Dress wisely According to an old Norwegian saying there’s no such thing as bad weather, only insufficiently adequate clothing. But even if you’re not planning to drag a bobsleigh up a mountain, there’s something to learn from this saying. Simply put – dress according to the Adopt a positive wintertime mindset A New York Times article recently revealed the findings of a study conducted by Stanford graduate and health psychologist Kari Leibowitz on how the Scandinavians manage during the long winter months. According to Leibowitz, the secret lies in their positive wintertime mindset. What can you do to get one too? Start by embracing the Danish concept of “hygge” which celebrates the coziness of winter, or the Swedish one of “lagom”, which is about finding meaning in the simplest things, as well as the yet again Swedish concept of “fika”, which involves having a coffee and a pastry – purely for mental health reasons of course!

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Take good care of yourself

It isn’t always possible to keep viruses and colds at bay, but there are a few preventative measures you can take: Pack a first aid kit with you with fever reducing medication, sore throat relief, etc. Take good care of your skin and bear in mind that even at the height of winter, UV rays can do a lot of damage - particularly when you’re skiing, as snow is highly reflective - so make sure you put sunscreen on you, especially before hitting the slopes. Drink lots of water. this may sound obvious, but we tend to drink less water when it’s cold and may end up dehydrated. If gulping down cold water is hard, keep a thermos with you and fill it with the warm beverage of your choice.

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3 weather outside, layer up, think ahead, pack a sweater and a coat, and don’t forget the indispensable winter accessories: scarves, hats and gloves. Seek out activities that’ll help you stay warm Even when the cold is at its peak, going on vacation in the wintertime can be an activity-packed experience. If the weather is too rough to spend the day outside, plan visits to places that’ll help you stay warm, such as museums, art galleries, and escape rooms, or spend time in a cozy café.

Spend time outdoors

Who said going outside when it’s freezing was bad for you? Research shows that spending time in nature can be beneficial not only for your physical health but for your emotional wellbeing as well – provided you are healthy of course. In 2019, science journal Nature published the findings of a study that showed how merely two hours a week in nature can significantly boost your mental health. So make sure your winter destination has somewhere green to walk in, though snow-white ski slopes will do the trick as

12 ATMOSPHERE DECEMBER 2022