We’re experiencing colder temperatures, and will be for the next several months. While we may prefer the balmy, warm temperatures of late spring, summer, and early fall, maybe we can think differently about the cold weather and be grateful for the health benefits we can experience this time of year.
***Individuals with certain health conditions may need to take extra precautions in cold weather, including avoiding prolonged outdoor exposure when temperatures are low.
Maria Cohut, Ph.D. explains the following benefits in her article “How can our health benefit from colder temperatures?”
- Improved sleep quality
- Increased appetite (don’t worry, there’s more if this benefit is not for you)
- Increased fat burning
- Decreased inflammation
- Deeper connection in close relationships
- Referential creativity
If you tend to get “the winter blues,” this article by CEO and Lead Therapist Elana Woolf of The Woolf Center Therapy & Coaching offers hope: Managing the Winter Weather Blues: How Cold Fresh Air Can Boost Your Mental and Physical Health. In addition to some of the benefits listed above, she explains cold weather boosts our immune system, which “often translates to improved mental health, reducing stress and anxiety associated with winter sickness.”
Don’t forget to bundle up and limit skin exposure in frigid temperatures. Weather apps typically inform us when temperatures are dangerously low and provide tips on how to stay safe. When you catch yourself feeling negative about the cold temps and shivering this winter, embrace it and shift your focus to the benefits your body, brain, and mental health are experiencing.
Comments are closed