Winter is here, no doubt about it. And as the days get shorter and the temperature drops, it\u2019s often harder to keep the mood light and positive compared to the sunny summer months. Colder, longer evenings mean that many of us spend more time at home, becoming less active and less sociable. If your child has just started school, or flown the nest to go to university, there may be an empty nest to cope with too.<\/p>\n
Whatever your personal situation, trying to stay positive can help in a number of ways. Of course everyone has their less positive times which is normal, but by looking after yourself and considering some of the below you can help to make being positive that little bit easier.<\/p>\n
Get out more<\/strong><\/p>\n Rather than being home alone, it\u2019s important to connect socially, particularly during this time of year. Keep in touch with your friends and organise social meet-ups or activities you can all enjoy together. Why not join a book club, organise a dinner party or go on a girls\u2019, or lads\u2019 night out? Try Skype or Facetime to stay in touch with distant friends.<\/p>\n Enjoy the great outdoors<\/strong><\/p>\n Whatever the weather, there\u2019s nothing like getting outside to blow the cobwebs away and improve your mind set. Go for a long walk, perhaps with friends or family, and take the children and the dog too. Reconnect with the beauty of nature while you replenish your mental energies.<\/p>\n Get some exercise<\/strong><\/p>\n Regular exercise will raise your physical energy levels and is also a known mood lifter, helping to release stress and inner tension, and any anxieties you may be experiencing. During physical activity, your body releases endorphins \u2013 chemicals that trigger positive feelings.<\/p>\n Make sure you have fun<\/strong><\/p>\n Throw yourself into autumn and winter with gusto and discover all that is good about the colder seasons. From roasting chestnuts and enjoying a glass of red wine in front of a crackling real fire, to harvest festivals, Halloween and the Christmas season, there are all sorts of autumn adventures and winter treats waiting to be enjoyed.<\/p>\n Practise gratitude<\/strong><\/p>\n Not as silly as it may sound, sometimes it\u2019s worth just counting your blessings and reminding yourself to not take everything for granted. It keeps you focused on the positive things you already have in your life, and helps to put a different perspective on things. Try writing down (or just noticing) 3 things every day that you are grateful for. It can be anything at all, big or small, as long as you appreciate its positive impact on your life.<\/p>\n If you would like to view the Webinar on\u00a0\u2018The benefits of staying positive\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0is being delivered live on\u00a0Tuesday 30th November at 12:00pm-12:30pm<\/strong>, please use the following link to register for this session \u2013<\/p>\n https:\/\/attendee.gotowebinar.com\/register\/7517608808307902992<\/a><\/p>\n If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.<\/p>\n If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.<\/p>\n Please be aware that Care first is an external provider and the information in their webinars may not fully align with advice from the University on some subjects.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Winter is here, no doubt about it. And as the days get shorter and the temperature drops, it\u2019s often harder to keep the mood light and positive compared to the sunny summer months. Colder, longer evenings mean that many of … Continue reading More information<\/strong><\/h5>\n