With summer coming to an end, you might have found yourself feeling a little down in the dumps. The days are getting shorter, your skin is changing, the sunshine has disappeared and your tan has well and truly faded. Vacation time is officially over and you might be finding this change a little hard to swallow. You are not alone, it has been scientifically proven that we get sadder as the temperature drops.
The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but it’s often linked to reduced exposure to sunlight during the shorter winter days. Without exposure to sunlight, the brain produces less serotonin, the hormone that affects your mood, appetite and sleep. The reduction in sunlight along with the return to routine can be a bit of a shock.
Not all is lost, however. Here are some of our top tips to beat those post-summer blues and boost your mood all the way through winter:
- Revamp your beauty routine
There is no better way to boost your mood than a brand new look. Feeling good about ourselves can make a huge difference to our overall well-being. One of the best ways to improve your self-esteem is a new skin care routine. Using an all-over body scrub once a week and moisturising daily with a nourishing body cream will leave your skin feeling rejuvenated and do wonders for your self-confidence.
- Extend your tan
No one likes to see their summer glow fade, but there are things you can do to extend your tan. You have heard this before, but you should drink a lot of water. We are, after all, 70% water. Your skin needs hydration both on the inside and out. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. A well-moisturised skin is key to a beautiful and glowing tan. Apply just a few drops of moisturising oil daily, as a little goes a long way. For more summer skin secrets, click here.
- Aromatherapy
The scent might not be the first thing you think of, but aromatherapy can be a powerful tool for boosting your mood. The aromatherapeutic scent of Patchouli helps reduce tension, insomnia and anxiety while uplifting the mind. This is due to the impact that inhaling patchouli essential oil has on the hormones and various chemical reactions in the body and mind. By stimulating the release of pleasure hormones like serotonin and dopamine, feelings of anxiety, anger, and sadness disappear. That is one of the reasons we use patchouli in our Verdure range.
- Keep working out
As it gets colder, it’s tempting to curl up and stay indoors. However, exercise can be the best tool to beat a low mood. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins that act as nature’s mood enhancers. These endorphins interact with receptors in your brain and produce feelings of euphoria. Time is always a limitation, but it is suggested that just 20 minutes of exercise a day can boost your mood.
With these top tips, we can’t wait for autumn.
