Winter isn’t the most fun of the seasons, and especially not here in the UK, where things get quite miserable quite quickly. The distractions of the festive period only last so long before we’re plunged back into some immiserating early-year truths: short days, long nights, cold snaps and the fact we still have to go to work through it all.

It’s no surprise that the urban myth of Blue Monday stuck so firmly in our minds and that poor mental health is more generally often observed in the colder months. But this doesn’t mean that winter is inherently awful. There’s good to be found in the season, and some excellent ways to beat the winter blues. Here, we’ll be looking at just one: embracing the great outdoors.

How Outdoor Exposure Supports Mental Wellbeing

This might sound counterintuitive, given the bitterly cold, almost actively offensive nature of winter weather (and isn’t this the entire reason we’re miserable?!). But embracing winter for what it is and making hay nonetheless can be crucial to improving your mental wellbeing.

Going back to basics, there are some essential ingredients for positive mental wellbeing: daylight, exercise, diet, and sleep. Three of these are negatively impacted by certain self-soothing patterns we adopt in the winter and positively impacted by embracing the winter days as we receive them.

Everyday Outdoor Activities

So, what does this mean on a practical level? Well, it means making the most of the daylight that actually is on offer – and getting out of the house for a little bit of fresh air each day. All the better if you can throw some exercise into the mix, whether a long walk, a light jog, or a cycle to some nearby green space. Varying the activities you engage in can keep you engaged, in turn keeping you in a routine that ensures you remain active. Involving friends and family only makes it easier.

Larger Adventures & Seasonal Travel

Of course, you needn’t content yourself just with day-to-day activities. As a treat, you could put a little money aside for a bigger winter getaway – one that properly embraces the season and all it can offer. Skiing is an obvious choice here; a Val d’Isere ski holiday would put you in the French Alps for a week of sunny slopes and bracing mountain air.

Such a holiday is a memory-making event as well as an excuse to extract a little more joy from keeping active. Besides, there’s a great deal of mental wellbeing to be found in the convivial atmosphere of the apres-ski scene!

Read More: How Outdoor Adventures Remind Us What It Means to Feel Alive

Creating Sustainable Habits

Now, one can’t go skiing in France on a weekly basis. However, one can inculcate a sense of regularity in their winter activities overall, and regularity is key to bolstering your mental wellbeing. Sustainability is crucial, which means avoiding overextending yourself where possible; if you can find an appropriate balancing point for your routine, you’ll be enriched by a repeatable routine of winter activities that keep you active, engaged, and happy.