Winter asks a little more of us. Bushra Hakim brings the everyday habits that help us meet it feeling and looking our best.
As the weather cools across the Middle East, our routines tend to shift with it. The calendar fills with dinners and gatherings, evenings become lengthier and the urge to stay up longer can make it harder to maintain the habits that keep us feeling our best. It is also the time of year when seasonal bugs begin making their rounds, leaving many of us feeling less than our usual selves.
While autumn and winter often bring new releases of beauty launches and treatments, looking after ourselves goes beyond what we apply to our skin. The foundations of well-being are often found in the everyday choices we make, from what we eat to how well we sleep. This month, we shift our attention inward and find simple ways to support our health, energy and complexion from within.
A PLATE FULL OF GOODNESS
A balanced diet is one of the simplest ways to support overall wellbeing, with variety being a guiding principle. Rather than fixating on a single nutrient, build meals around vegetables and fruit, whole grains, protein and healthy fats, each of which plays its own part in keeping the body well. A varied diet also provides the nutrients that support healthy skin, hair and nails.
Think colourful salads alongside grilled fish or chicken, hearty lentil soups, roasted vegetables, nuts and seeds, or a bowl of yoghurt topped with fruit.
These are not complicated additions to a routine, but small ways to make everyday meals more nourishing. Protein helps maintain and repair body tissues, while healthy fats support normal body functions and help the body absorb certain vitamins. Fruit and vegetables provide fibre along with a range of vitamins and minerals.
Kefir, yoghurt with live cultures and other fermented foods deserve a place on the table all year round. Alongside fibre-rich legumes, oats and vegetables, they form part of a varied diet that supports gut health.
The festive season can make balance harder to maintain. Rather than restricting, it helps to keep everyday meals light and nourishing, so that the occasional indulgent dinner can be enjoyed without a second thought. Vitamin D merits attention, too. Despite the Gulf ’s abundant sunshine, many of us spend most of our days indoors, which limits exposure. Oily fish, eggs and fortified foods provide some, while supplements may suit those who are not getting enough. Needs differ, so seek professional advice if you suspect a deficiency.
REST UP
With cooler evenings comes the temptation to stay out a little longer, but if late nights become the norm, it can soon catch up with us.
Sleep is an essential part of the body’s recovery. It supports normal immune function, helps regulate mood and energy and allows the skin time to renew itself. Most adults need between seven and nine hours a night, although individual needs vary. A proper night’s rest becomes especially valuable in the colder months, when the immune system is working hardest to fend off seasonal bugs.
Keeping a relatively consistent sleep schedule can make a difference, as can creating a wind-down routine that allows us to step away from screens and the day’s demands.
HYDRATION YEAR LONG
It is easy to forget about water since we no longer feel as thirsty as we did at the height of summer, but hydration remains just as important. Air conditioning also leaves indoor spaces dry, which further contributes to skin feeling tight or uncomfortable.
Keep water within easy reach throughout the day and consider herbal teas such as mint or chamomile as a comforting evening alternative. There is no single amount that suits everyone, as needs vary with activity, climate and circumstance, so let thirst and your daily routine be your guide.
For the skin, a good moisturiser can help support the skin
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