The cold weather and dark days of winter have been proven to affect our mood, which is why it is so important to take care of yourself at this time of year.
It’s not just the weather than can bring you down during the winter though. Other factors that can make this time of year stressful include:
- Money worries about paying fuel bills and covering the cost of Christmas
- Loneliness
- Tensions between familiy members at Christmas
- Older people may find it harder to get out and about in cold, icy weather
- Dark nights increase fears about crime
- Winter illnesses such as flu are more prevalent
Fortunately there is plenty of help and support available in Lambeth to ensure that you stay happy and healthy this winter.
Help with money worries
If you are on a low income or claiming benefits and are concerned about paying fuel bills this winter, you may be entitled to financial assistance to help you cover the cost of heating your home. For more information see [link to Keeping Warm in Winter page]
Money worries can really peak during the festive period. A survey carried out by mental health charity Mind found that 40 per cent of respondents had higher levels of stress and anxiety as a result of paying for the festive season and 25 per cent had increased feelings of depression.
But you don’t need to let money worries get on top of you, as you can get access to financial advice in Lambeth all year round. To find how you can get help allow you take control of your finances see Don't let money worries get you down.
For tips on how to save money on your Christmas shopping see the Moneysavingexpert website.
You are not alone
During the winter months and particularly during the festivities, you may find yourself feeling lonely and isolated. Even if you have a family you may find it hard to cope with the tensions of spending the holiday period together.
Getting out of the house and meeting new people can help to make you feel less lonely or give you some time out to de-stress. For suggestions of things to do in Lambeth see Lift your mood.
There are also lots of ways you can engage with your community by volunteering. For example, the Dig in the Park project in Brockwell Park lets you help to care for the park in return for meeting new people, and you get a cup of tea and a biscuit. It runs on the fourth Sunday of every month. For more details click here.
If you are alone at Christmas and have some time to spare to help out you could volunteer with Crisis at Christmas. That way you can get into the festive spirit by helping to ensure that Lambeth’s homeless can enjoy Christmas.
Another way you can combine getting out and meeting new people with giving something back to the community is by volunteering with Age UK Lambeth. You can join its Befriending service and visit older residents for a cup of tea and a chat. This is particularly important in the winter when older people may find it harder to get out and about. For more information click here or call Petrina Hughes on 020 7346 6817.
You could also consider joining a local club. You can find a list of many of the activities and clubs open to the over 50s here.
Younger residents can see what is on offer for them here. Or take a look at the Young Lambeth website.
Connect with your community
Even if you don’t have the time to volunteer with a local project, you can help to build your community by getting to know the people who live around you. Keep an eye on elderly or vulnerable neighbours and, if you can, offer to help run errands for them when the weather gets cold.
Take care of yourself
The winter months can be particularly hard if you are in a difficult domestic situation, but you don’t need to suffer in silence as there is help available. For information on helplines and local organizations offering support see Lambeth Council’s website.""
Another common problem over the festive period is drinking too much. You can find advice on how to keep your drinking under control in the party season here. If you have more serious concerns about your drinking you can visit one of the local Lambeth advice centres. For details see Lambeth Council’s website.
If you are finding yourself feeling low or anxious you can access a range of services in Lambeth that offer support and counseling. See How to get help for details.
Keep moving
If you are feeling stressed getting active can help to make you feel calmer and clear your head. While it may be harder to get out and about when the weather is cold there are still plenty of ways to keep active in the winter. For some helpful see NHS Choices advice on Exercising in Winter.
For older people you can still get out and about on the Happy Bus Pass outings, which run all through the winter visiting locations all over London. To find out about planned outings and how to join in see Hop onboard a Happy Bus Pass outing.
Stay healthy
Winter illnesses can be a nuisance, but you cut down your risks by taking simple steps to keep healthy. For tips on how to stay well in winter see NHS Choices advice on Five ways to stay healthy this winter.
If you are eligible make sure that you get your flu jab. It is recommended that you ask your GP for the free flu jab if you:
- are 65 years old or over
- are pregnant
- have a serious medical condition
- are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility
- are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill
If you do fall ill then you can get advice on how to cope with winter illnesses, including flu, in NHS Choices information on How to deal with colds and flu.
Enjoy winter
Follow the simple tips listed above and you should enjoy a happy, healthy winter season.
