Top Tips For Winter Wellbeing

Written By Alexia Souvaliotis

Dr Stephanie Slater,
GP and ‘You okay, Doc?’ Ambassador

As the temperature drops and the days grow darker, it’s more important than ever to focus on being kind to our minds and looking after our winter wellbeing.

My name is Dr Stephanie Slater, I’m a GP and You Okay, Doc? (YOD) ambassador. I was diagnosed with Anxiety and Depression in 2019. Before this time, I did nothing to care for my wellbeing and in fact I chose to ignore my inner turmoil completely as I was ashamed and embarrassed to be struggling. These days I’m on a mission to end the stigma and I encourage everybody to look after their mental health, just as they would their physical. 

A healthcare professional’s working day can include long hours, few breaks, emotionally exhausting interactions, alongside the good, and if we don’t look after ourselves, there’s a high chance of workplace stress and burnout. In fact, figures from the National Training Survey 2022 show that over half of trainers and nearly two-thirds of trainees are at moderate or high risk of burnout. It’s on the rise. 

Whilst this information can feel overwhelming, it’s important to remember that there are lots of things we can do to take care of ourselves. Here are my top tips for your winter wellbeing:

1/ Take care of your physical health

Exercise, as well as keeping us physically fit, has been shown to reduce the risk of depression, eating a well-balanced diet can help us to feel more energised and improving your sleep will help you feel ready to tackle the day. Could you walk or cycle to work? 

2/ Do fun things 

It is so easy to live our lives ticking off one box after another, so much so that we can forget to have FUN. When was the last time you laughed? If you can’t remember, then it’s time to watch a comedy or call up that hilarious friend! 

3/ Get outdoors when you can 

Increasing your exposure to natural light in the winter can fend off feeling low in mood and spending time in nature has been found to help with anxiety and depression. How about a walk around the block at lunchtime?

4/ Relax

Scheduling time to relax is important to reduce the impact of stress on our physical and mental health. I like to watch my favourite movie or practice meditation. 

5/ Stay connected but protect your space 

Human connection brings joy and belonging(plus it may prevent dementia!) so check in with yourself and your friends regularly. But…don’t feel guilty if you can’t make every event, you are allowed to say no. 

6/ Practice gratitude 

Intentionally practising gratitude can shift your perspective and improve your mindset. You can start now by writing down 3 things you are grateful for.  

7/ Use coping mechanisms for stressful moments  

There are lots of options out there, I like deep breathing techniques like box breathing or putting all my thoughts down on paper and then throwing them away ! 

If these tips don’t help, please remember that it’s OK not to be OK and that you are deserving of support. Reach out to a loved one or professional to get help or see the resources below. 

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Check out and follow Dr Stephanie Slater, @drstephanieslater on Instagram or her YouTube channel for more useful tips and content!

Helpful resources: 

Alexia Souvaliotis
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