Health : Simple Pleasures

Simple Pleasures By Tracy Griffen

We’re nearly at the end of another year, the nights are getting longer and the prospect of hibernating until the new year beckons. Whether or not you experience SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), this time of year can be disorienting. We rise in the dark, go to work in the dark and come home in the dark. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time to do everything. So don’t. This festive season, give yourself a break. Do less than you intend to. Turn off the TV, social media and your screens. Live IRL (in real life), and enjoy the time in between doing stuff. That is where enjoyment lies. Here are some ideas for idle winter days: - Walk up a hill : Look at the weather forecast and choose a dry day. Prepare a bag the night before with your favourite snacks and hat / gloves / waterproof. You might even want to take a flask of hot tea. I carry a travel towel and a bin bag so I have something waterproof to sit on (and you can use aforementioned bin bag for an impromptu litter pick, very satisfying). - Make ginger beer : Into an empty 2L fizzy pop bottle add 1 cup of sugar, the juice of 1 lemon, a finely chopped inch knob of ginger, ½ tsp dried active yeast, and fill with water. Leave a reasonable gap at the top for the gas to expand. Tighten lid and shake. Leave out for a day (you might need to release gas) then chill in fridge. Strain to serve. Delicious after indulgent days. - Read a good book : Read a chapter a day of an informative book. Search the Edinburgh Library catalogue online and reserve books you’ve been meaning to read. ‘The Circadian Code’ by Dr Satchin Panda is my latest reading recommendation.

- Plan a project for 2023 : Whether you’re entering an event or going on an adventure, start the research and preparation before the days start getting longer. - Make soup and freeze it : Use up leftover vegetables by making a big pot of soup. Freeze what you don’t eat. If you make a pot of soup a day for a week you will end up stocking up your freezer cheaply. Or swap with a neighbour. - Stretch! : Whether you follow a yoga YouTube workout, or have your own favourite exercises, use the darker nights as time to work on your flexibility. You can even stretch in front of the telly in your jammies. It will help prevent back pain from sitting too much.

Personal Trainer Tracy Griffen runs a private fitness studio in Leith and enjoys helping her clients achievetheir goals, whilst enjoying a good quality of life. Call her on 07743 741 088 or visit www.griffenfitness.com.