Wintertime can be more stressful for many people than summer. Part of it is the lack of sunshine. Some of it is less physical activity. There may be less going on in your community, so your social life may be suffering.
Luckily, there is a lot that you can do to make wintertime more peaceful and less stressful (like embracing hygge), including integrating some de-stressing hot beverages into your diet.
Hot Beverages That Can Help with Stress
While it may be tempting to reach for an alcoholic drink to soothe your nerves and comfort your winter anxiety, it can make you feel worse in the long run. Here are some alternatives to try when you’re feeling anxious:
- Non-caffeinated herbal teas. You can use any herbal tea that you like, but chamomile and lemon balm are especially known for their calming properties.
- Warm milk. Tryptophan, an amino acid in milk, can help you feel calmer, and warming the milk up will naturally provide you with comforting feelings.
- Green tea. The theanine in green tea is known to have calming effects on people. Choose decaffeinated so you don’t get the stimulant effects associated with the caffeine.
- Water. Warming up a cup of water and sipping it can help calm your nerves and improve your hydration. This is particularly useful for people who don’t like drinking cold water during the winter but who don’t really like tea.
Whichever drink you choose to use for stress, don’t add sugar, which can make you feel sluggish and more anxious after drinking it. If you must sweeten your drink, consider adding honey or stevia.