December 18th 2019
‘Tis the season to be germy. But there’s no need to suffer when the temperature drops, thanks to these top tips for winter wellbeing, from Sherborne School’s Nurse Manager
If you want the inside track on staying healthy over the winter months, Marie Hutchings is the person to ask. She’s overseen Sherborne School’s Health Centre for the last five years, leaving a senior nursing position in the NHS to throw herself into Sherborne life.
“We always see an upturn in engagement with the Health Centre over the winter months,” Marie reports. “It’s inevitable that as germs fly around, especially in a school environment, pupils and staff pick up illnesses.”
That said, Marie says there are ways to keep illness at bay, and improve your mental wellbeing at the same time. Here are six of her best tips for winter wellbeing.
1. Get plenty of sleep
“Sleep hygiene is an important discipline, and we work hard to educate Sherborne’s pupils about this,” says Marie. Her advice is to get a solid seven to eight hours every night, making sure you go to bed early and avoid electronics once you’re tucked up.
“If you need help to unwind, read a book or do some relaxation exercises, but avoid using a phone or tablet device. The light from the screen will actually stop you feeling sleepy, meaning you’ll struggle to drop off.”
If wakefulness is a problem for you, Marie has another great piece of advice: “Write down your worries when you wake up. Putting things on paper helps your mind deal with them, meaning you can move on and get back to sleeping.”
2. Be disciplined about screen time
On the subject of mobiles, Marie says another good tip is to be disciplined about screen time, even during the day.
“Various educational studies show that mental wellbeing can be affected by too much use of a mobile device. If you try to limit yourself, you’ll gain all sorts of advantages – including enjoying a lot more free time.
“Plus, by not having your eyes fixed on a phone all the time, you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of Sherborne in winter!”
3. Have a ‘flu jab
One of the key activities at this time of year for Marie and her team of four nurses is administering the ‘flu vaccine.
“The strains included in the vaccine change every year, ensuring it offers the best possible protection from the illness,” she reports. “Obviously there are no guarantees, but having the jab massively increases your chances of emerging from winter unscathed.”
4. Eat well
It’s obvious, isn’t it? If you eat a good diet, rich in vitamins and minerals, you’ll find it easier to survive the germy onslaught of winter.
“Our canteen at School offers a really good diet for pupils, helping them eat healthily while also enjoying the occasional treat,” says Marie. “With the addition of regular advice on eating well, we help our boys get the right balance for their fast-growing minds and bodies.”
If you struggle to get fruit and vegetables on board because of the pressures of modern living, Marie has a handy tip: “Make soups and smoothies to take into work. They’ll give you a good boost of nutrients and are perfect for eating on the hop.”
5. Exercise regularly, and do it outside
We all know the benefits of a decent walk, and Marie says it’s more important than ever to get out in winter.
“It can be hard to squeeze in some fresh air with the shorter days, but even a 15-minute walk through town will give you a boost, and you’ll most likely run into friends along the way,” she says.
“Exercise is good for mental and physical wellbeing. That’s why we encourage all of our pupils to try a variety of sports and find the one they love.”
6. Make time for yourself
Winter may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it puts huge pressure on time. That can make it difficult to carve out some precious moments for yourself. But Marie believes it’s essential to stop and stare every so often, or do the thing you love.
“Pupils at Sherborne are really busy, but we always encourage them to take time out,” she reports. “Recharging your batteries is crucial to staying healthy. It helps your body fend off the barrage of bugs circling around in winter and makes you feel happier, too.”
Marie was interviewed by Tim Gibson at Sherborne School.
To see inside Sherborne School's Health Centre, please click here.
