{"id":8875,"date":"2025-11-24T03:41:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T11:41:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/?p=8875"},"modified":"2025-11-24T03:41:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T11:41:10","slug":"how-to-healthily-tackle-the-dark-winter-months-according-to-a-doctor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/?p=8875","title":{"rendered":"How to healthily tackle the dark winter months, according to a doctor"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"main\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"hydrate-root sc-10wlkbs-0\" data-component=\"SupportNSCNative\" data-loading=\"lazy\" data-theme-name=\"base\">\n<aside class=\"sc-hez36s-0 dFpFuY\">\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-1 iBibVd\">\n<h3 data-testid=\"support-nsc-title\" class=\"sc-hez36s-2 jVZWGn\">Your support helps us to tell the story<\/h3>\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-8 juUDRT\">\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-13 cqPbFA\">\n<div class=\"sc-aja53j-0 rAFIl sc-hez36s-16 jZSKtc\">\n<div class=\"sc-aja53j-6 PdmgT\">\n<div data-testid=\"dropdown-with-gradient-collapsed-content-container\" class=\"sc-aja53j-5 eZqxmv\">\n<div>\n<div data-testid=\"dropdown-with-gradient-collapsed-content\" class=\"sc-aja53j-4 tawua\">\n<div>\n<div data-testid=\"support-nsc-collapsed-content-tablet\" class=\"sc-hez36s-7 gZmYS\">\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 iCTyfe\">From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it&#8217;s investigating the financials of Elon Musk&#8217;s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, &#8216;The A Word&#8217;, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 iCTyfe\">At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 iCTyfe\">The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"sc-1uza6dc-1 cglitp\">Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"sc-aja53j-1 keLMOw sc-aja53j-7 eMEmGu\"><span data-testid=\"dropdown-with-gradient-dropdown-tablet\" class=\"sc-aja53j-3 dHXFkr\"><span data-action-type=\"Read more\" class=\"sc-aja53j-2 gyGWOu\">Read more<\/span><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 hUgQwJ sc-culv3z-0 eifaJK sc-a5wy94-0 hyKPon\"><use href=\"#ee6613da15642019\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Working as a GP in inner-city Bradford, West Yorkshire, TV doctor Amir Khan understands the profound importance of stepping outdoors and embracing nature, even amidst a busy schedule. <\/p>\n<p>The resident doctor on ITV\u2019s <em>Good Morning Britain<\/em> and <em>Lorraine<\/em> makes a conscious effort to connect with the natural world daily.<\/p>\n<p>x&#8221;It doesn\u2019t matter how busy it is, I try and get outside over lunchtime, so I\u2019ll eat my lunch outside and try to do that in a green place,&#8221; says Dr Khan, who is also vice president of The Wildlife Trusts. <\/p>\n<p>He is currently championing the charity\u2019s annual &#8217;12 Days Wild&#8217; campaign, which encourages everyone to engage with nature daily over the Christmas period, from a simple winter walk to identifying local bird calls.<\/p>\n<p>Dr Khan highlights the significant physiological benefits of spending time in nature, explaining that it can elevate serotonin and dopamine levels, which are crucial for relaxation and happiness, while simultaneously reducing the stress hormone cortisol. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Being in nature is a proven way to improve your mental health. It\u2019s not instead of medication or emergency services, but it\u2019s as well as,&#8221; he asserts.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C1Z--xCi3vb\/embed\/captioned\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"sc-wn0aau-1 dZPXBi\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>For Dr Khan, integrating nature into his life is a daily practice. His own garden is a testament to his commitment to wildlife. &#8220;I\u2019m a big wildlife gardener, so I\u2019m really lucky to have a garden geared up for wildlife. Through spring and summer, it\u2019s all about the plants and the pond, but over autumn and winter I do try to have some plants that might flower over that period.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>He takes joy in the regular visits from various creatures. &#8220;I\u2019m really lucky in that I put food out for the birds and there are gorgeous birds that come and visit us \u2013 woodpeckers, bullfinches, all sorts. It\u2019s been unseasonably warm and we\u2019ve got a family of hedgehogs that we feed every night which come into the garden. And of course we\u2019ve got foxes as well. My main thing is making our garden as welcoming as possible for wildlife.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Beyond his garden, Dr Khan maintains an active outdoor routine. &#8220;I go for a run most days. Now, it\u2019s in the dark because it\u2019s before work, but on weekends when I\u2019m not working, it\u2019s a little bit later and I\u2019m lucky enough to run through a woodland and a park and really be in nature for that.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>He dismisses the notion of bad weather as a barrier. &#8220;There\u2019s no such thing as the wrong weather. It\u2019s just the wrong clothing. It (being outside) makes a massive difference to how I feel in the afternoon when I\u2019m doing my afternoon surgery. From a health point of view, we all need exposure to natural light during the day to help with our circadian rhythm, our sleep and our hormones. In the winter it\u2019s so easy to go to work in the dark, come home in the dark and never see the daylight.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p>While his wife assists with gardening, she draws the line at his early morning runs: &#8220;We tried that, it didn\u2019t work out well for either one of us.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>For those struggling to peel themselves away from the television during the festive season, Dr Khan offers several accessible suggestions:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Embrace the rain:<\/strong> &#8220;Even if it\u2019s pouring with rain, if you stand at an open window or an open door and listen to the rain, that is actually being in nature as well. The sound of rain is soothing to us, and the smell of rain as it hits the ground, that petrichor smell as it comes up out of the ground, is fine.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image align-center\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 dPNFRH\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.the-independent.com\/2025\/11\/24\/07\/12162535-c475621a-0708-4cb8-8b6f-9e0ac7b85f95.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.the-independent.com\/2025\/11\/24\/07\/12162535-c475621a-0708-4cb8-8b6f-9e0ac7b85f95.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.the-independent.com\/2025\/11\/24\/07\/12162535-c475621a-0708-4cb8-8b6f-9e0ac7b85f95.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Going for a walk in winter can be beneficial for the mind and body, says Dr Amir Khan\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 gtVitN hgzWpY\">Going for a walk in winter can be beneficial for the mind and body, says Dr Amir Khan<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 exGSyR\"> <!-- -->(<!-- -->Amir Khan\/PA<!-- -->)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>You don\u2019t need to venture far:<\/strong> &#8220;What puts people off sometimes is that the idea of being in nature sounds like you have to go somewhere far away. You don\u2019t have to go anywhere, even if you don\u2019t have a garden. You can go out on to a road or a street and just listen for birdsong or look overhead and see what flies over \u2013 that is still being in nature. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf there are any green spaces around you, even if it\u2019s a grass verge or a tree that\u2019s been planted in your street, go up to it and have a feel of it, touch it. That level of mindfulness is enough to calm your body. When you are looking at that tree, look at the intricacies of the bark and the branches and the wonderful patterns that happen. Those small things are really key.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Engage children:<\/strong> &#8220;I have nephews and nieces I take out in nature and the kind of questions I ask them are: Tell me five things that you can see, four things you can hear, three things you can smell, two things you can touch, whether it\u2019s a leaf or whatever. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose kinds of things just help people concentrate on where they are, because you can be in nature and be on your phone and then you\u2019ve no great benefits to being outside. But if you\u2019re mindful and paying attention, that\u2019s where the benefits really begin.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Provide for wildlife:<\/strong> &#8220;If you do have a garden just put some water out, whether it\u2019s in a bowl, a dish or whatever. Something will come and either take a bath in it or drink it. And once they know it\u2019s there they will keep coming back. If you put out bird seed, that will attract them, too.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Go for a walk:<\/strong> &#8220;We all over-indulge over Christmas. We\u2019re all guilty of that in a nice way, and one of the ways you can really balance out your blood sugars after a heavy meal is to go for a walk, not sit on the sofa and watch Christmas telly, which you can save for later. Going out for a walk after a meal is a brilliant way to engage the family.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The free &#8217;12 Days Wild&#8217; campaign runs from 25 December to 5 January. Registration is open now, with further details available at wildlifetrusts.org\/12dayswild.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it&#8217;s investigating the financials of Elon Musk&#8217;s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, &#8216;The A Word&#8217;, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Working as a GP in inner-city Bradford, West Yorkshire, TV doctor Amir Khan understands the profound importance of stepping outdoors and embracing nature, even amidst a busy schedule. The resident doctor on ITV\u2019s Good Morning Britain and Lorraine makes a conscious effort to connect with the natural world daily. x&#8221;It doesn\u2019t matter how busy it is, I try and get outside over lunchtime, so I\u2019ll eat my lunch outside and try to do that in a green place,&#8221; says Dr Khan, who is also vice president of The Wildlife Trusts. He is currently championing the charity\u2019s annual &#8217;12 Days Wild&#8217; campaign, which encourages everyone to engage with nature daily over the Christmas period, from a simple winter walk to identifying local bird calls. Dr Khan highlights the significant physiological benefits of spending time in nature, explaining that it can elevate serotonin and dopamine levels, which are crucial for relaxation and happiness, while simultaneously reducing the stress hormone cortisol. &#8220;Being in natu&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8876,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8875"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8875"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8875\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8876"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}