It’s hard to feel motivated to stay active and healthy during those long winter months. The cold and the dark don’t exactly encourage you to get out there and exercise and in the cold, a rib-sticking stew with a side of potatoes tends to feel more tempting than a salad that just serves to remind you of currently unavailable summer produce. There are still plenty of ways you can keep your spirits up, your body active, and your diet fresh. Follow these simple rules to avoid the winter slump!

1) Keep moving

For many people, the dark winter months might be a good excuse to stay far from the gym. Bright summer days encourage you to get out there and move but in winter, motivation is harder to come by. If you do manage to keep your routine going throughout the whole year, you won’t have to face the daunting task of getting back in shape for summer, you’ll already be there! Take Lýsi omega-3 fish oil to recover even faster! Keeping active on dark days and taking Lýsi daily will give you the energy you need throughout the winter season.

2) Benefit from breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so always start your day with a healthy meal. You don’t need a huge breakfast to make it count, rather choose quality over quantity. Eat foods that provide nutrients you need to keep you healthy, like vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. Porridge with apples, flax seeds, cinnamon, and dates, combined with a spoonful of Lýsi fish oil – an indispensable part of Icelandic breakfasts since the 1930s – is a good start of the day.

3) Set goals

To motivate yourself to stick to healthy choices, it helps to set goals. Setting goals gives you long-term vision and short-term motivation, just what you need during winter. Examples of goals you can set are: don’t snack in January, go to the gym three times a week in February, or don’t drink alcohol in March. Pick a goal that appeals to you and reward yourself with a (non-edible) treat if you stick to it.

4) Be picky

There’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to indulge every now and then over the duration of the season. The key to getting through it and still feeling good is being picky. Eat light meals during the day and savor your evening feast. Choose the best fish, meat, and vegetables available instead of binging on lesser-quality food and eat slowly to savor every bite. Be careful with smoked and salty items and pick whole foods over highly processed foods.

5) Take Lýsi

One tablespoon of Lýsi a day keeps the doctor away. Lýsi cod liver oil is produced from fish that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fish oil can have positive effects on mental health, reduce aching joints, decrease the risk of coronary heart disease, and plays a vital role in the development of the brain and central nervous system. Since we can’t manufacture omega-3 fatty acids ourselves, it’s essential to add them to our diet. Taking Lýsi during the dark winter months will boost your immune system!