The British winter: How to survive it

Have you arrived in the UK from a hot country? You may find our winters to be cold and depressing, but I'm happy all through the winter. Here are my top 10 tips on how to carry on enjoying life in the UK, even when it's cold and dark.

1. Understand it.

The winter nights are long and dark, but they don't last forever. Do you know when our shortest day is? It's called the winter solstice and it's on December 21st . After that, the sun sets a little bit later every day. Sometimes our worst weather can be in January, but at least the darkest days of winter are behind us!

2. Wrap up warm.

Don't just wear a warm coat, wear lots of layers underneath. Thermal leggings and vests worn under clothes can help you to keep warm (click here to see some examples.) For warm feet, shoes with thick soles are best. Jumpers and jackets made from fleece are very good for keeping out a cold wind.

3. Stay active.

If you stay still for hours, you'll feel very cold. But if you’re on your feet and doing something, like cooking or hoovering, your body temperature will go up. If you go outdoors, a fast walking speed will soon warm you up.

4. Take vitamin D supplements.

Without vitamin D we become depressed and ill, and our bones ache. The problem is that our bodies need sunlight to make this vitamin, and the winter sun is just too weak. I take vitamin D supplements all through the winter and I give them to my friends. If you have dark skin, or cover up by wearing a hijab, your vitamin D levels will be especially low. To find out more about this important vitamin, click here.

5. Keep an eye on the weather forecast.

In other countries the weather may stay the same for weeks, but not here. It can change 3 times in a day! It isn't enough to just look out of the window. You need to check the forecast and dress appropriately. This is my favourite online forecast, by the BBC.

6. Get out when you can.

If you let the cold weather stop you from going outdoors, you will soon become depressed. Find lots of places to go, to keep you busy. Coffee shops are nice, but there are lots of other places you can go. Lots of museums are free (click here to find one near you), and you can always join a library, even if you're not British yet.

7. Wrap your hands around a warm mug.

On a cold day I love to come home and make myself a nice cup of tea. I wrap my hands around it and blow on it. Perhaps it's because of the weather that we love tea so much? Hot chocolate, Horlicks and Ovaltine are some other warm drinks you might enjoy. Or why not cook a nice warming soup?

8. Appreciate the beauty of winter.

Have you noticed how beautiful the trees are at this time of year, silhouetted against the sky? A frosty morning is cold but very pretty. And if it snows, we can all enjoy having snowball fights and making snowmen.

9. Get festive.

Get into the Christmas mood, even if you’re not a Christian. Christmas lights, decorations, and songs can all be enjoyed by everyone. Even if your family aren’t church goers, why not plan to cook something special on Christmas day, and enjoy each other’s company?

10. Chat easily to strangers

British people love to complain about the weather, which means that you can use the bad weather as an excuse to chat to strangers.. If you are freezing at a bus stop, it can cheer you up to talk to people. Just try saying “This horrible weather!”, and you might find that British people are much chattier than you expect. Click here to learn some handy phrases for this.

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