Before the Cold Freezes Your Heart: Reigniting Your Life's Engine with Warmth

There are times when the cold season makes me feel as though my heart is shrinking, too. When your body gets cold, your motivation drops, and even if there's something you want to do, you somehow can't bring yourself to move. Have you ever experienced that?
I suffer from cold extremities, and whenever the season arrives where the chill in my fingertips becomes painful, I always feel a sense of gloom, thinking, 'Oh, winter is here again...'

Today, ginger was featured on TV Asahi's 'Aiba Manabu.' Ginger has the power to warm the body, and as I watched the ginger dishes being prepared, I thought, 'That's right, I need to start my warming routine again this year.'
Taking action to warm your body is an act of self-care in itself.

Why a cold body leads to a weak heart

The cold doesn't just end with physical discomfort; it also affects your state of mind.
When your body is cold, blood flow worsens, making it difficult for enough oxygen and nutrients to reach your brain and internal organs. As a result, your thinking and concentration decline, and it becomes harder to summon the energy to do anything.
The true cause of feeling 'unmotivated' or finding everything 'a hassle' is often, in fact, a drop in body temperature.

Winter, in particular, is a season where daylight hours are short and it's easy to feel down. If the feeling of 'I can't move because it's cold' persists, you end up tensing your body even more, starting a vicious cycle.
That is precisely why incorporating the simple habit of 'warming up' into your life can be the trigger to switch on your heart and your actions.

A 1°C difference in body temperature can change your life

It is said that if your body temperature rises by 1°C, your metabolism increases by about 12%.
When your metabolism rises, circulation within your body improves, making it easier to feel light and positive. It's a small change, but it adds up to a big difference over time.

There is even a saying that 'motivation is born from body temperature,' which shows how the act of warming yourself is directly linked to your mental state.

Warming habits you can start today

You don't have to do anything special to start a warming routine.
By incorporating it into your life little by little, you can feel the lightness in your heart and body.

Warming from the inside with hot water or ginger tea

I recommend the habit of drinking one cup of a warm beverage as soon as you wake up in the morning.
Plain hot water is an easy and sustainable method, but if you add the benefits of ginger, you can feel a warmth spreading from the inside out.
On cold days, I actively reach for 'honey ginger tea.'

There are many granule types available that you can drink just by pouring hot water, making them convenient even during busy mornings, and the gentle sweetness of the honey combined with the kick of the ginger is addictive. I love that the individually wrapped ones are portable, so I can drink them while I'm out.

Warming with food: The power of nuts

Ginger and root vegetables are well-known as foods that warm the body, but nuts are also recommended.
Almonds, in particular, are rich in Vitamin E, which promotes blood circulation and helps build a body with good flow. Since you can just eat them when you're hungry at work or on the go, they are easy to stick with, and replacing snacks with them is also effective for beauty.

The nuttiness and texture are addictive. I used to prefer salted ones, but for the sake of my health, I've started eating ones without any extra seasoning. I don't feel much guilt when I eat them (laughs).
Being able to eat them straight from the bag, having them as a snack with a drink, and enjoying them as an easy warming snack is something I highly recommend.

Just changing your drink can change your mental flow

Among warming habits, 'changing your drink' is one that is easy to continue every day.
When people think of warming drinks, they often think of ginger tea, but another one that is surprisingly little-known is 'burdock root tea.'

Burdock root contains a lot of polyphenols, which are expected to promote blood flow. Also, its nutty flavor is soothing, making it perfect for a time to center yourself.

A bath is the ultimate reset time

When it comes to warming the body, a bath is essential.
Soaking in a tub at around 40°C for 10 to 15 minutes activates the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to deep relaxation.
Soaking in a tub is a rest not only for your body but also for your mind. The time spent putting your phone away and breathing quietly in the steam is precious time to face yourself.

If you make it a habit to say to yourself while bathing, 'I worked hard today,' your self-esteem will gradually be fulfilled.
The act of warming up is not just about the body, but also about speaking kind words to your heart.

Warming up creates the drive to take action

When your body warms up, the desire to 'get moving' naturally arises.
The moment you change from 'I don't want to move because it's cold' to 'Let's try doing that too' is not an exaggeration; it is because the difference in temperature flips a switch in your heart.

Since I started incorporating ginger tea and burdock tea, my morning sluggishness has decreased, and my feelings toward work have become lighter.
Taking action with the thought, 'First, let's warm up the body,' is a small accumulation of self-care.
That accumulation will eventually lead to great results.

Onkatsu is one way to love yourself

Onkatsu is not just for beauty and health.
It is an act of giving yourself the reward of warmth.

No matter how busy you are, anyone can secure enough time to drink a cup of warm beverage.
Those few minutes of quiet time can make your heart feel at ease.

From a winter where you were defeated by the cold, to a winter where you can walk at your own pace.
That change is born from the determination to cherish yourself.

Thank you for reading until the end.

Gemini0530ma

*This article uses some advertisements.

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