How to survive London weather

Well folks, it finally happened. After a blissful first few weeks of beautiful weather, it rained for the first time since I moved here. Not like oh an afternoon shower from 3-5pm which we have in Florida. I mean overcast and downpour mostly all day. 

I noticed as the buses were delayed, people looked grumpier, and all anyone could talk about was the weather. And while it’s to be expected in London, I knew it would be an adjustment after moving here from the sunshine state. ☀️

So, here are my tips on how to deal with London weather 🌦:

• Invest in good rain gear

  Rain jacket, boots, umbrella, you name it. Make sure you have some good quality items in your capsule wardrobe.

• Buy your rainproof jackets from ENGLISH brands.

  American rain resistant or waterproof is not the same (As I have now discovered 😅) Some popular brands here are Barbour, Rains, Hunter and Joules.

• Bring lots of layers

  The weather can be quite unpredictable, not to mention there is no A/C ( aircon) in most places. So while it could be cold outside, the underground will be hot or you could work up a sweat power walking to catch the bus. If you hate even the slightest bit of sweat like me, wear clothing items that you can takeoff and put back on depending on the temperature inside or outside.

• Take your supplements

  vitamin D

  Vitamin C

  Zinc

  Along with a daily vitamin, this combination will help to absorb vitamin D to keep your mood elevated when the sun is not out as much.

• Take advantage of sunny days

  Yes, it seems like winter last forever, but summer will always be on the other side. The summer months are filled with festivals, rooftop bars, and lazy days out in parks. When it’s a sunny day, even if chilly, spend 15 minutes outside to get fresh air and a little vitamin D.

• Find fun winter activities to look forward to

  Winter can still be a fun time in London! They take Christmas very seriously here, and there are lots of outdoor pop-up shops, skating rinks, and lights to go walk around and see. Take note of the little things that bring you joy like Sipping hot chocolate or mulled wine by a fireplace to get you through the darker months of the year.

• Find the light

  England is at a higher latitude, so the days are longer during the summer, but that also means in turn they are shorter in the winter. During the darkest months, it will be dark as early as 4 PM! To combat the lack of light, there are now light machines you can put behind your curtains to help you not feel like you’re living in the dark all day.

• Watch out for SAD moments

  If you feel you are showing signs of depression that came as quickly as the leaves fell, it could be Seasonal Affective Disorder. While working on self-care practices, it’s important to also check in with your GP or a counselor to keep a healthy mental well-being.

• When in doubt, carry a travel size umbrella

I will definitely be putting these tips into practice as we enter the cooler months and darker days. Do you have any other tips for combating winter months? Drop them below in the comments!

Until next week! x

Sincerely,

Sarah

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