Andrea's It List: 6 essentials that help me stay active through winter

I discovered the walking deskpad late last year, and it’s a life changer. The typical day for me includes a lot of meetings, but on my working-from-home days, you’ll find me on my LIfespan TX6 Walking Pad while editing stories or going through my emails in between. It’s been perfect for post-work walks to clear my head in the dark winter evenings. It's so easy to use and is small enough to stash away easily afterwards.

If you haven’t started journaling yet, it's not too late to start for 2025. There’s something about documenting my thoughts that crystallises them and helps me stay accountable to myself. 10 minutes of journaling at the start or end of the day also feels like an act of mindfulness in itself. I use this one by Papier, which is packed with subsections where I can track my health, record new ideas or goals, and create a gratitude diary for staying positive.

There’s nothing like a new piece of kit to keep me motivated to get outside. I’m passionate about running, which I do most days, so investing in decent trainers is key. I recently snapped up a black pair of my favourite Adidas Ultraboost light shoes in the sale, and they’re still £70 off. These are my go-to for winter, which inevitably results in me getting muddy if running outdoors as I don't mind them getting a bit dirty. I can also wear them for my commute and get a few extra steps in with a walk at lunchtime.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the array of vitamin and mineral supplements out there, but for me, there are a few key products that keep me healthy and energised. I rely on a good Vitamin D supplement by Solgar at this time of year, which doctors recommend because most of us are deficient during winter when the daylight hours are so short. The high-strength Vitamin C also keeps my immune system strong, and magnesium relaxes my muscles after exercise and helps me sleep.

If you’re serious about investing in one good piece of tech this year to monitor your exercise, sleep and overall health, the Oura ring is up there with the most accurate trackers on the market and is so much more discreet than a watch. It's very easy to set up and maintain, and I can confidently say it looks super stylish, too. I love the silver.

For me, the darkest month of the year is about indulging myself too - in healthy ways. It’s this month that I try to go out a bit less and instead treat myself to nourishing stews after work followed by a steaming hot bath. I first discovered this beautiful L’Occitane almond bath and shower oil ten years ago, and it's one of my favourite products of all time. It’s deeply luxurious and works wonders for dry winter skin. It smells heavenly too. It's a mini spa treatment in a bottle.