23 things you need to stay healthy this winter
Your body (and your mind) will thank you.
Credit:
Ninja/Amazon
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When it's cold and dark outside, all you want to do is skip the gym and instead, curl up on the couch with a cozy blanket and a big bowl of creamy mac and cheese. And while there's a time and a place for that, there's also a time and a place for getting your butt up, moving around, and occasionally eating a few veggies.
If you want to stay healthy during the winter months, we've rounded up 23 of the things you'll need, including our favorite Fitbit, a meal kit delivery service, and even a few essentials to help you not get sick. Consider this your cold-weather survival guide.
1. The number one fitness tracker
Did you get your 10,000 steps today?
Ask any of our experts: The Fitbit Charge 3 is hands-down the best fitness tracker you can buy. We put some of the most popular ones to the test and found that the Charge 3 was the easiest to use and was the best at tracking everything from your exercise to your sleep. It automatically records your activity and even has a built-in GPS so you can accurately chart your runs or bike rides.
Get the Fitbit Charge 3 from Amazon for $137.20
2. This tiny but mighty blender
Blend, puree, crush... this blender can do it all.
Smoothies are great. But spending money on smoothies? Not so much. The solution is to make those good-for-you drinks at home—and for that, you'll love the Nutri-Ninja, which we chose as the best personal blender we've ever tested. It outperformed other blenders in both speed and strength and is the perfect portable size to take on-the-go.
Get the Nutri-Ninja Fit Personal Blender from Amazon for $49.99
3. This subscription for new workout clothes every month
Fabletics leggings are high-quality and, more importantly, not see-through.
You've probably heard of Fabletics, Kate Hudson's mega-popular activewear company. But is it worth the monthly subscription fee? Our audience development manager tried it for herself to find out—and now she's hooked. Not only is it a fun way to update your workout wardrobe on the regular, but she also says that the leggings she got are just as good as Lululemon (but without the hefty price tag!).
Get two pairs of leggings for $24 at Fabletics
4. The yoga mat with a cult following
You can't go wrong with Lululemon.
I'm a yoga teacher so I may be a little biased, but yoga is a great workout for your body and your brain. The next time you want to drop into downward dog, we recommend you roll out this number one yoga mat first. Made by everyone's favorite yoga brand (Lululemon, of course), it has a comfortable amount of cushioning along with a non-slip grip so you can flow without falling. Psst: I use mine every day!
Get the Reversible Mat from Lululemon for $68
5. The best Instant Pot to make healthy cooking easier
Let this gadget cook for you.
You're tired, cold, and hungry—and definitely not in the mood to spend hours in your kitchen cooking a healthy dinner. Thanks to the Instant Pot, you don't have to. The cult-favorite pressure cooker can have a meal that usually takes an hour on the table in just 20 minutes. Of all the Instant Pots we tested, we like the Ultra the best because it has 10 different cook settings (from steaming to slow cooking) and a display that shows the progress of your food.
Get the Instant Pot Ultra from Amazon for $108.82
6. This weighted blanket to get a better night's sleep
Choose 15, 20, or 25 pounds for the Gravity Blanket.
It's no secret that getting enough sleep is super important to your health. But sometimes that's easier said than done, especially if you're someone who struggles to fall—or stay—asleep. A weighted blanket can help with that. We recommend the Gravity blanket because it provides just the right amount of pressure (not too heavy, not too light) and is super luxurious to the touch thanks to its velvety cover.
Get the Gravity Blanket from Gravity for $249
7. These dumbbells so you can work out at home
The weights come with an easy-to-assemble stand, too.
Sorry friends—being snowed in is no longer an excuse not to work out. Now you can do your usual weight training routine at home with this affordable dumbbell set. It's one of the most popular ones on Amazon because it comes with three different weight options and has a neoprene coating that's both comfortable and easy to grip.
Get the AmazonBasics Neoprene Dumbbells 20-Pound Set for $28.49
8. This service that delivers fresh meals right to your door
Choose from dishes like a harvest grain bowl or honey salmon with veggies.
You had every intention of cooking healthy homemade dinners every night this week—until work started piling up, you felt too tired thanks to the cold weather, and Chinese takeout was just so tempting. That's where a meal kit delivery service like Home Chef comes in. Each box contains easy-to-follow recipes and high-quality ingredients so you can whip up delicious dishes without ever stepping foot in the grocery store.
Get Home Chef starting at $6.99
9. This drugstore product to protect your skin
Add this to your medicine cabinet ASAP.
Take it from our resident beauty guru—all you need this winter for healthy skin and hair is a tube of $13 Aquaphor. She's been using it for years and calls it her "savior." The gel does everything, like healing (and preventing) chapped lips, taming flyaway hair, and moisturizing dry skin. Bonus: It can also protect minor cuts and, if you have a little one, soothe diaper rash.
Get Aquaphor Healing Ointment from Amazon for $13.19
10. This genius salad bowl
Sad salads will be a thing of the past.
Let's be honest—eating healthy would be a lot easier if salads didn't cost $15 at your local cafe. To make the same restaurant-worthy salads at home, however, you can use this convenient bowl. It's highly-rated on Amazon because it has guides for your knife so you can chop up your salad in seconds and can even be used to rinse your greens beforehand.
Get the WEBSUN Salad Cutter Bowl for $8.99
11. This top-rated smartwatch
This watch does way more than just tell time.
Need a reminder to stand up from your desk every hour? Or an activity tracker to see how many calories you burned during last night’s spin class? Or simply a way to play your music while you’re at the gym? The Apple Series 4 can do all of that and more. It’s our favorite smartwatch because of all its features along with its ease of use (it connects to your other devices effortlessly) and its toughness (it's water-resistant and durable).
Get the Apple Watch Series 4 from Amazon for $299
12. This essential oil diffuser to destress
It locks closed so you can carry it from room to room.
Winter brings the holidays. And the holidays bring joy—along with a lot of stress, between last-minute shopping, work deadlines, and out-of-town guests. Sounds like you could use an essential oil diffuser (filled with soothing scents like lavender, of course!). We like this InnoGear one because it has such a large capacity that it can run for up to 11 hours straight.
Get the InnoGear Upgraded 150ml Diffuser from Amazon for $15.99
13. This gadget to keep your muscles loose
Ahh, much better.
Whether you're stiff from the cold weather or sore from yesterday's workout, there's finally a product that you can use to get rid of any aches and pains. This muscle roller stick has gotten high marks for effectively relieving soreness and for being easy to use on yourself. You just roll it over any sensitive areas that need a little extra love.
Get the IDSON Muscle Roller Stick for $9.99
14. These containers to help you meal prep
Lunch, solved.
Ordering lunch out every day may be convenient, but it isn't always the healthiest option (looking at you, Shake Shack!). Meal prepping is a better option and it's a lot easier if you have these glass containers. Our kitchen and cooking writer loves that they're glass (no harmful chemicals here!), stackable, and durable so you can tote them to the office and back.
Get the Prep Naturals Glass Meal Prep Containers for $28.99
15. This workout bar with over 5,000 reviews
There are three grips so you can switch up your workout.
Finding motivation to go to the gym is hard enough. It's even harder when it's negative 15 degrees outside. Fortunately, with this workout bar, you'll never have to leave your house. According to reviewers, it's sturdy, simple to install, and incredibly versatile—you can use it in a doorway for pull-ups or on the floor for dips.
Get the Iron Gym Upper Body Workout Bar from Amazon for $29.99
16. This kit to make your own kombucha
You'll be a brewmaster in no time.
Confession: I am a kombucha addict. And while my fermented tea-sipping habit is expensive, it's also good for my gut, as kombucha contains probiotics and antioxidants that can help your digestion. If you're as obsessed as I am—and want to stop spending $4 a bottle—make your own with this kit. It's received positive reviews for having everything you need in one convenient package along with detailed instructions that beginners can easily follow.
Get the Kombucha Shop Brewing Kit from Amazon for $44.99
17. This expert-approved humidifier
Dry air begone!
That dry winter air isn’t just harsh on your skin—it can also contain harmful bacteria, according to studies that have found that viruses like the flu thrive in dry conditions. To help reduce your risk of getting sick, consider getting a humidifier for your home. This one from Vicks is the most efficient humidifier we tested with a capacity that lets it run all night long.
Get the Vicks 24 Hour Humidifier from Amazon for $35.99
18. This budget-friendly standing desk for your office
Standing is the new sitting.
You know that standing desks are a better alternative than sitting for hours on end—but to be honest, most of them are incredibly expensive. That's why we tested some of the most affordable standing desks and found this VariDesk to be the best. At less than $400 (compared to the $1,000+ most desks cost), you can easily raise and lower it so you can alternate between sitting and standing and the transition is super smooth.
Get the VariDesk Pro Plus from Amazon for $395
19. This essential for drinking more water
Never drink warm water again.
Staying hydrated is key to staying healthy. If you're looking to up your water intake this winter, look no further than the wildly popular Hydro Flask. It's our experts' top water bottle because when we tested it, it kept our water ice cold for almost two days (!!). It also doesn't alter the flavor of your water (unlike some stainless steel bottles) and you can easily customize your Hydro Flask by swapping out one of their many different lid styles.
Get the Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle from Amazon for $29.95
20. This therapeutic lamp to use on dark winter days
Bring the sun indoors.
When you only see the sun for an hour each day, it can be tricky not to feel a little more bummed out than usual. Enter this lamp, which is often used by people with seasonal depression. It has over 1,500 5-star reviews because it mimics natural sunshine (perfect for boosting your mood and energy) and is compact and lightweight, so you can carry it around with you.
Get the Verilux Portable Light Therapy Lamp from Amazon for $34.95
21. This must-have to tone your abs
Oh hey six pack.
No gym, no problem. You can still get a killer ab workout at home with this gadget, which has over 4,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. People rave that the ab roller uses resistance to works your entire core and has ergonomic, cushioned handles that are comfortable to hold while you exercise. It also comes with knee pads so your knees don't get sore.
Get the Perfect Fitness Ab Carver Pro Roller from Amazon for $29
22. This planner that tracks your meals and workouts
Schedule all your workouts for the week.
Consider this like your favorite planner but for your fitness goals. With space to record your daily exercise, meal plan, progress, and even daily gratitude, customers rave that it helps them stay on track and helps them stay motivated. Bonus: It's lightweight so you can carry it around with you during the day.
Get the Life & Apples Wellness Planner from Amazon for $24.97
23. These wipes that will kill germs
A wipe a day keeps the viruses away.
Tis the season for coughs, sneezes, and sniffles. While there's no fail-safe way to prevent a cold (or worse, the flu), these hand-sanitizing wipes can help. Reviewers say they smell fresh, are soft on their skin, and are the ideal size for tossing in your bag. Bonus: They don't contain any harsh chemicals.
Get the Purelll Hand Sanitizing Wipes (6-Pack) from Amazon for $11.15