Feeling drained? It's time to check out your wellbeing

Manage stress and sleep well to help to combat illnesses

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Starting to feel increasingly mentally and physically drained as the days grow shorter? You aren't alone.

The colder weather and looming darkness at this time of year can take a big toll on our overall health, but instead of succumbing to gloom, have you considered conducting an autumn health MOT on yourself?

"This time of year is a perfect storm for illnesses because we've got reduced sunlight that leads to lower vitamin D levels, which is essential for immune function," explains Dr Elise Dallas, GP at the London General Practice.

"Also, the environment gets colder and the air gets drier, so mucous membranes in the nose and the throat, which are the body's first defence system, get less good at fighting the airborne viruses."

Many people also tend to fall ill this time of year due to increased exposure to new people and environments.

"A lot of us are going back to schools and offices and are getting public transport, so we're a lot closer [in proximity to each other], which enables viral transmission," says Dallas.

If you are keen to evade all the nasty germs and thrive for the rest of the year, here are eight easy expert-backed ways to conduct an autumn health MOT to reset your body and boost your health for the chillier months ahead:

1. Book routine health checks