Can you feel the crispness in the air? Fall is finally here! As much as we’ll miss the warm days of summer, who doesn’t love the wonders of autumn? It’s time to unpack your cozy sweaters and break out your favorite soup recipes for cozy evenings spent at home.
The cooler temperatures and shorter days make fall a great time for renewal and fresh starts, but preparing for the changing weather also means stepping-up your wellness routine. It’s no secret that our mental and physical health is affected when temperatures decrease, but with a little preparation, you’ll be ready to take it on and enjoy a new spate of seasonal activities.
Follow these tips to stay healthy and happy this fall -- and make it your best one yet!
1. Give Your Immune System a Boost.
As cold and flu season starts it's important to get back into the habit of washing your hands often. But there are a number of other ways you can boost your immunity and feel your best.
Getting enough zzz’s is crucial to a healthy immune system, so try to go to bed at the same time every night. Too much stress can also play a role in catching viruses, so don’t give up on your exercise routine when the summer ends. Plus, it only takes a few minutes of exercise to reap the mood-enhancing benefits of a workout!
2. Enjoy Seasonal Food
It’s easy to eat healthier in the summer with the bounty of in-season fresh fruits and vegetables that are available. Fight the urge to reach for more unhealthy treats by including fall’s go-to foods like pumpkins, apples, and delicious root vegetables. Take advantage of the season’s dark, rich colors, like kale, eggplant, and pomegranate, and beets!
3. Moisturize Your Skin
Cold temperatures can be harsh on your skin. Just like transitioning to your winter wardrobe, your skin care regimen might need a change too. Consider switching to heavier moisturizers or moisturizing oils to beat dryness, or try a CBD infused skin salve. And when the temperature drops, don’t think you can put away the sunscreen. Even on dark days, it’s important to protect your skin from the sun rays.
4. Take Some Time to Yourself
Autumn and winter are the Earth’s way of telling us to slow down. The colder months have always been a time for humans to draw inward and experience a time of quiet reflection. Meditation, reading, or engaging in a creative activity are great ways to facilitate going within.
5. Start Making Plans for Winter
Personal time is important for self-care, but it’s easy to overdo it when the days get shorter. We tend to hibernate in the winter months, so having plans in place to have fun, see friends and family, and stay busy will help us ward off wintertime blues and loneliness. It’s all about balance!
6. Consider Taking a Vitamin D Supplement
There is a reason they call it the sunshine vitamin! It’s easy to get your daily dose of vitamin D from sun exposure during the summer months. But when the days get shorter, it gets harder to get your fill of D.
While it’s always a good idea to try to get your nutrients by eating a healthy diet, it can be hard to get adequate amounts of vitamin D from food alone (especially if you are pregnant or vegan). Consider a daily vitamin D supplement if your shopping list doesn’t include things like fish, eggs, fortified cereals, and cheese.
7. Be Kind to Yourself
Don’t forget to be sweet to yourself this fall. Less sunshine and colder weather make it easy to fixate on the negative. Try to be mindful of any negative self-talk and work on building confidence and a positive self-image. Stay optimistic with daily affirmations, or by saying something nice to yourself every day this fall.