Self Care for a Healthy Autumn
Autumn is one of my FAVORITE times of year. Changing leaves, cooler temperatures, warm blankets, I love it all! That being said, as the days grow shorter, schedules get busier with upcoming holidays, Fall school activities and sports schedules, etc. begin to take precedence. As other priorities emerge, self care gets pushed further and further down the line of importance. Despite what we tell ourselves, self care doesn’t have to take a lot of time, money, or effort! Below are just a few basic self-care idea and tips to help make sure you do a little something for yourself every day!
Take a brisk walk. If you tend to be really active in summer months, the cooler fall temps might keep you indoors more. Adding a short 10-15 minute walk on your lunch break will get the blood pumping, send fresh oxygen throughout your body, and add a bit of exercise to your midday. This can also be a great time to enjoy the fall foliage and take in the scenery!
Stay hydrated. Believe it or not, feeling chilly can dehydrate you much like sweating on a hot day can, as your body works hard to stay warm. Track your water intake to be sure you get enough water.
Add a Vitamin D supplement. As the days become shorter, your work schedule may keep you indoors during daylight hours, preventing you from getting any exposure to the sun. If you absolutely cannot get outside for 15 minutes, try adding a Vitamin D supplement to ensure your body gets an adequate amount to use.
Journal. Often times, we get stuck in a thought pattern or process that we just can’t seem to work through. Journaling can help get your thoughts out on paper, where you can better reason your way through things and give yourself the opportunity to create clarity.
Unplug from social media and the news. This is a big one for me. With all the things we have going on in our lives, feeding our brain with more information about the world around us can quickly make us feel overwhelmed. Take a week and unplug from your social media and news outlets to reduce the amount of external stress you are exposed to.
These are just a few examples of how to add in a little time for yourself, without taking away from anything else. I encourage you to think differently about self care, and create routine ways to keep your mind, home, and heart lighter.
