Hi everyone! Today we’re going to talk about physical and mental health, something that is always important to me, but especially important right now with the current state of the world. I typically like to break down my top 10 favorite health tips per season, so with fall arriving soon I thought now would be the perfect time to do just that. With fall comes new beginnings, so what better time to take extra care of ourselves, switch up our routines for more self-care and enjoy the little things as much as possible. I find that things tend to feel a bit more fresh at this time of year, so accelerating that feeling by taking care of your well-being is a great way to set yourself up to enjoy the upcoming autumnal season. Let’s get into it!
1. Eat Whole Seasonal Foods:
I include this tip in every single one of my posts about health. It’s quite fascinating how the food the earth grows provides specific nutrients your body needs per season. This is so important every season but especially during autumn, the season of harvest! After the summer season, our bodies are in repair mode. We also need extra gut care and immune boosting to keep our bodies healthy for the months ahead. Some foods that aid us in this process include:
1. Apples that help cool our bodies down, detoxify, and promote good gut bacteria among other things.
2. Acorn squash that are rich in vitamin C for immune boosting, vitamin B for DNA repair and iron and minerals that are important for our skin and hair.
3. Butternut squash that reduces UV sensitivity and is overall good for the digestive tract.
4. Cranberries that are antioxidant rich, good for digestion and cell protection.
5. Figs that have high alkaline levels to keep your pH healthy, make digestion easier, and have vitamins A and K, good for overall wellness.
These are just some examples of the bountiful seasonal foods at our hands! I encourage you all to research the whole foods in season for autumn and the benefits they have that our bodies naturally need at this time of year! Incorporating whole foods will not only leave you looking healthy and glowing, but is also one of the best things you can do to keep your immunity strong and overall keep your body functioning in a healthful manner. In autumn, many in season foods are also root veggies which can actually help us feel more grounded and in-touch with nature. Whole foods also specifically support gut function, which in turn supports brain function. They are very helpful for mental health. This is especially important in fall and this year specifically, when not only is there an upcoming flu season, but the threat of corona virus is also still apparent. Stay safe and healthy and use whole foods to contribute to overall wellness!
I attribute a lot of what I’ve learned to this book, I would recommend it to just about every one.
2. Stay Hydrated to Support Energy Levels:
You knew it was coming. Just as healthy foods are important at all times of year, so it staying hydrated. This is not only for basic health but also for good energy levels! Autumn is a beautiful, warm and cozy time of year, but it can be easy to feel a little lethargic at times when the days become shorter and the weather gets colder. Staying hydrated can help keep our energy levels high and keep our bodies functioning in a healthy manner. Stay hydrated with water and warm teas! My favorites are chamomile (relaxing), ginger (immune boosting), and at this time of year, vanilla spice (delicious and antioxidant rich). Adding lemon to both will add something extra for immune boosting as well. You got this.
3. Incorporate Daily Self-Care Practices:
There can be a lot of fun opportunities occurring in the autumn season, and there can also be stress that occurs when we resume a full schedule. That’s why it is so important to put your mind and body first always! The start of a new season is the perfect time to slow down, evaluate how daily routines can benefit your health, and schedule in more me-time. Me-time at this time of year can look like decorating for fall, cozying up and watching your favorite movie, getting grounded with autumn’s harvest and scenery, adding steps to your routine that put you in a relaxing mindset, creating fall spa nights, meditation and more. Be sure to do at least one thing for yourself and your mental and physical health every single day. Here’s a video I love on a fall spa night:
4. Basic Home Care:
There are a few things I do around the home all year to ensure the household stays healthy, but I try to be extra vigilant about it at this time of year. The first very important thing is to keep three separate towels in your bathroom: one for your hands, one for your face, and one for your body. I’m not sure if this seems excessive or like common sense, but think about it, we don’t want to rub our face with a towel that our hands have touched several times, especially in fall and winter and specifically this year. Similarly, I try extra hard to not lay in bed when I get home from my day out until I have showered or at the least changed my clothes. These two little steps just help keep germs away when we need to stay extra healthy. Lastly, while I do my weekly cleaning and laundry, I just like to clear away clutter whenever I get a chance. This helps me feel more calm so I can actually enjoy at home fall activities like baking, cooking, DIYs and movie nights.
Another PSA so we don’t forget: wash your hands often and ALWAYS before eating no matter what, take daily vitamins and vitamin C, and refrain from touching your face.
5. Plan, Plan, Plan:
As previously mentioned, most of us resume full schedules at this time of year. In order to enjoy the season to its full benefit and not get too stressed out, I recommend finding a planner that works most logically for you and makes you feel organized and happy. Planning out all events and work or homework helps us know what to expect all week so we can mentally and physically prepare for it. This way, we know exactly what we are doing and when, instead of realizing you have XY and Z all to do at once and getting overwhelmed. Using a planner also helps with knowing when you’re available as well as planning activities and food lists for holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving! Chaos? We don’t know her!
6. Fix your Sleep Schedule:
If you’re anything like me, you may have gotten carried away allowing yourself to stay up later than usual in the summer months, regardless of whether or not you were able to sleep-in the next day. Getting good sleep is absolutely imperative to your body’s overall well being. While we sleep our bodies naturally repair overnight. This helps us continue to look and feel our best. In order to allow that to happen, we should really strive for 8 hours a night (yep, you heard that right), and to limit snacks and technology before bed, this way your body’s only job before bed is to restore itself while you sleep, instead of adding other tasks like more digestion or not being able to hit REM. I personally need to wake up early for work, so in order to fix my sleep schedule I am slowly going to start going to bed earlier and earlier until I naturally get tired at my desired time!
7. Make time for Fall Activities and Feel Gratitude:
Make this season all about slow living as much as you can. There is so much beauty in autumn. Take a moment to notice. What is different visually? How do you feel different emotionally? What special activities or traditions do you have every year that you can look forward to? When you’re doing them, take it all in and notice all the little aspects of them. It is the season of thanksgiving for a reason. Feeling gratitude every day will set you up for success in all aspects of life, but especially with appreciating autumn’s gifts and making the most of this season. Things look a little different this year because of the pandemic, but there are still things I am very much looking forward to, such as carving a pumpkin and watching It’s the Great Big Pumpkin Charlie Brown, spending time in nature and enjoying/learning from the energy shift that comes with the season. One quote I really love is “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall”-F.Scott Fitzgerald. I’m looking forward to enjoying this season as well has making positive shifts in my life, and I hope you all are too!
8. Get Outdoors:
Take trips where air is plentiful and scenery is beautiful. If you are lucky and you live somewhere where the seasons change, this could just be a reflective walk in your neighborhood or at your favorite park. Here where I live in Arizona, I may have to take a day trip to see some fall leaves, but I’m okay with it and I plan on doing just that! As the weather cools down I also enjoy taking walks outside wherever I am. It’s really easy to find little things to appreciate when you take the time to really look, wherever you are. Enjoy the weather before it gets too cold and get outdoors!
9. Use any Fall Inspiration to Get Creative:
When you feel the urge, go! I’ve mentioned a few times in this post that I truly feel like there is a positive energy shift with the beginning of autumn. I feel more grounded, calm, and creative. I like to take advantage of that whenever I get the chance. If I get a creative idea and have a good feeling about it, I act on it! We naturally think more creatively at this time between change in scenery and the upcoming holidays. We also naturally tend to put these ideas off. This year, make it a point to act as soon as you can on the great ideas you have! They are likely a blessing the universe is handing to you in the form of an idea that will greatly benefit others, or even yourself. Embrace your productive and creative self this season. For me, baking is a favorite creative outlet in the fall.
10. Make Time to Relax and Unplug:
I think it’s important to incorporate self-care in some form every day, but I also think it’s important to schedule in specific days where you don’t do much at all, and allow time for reflection and mindfulness. Especially in times right now where we are facing a pandemic and social unrest, taking days to recharge is not only okay, but very important. You can make it the ultimate self-care day or you can do nothing at all. Whatever recharges your batteries and lifts your spirit will do. Here’s some ideas I love:
That wraps up my 10 autumn self-care tips. Hope you all have a wonderful, safe and healthy fall! Sending everyone so much love. How do you plan to take extra care of yourself this season?
p.s. these are just tips I’ve learned over time that have really helped me. Always consult a health professional about any of this if you see fit!
With Love,
Jenna