The days are getting shorter; the air is a little crisper; a cornucopia of colours blanket the grass and sidewalks from fallen leaves, cushioning your feet with a rhythmic sound of crunch and crackling as you tread along. While some of the trees have lost most, if not all their foliage, the colours, sounds and smell of autumn remain in plain sight. While we know what this portends, the big ‘W’ (I will refrain from saying it in hopes that this beautiful temperature will linger a bit longer), this is an auspicious time to enjoy the outdoors. Take a walk or hike, go for a run, even a bike ride, and appreciate the world around you, as all your senses come alive – with the colours, rustling leaves, crisp air on your skin, as well as the earthy smells and tastes of this season. It is truly a magnificent and therapeutic experience. Slow down and enjoy it.
Instead of mourning the end of summer and that feeling of melancholia that can set in. Let us find fun, creative ways to celebrate this transformative seasonal change and maintain physical, psychological, spiritual – holistic health in all seasons.
I admit, when it comes to healthy living, it is not easy to remain motivated during the colder, darker season. You wake up to go to work and it is dark outside, and dark again when you return home. However, not easy does not mean impossible. I thought I would share a few suggestions to get you started and motivated.
- Bundle up and get outside. Sunlight is good for you as it helps to produce serotonin, the ‘feel-good’ hormone, that regulates your mood, sleep, and appetite. It helps promote feelings of calm, happiness and focus. Less sunlight during the colder months can lead to lower levels of serotonin, thus lower mood.
- Exercise consistently. Both aerobics and strength training also increase serotonin levels. So, keep moving. On days you don’t feel like going outside, get physical indoors. YouTube has lots of fun exercises that you can follow at whatever level you are at. There are also fitness apps that you can use.
- Get social. Hang out with friends, go see a movie, have a game night in. Whatever healthy social activity you choose, have fun with it. Experts unanimously agree that being social is essential for overall health and wellbeing. Social connections and feeling of belonging “can help people live longer and healthier lives” (Harvard T.H. Chan, School of Public Health).
- Eat healthy seasonal foods. This includes apples, cranberries, squash, potatoes, carrots, beets, cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, spinach, lettuce and more, that thrive in cooler weather, some well into winter. Further, this weather is a prime time to cozy up with tantalizing, rich, flavourful, wholesome, soups, stews or casseroles, made with fresh seasonal ingredients – delightful.
- Now bring it all together, take some time to relax. Grab a blanket and your favourite book, a cup of dark chocolate hot cocoa with a hint of mint and cinnamon, or herbal tea; or put on a great movie, soothing music, whatever works best for you – and relax by the crackling fireplace (if you have one). Feel the stress melt away as you start dozing off. Ready to embrace the cooler weather? You can do it!
By: Marlene Roache, Owner and Founder of La Tropiqua – Healthy Living. For Life Ltd.
Empowering you to live a healthier lifestyle.
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