Ease into a healthy fall with these five strategies…
By Karen Kwan
For many of us, summertime equals rest, relaxation and fun, which means you may have let some healthy habits slide over the past few months…but with autumn here, it’s time to get back into a good routine. After all, there’s nothing like the fresh fall season to kickstart a new plan. The good news is, there are many simple ways you can shift back into a healthy fall routine that’ll bring some structure and peace to your life.
1. Include regular physical activity in your daily routine
The summer weather may have made it too tempting to enjoy some R&R in the sunshine rather than get your workouts done. To get back into being active regularly, sign up for a new session of fitness classes (or with a private personal trainer) so that not only do you make a financial commitment towards your health – which should help motivate you to make it to your workouts – but you’ll also have a standing appointment set in your calendar to work on your fitness. You can also plan for regular workouts with a friend; the buddy system can be very successful in ensuring you get your sweat session done. Also, consider ways you can include light activity in your day to day – maybe walking as you take a work call, or biking or running for your commute into the office now that you’re on a hybrid schedule.
2. Set up your kitchen with healthy foods
It’s easier to stick to a wholesome, balanced diet when you’ve stocked your kitchen with healthy ingredients. Prep cut-up fruit and veggies at the start of the week so they are ready for snacks or to use in salads or meals. Having some canned and frozen staples, such as canned tuna and frozen fruit, also make it simple to make a quick sandwich or smoothie rather than hitting up a fast-food drive-through or ordering food delivery. Also, with the fall season comes all of the delicious fall produce; use this as inspiration for cooking up meals for the season – look for dishes that use apples, squash, beets and pumpkin, for example.
3. Cut back on your alcohol consumption
If your summer was filled with margaritas and Aperol spritzes, use this new season to cut back on your alcohol consumption. Replace some of your beverages with the non-alcoholic options available on the market – this way, you get that similar taste but without the alcohol. Also, if your soft-drink habit grew over the summer, it’s time to skip stocking up on these sugary drinks and instead fill your fridge with carbonated water – flavour it yourself with fruit, or stock up on the zero-sugar flavoured options.
4. Get organized at home
We tend to think of decluttering and cleaning as a task for the spring season, but fall is also a fantastic time to have a reset at home; having a neat, clutter-free space will bring you a sense of calmness. Swap out your summer wardrobe in your closets for your fall clothing and use this as an opportunity to declutter items you haven’t worn. Do the same with your pantry, cupboards and medicine cabinet – ditch housewares and food items you know you will never use, including any expired items.
5. Change up your skincare regimen
Fall means cooler temperatures and drier air, so you will need products that are more hydrating – look for ones containing hyaluronic acid and ceramides and products with a heavier, more moisturizing consistency. Lips may be drier this season, too, so be sure to get a supply of a hydrating lip balm and use it daily to prevent dry, cracked lips. (Of course, just because it’s fall doesn’t mean you can ditch the sunscreen. You need to wear SPF in every season to protect your skin from UV rays.)
KAREN KWAN is a freelance health, travel and lifestyle writer based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter @healthswellness and on Instagram @healthandswellness.
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