When autumn arrives, some of us experience a dip in mood, perhaps what feels like ‘autumnal blues’, as we attempt to regain a routine – the kids are back at school, there’s more traffic on the roads, more emails as everyone is back at work, the days feel shorter and we’ve got the oncoming days of cold, flu and yet another strain of Covid to worry about!


 
If you’ve enjoyed the long days and bouts of sunshine and you’re worried about what the change in season will bring, here are some tips for adjusting into autumn:
 
Get Outside
It may be a bit wet at times, but autumn is a beautiful time of year. Get those wellies on, go outside and savour it! Experience the crunching of the leaves beneath your feet, notice the trees and their changing colours. Practice being conscious of the ‘here and now’ by listening – what sounds can you hear? Looking – what colours can you see? Smelling – what aromas are in the air?

Plant Spring Bulbs
By getting some daffodils and tulips bulbs in the ground in autumn, you can enjoy them in spring – and reap the benefits of spending a bit of time now, for a beautiful display in a few months. If you haven’t got a garden – could you put some bulbs in tubs outside your front door or on your balcony? What about planting up some indoor hyacinths?

Soak up the Light
Spend more time outdoors to make the most of what sunlight there is, that might mean going to bed slightly earlier and getting up earlier, to take in the morning sunshine.

The September and October sun can still be strong and particularly bright, so be sure to top up your vitamin D levels when you can. Go walking at different times of day in the autumn to soak up what the season has to offer and be sure to catch the many vivid sunsets and beautiful skylines.

Exercise every day
Autumn’s a great time for enjoying the outdoors, so make the most of it by taking long walks or cycle rides. Ok – we know not every day’s going to be nice and dry and there will be days when you don’t feel like going out, maybe some stretches and an online workout? There’s loads of great stuff online – and you can make sure it’s tailored to your level of fitness.

Change your diet
Autumn is a great time to make your favourite seasonal soups and warm meals. You can supercharge a humble bowl of soup with plenty of veg and pulses. As well as adding flavour and texture, your clever additions will add nutrients that will help support your immunity and boost general wellbeing.

 

Start something new
Because autumn is a time of fresh starts – a new school term, a new season – why not think of it as a time to declutter, tidy the house, garden, and reorganise. This new venture doesn’t have to be a huge, onerous undertaking… why not try a new recipe every week, or grow some herbs on a sunny window sill?

And if you’re looking for something more, learning something new can be extremely fulfilling and there are many evening classes starting up online this autumn, including our beginners Pilates! Or is there a local book club that you’ve been meaning to try out? Maybe online is a good place to start for you?

Reframe your outlook
If you’re inclined to think about autumn as a time when you’ll be stuck indoors because it’s wet and increasingly cold, or maybe you’re still having to isolate, try to think of being inside as snuggly and warm. One way to do this is to tweak the environment in your home. This doesn’t mean spending a fortune on new furnishings, but how about getting a  comfortable, warm, throw (or Yak blanket) on the sofa and teaming it up with cushions in autumnal oranges, browns and greens?

 

Autumn Fitness

Don’t worry if your summer fitness plans didn’t work out. Autumn is actually a great time to start a new fitness routine and introduce healthy habits that stick. Christmas is far enough away and so autumn gives you a few months’ head start for making healthy choices, and committing do doing them regularly until they turn into habits just in time for the winter months.

1. Introduce a new routine
Temperatures from the summer will be dropping off so take advantage of the cooler days and try outdoor workouts; the air is crisp, leaves are crunching under your feet and the scenery is stunning.

2. Join a class 
Try something different and take an unusual, fun class that requires you to move and be physically active. Fitness doesn’t always have to mean serious workouts at the gym. Autumn is a great time to join a class as many will start in conjunction with the kids going back to school.

3. Keep motivated with the help of technology 
Take advantage of the latest fitness gadgets to assist you in staying on top of your fitness game. Of course it will always come down to your own will power but technology can really help you to stay motivated when you start to waver. Using pedometers, heart rate monitors, or mobile apps are a great way to increase the odds for success when colder mornings make the bed hard to leave!

4. Avoid catching colds
Sometimes it’s just unavoidable but there are lots of good ways to try and prevent catching colds during autumn. Coming down with something will likely distract you from your healthy eating and workout routines and by the time you’ve recovered, your healthy habits might have been all but lost. Be prepared by always dressing appropriately. Have a light jacket ready for sudden cooler change in temperature or when the wind gets up.


 

Enjoy the process of making and experimenting and challenge yourself to try something new. Embrace the autumnal season of change!

 
References: https://www.sheffieldmind.co.uk/getting-ready-for-autumn-2 & https://www.mollymaid.co.uk/2015/09/23/blog-fit-and-healthy-autumn/