Embrace the season with these 6 healthy habits for fall! From nutritious recipes to outdoor activities, these ideas will help you stay well during the autumn months.
Hello October, my most favorite month of all! With anniversaries and birthdays, October is always full of fun celebrations in our household. (It seems like half our family was born in October – Birch and me, both of my nieces, and our siblings!)
Four fall birthdays!
October is also the start of the fourth and final quarter of the year, and the beginning of the holiday season. It’s often a time when our wellness habits and intentions are overlooked and put on the backburner, and it’s notorious for being the season of delicious things – from Halloween candy (or birthday cake for us) to Thanksgiving charcuterie boards, Christmas cookies, and New Year’s Eve champagne toasts.
Fall is my favorite season for many reasons.
More than New Year’s, and more than spring cleaning, the autumn season is my time to restart, reenergize, and recommit to my healthiest routines.
I’m sure this feeling traces back to the back-to-school feelings I experienced as a child. I like getting back into a routine.
And bringing in some healthy habits for fall revs me up for the long, dark months ahead. I think it’s the ideal time to adopt healthy habits that will keep you feeling energized and well throughout the season. As we transition from the lazy days of summer to the busier routines of fall, incorporating these six healthy habits into your lifestyle can help you make the most of this beautiful season.
6 Healthy Habits For Fall
Here are six ways I am revitalizing my fall routine:
Setting a morning alarm
Over the summer, I tend to let myself sleep in more. The pace of life is slower, school is out, and there are more vacations to reset my body clock. But with a school bus and drop off times to meet come fall, we have to be on a tighter schedule. Both boys need to be up before 7. Those mornings are quite hectic to get us to school on time.
In an effort to get myself organized before the boys are up, I’m putting myself on a schedule: early bedtime at 9:30 (usually reading), alarm at 6:26 a.m. I used to spend some time doing my morning routine on my computer, then getting ready for the day with my skincare routine, and sipping coffee along the way, but with both boys gone by 8am, I’m throwing on a robe and helping them get out the door with Thomas and then doing my morning routine after he’s gone.
Drinking healthier
The past few years, I really made it a focus to keep alcohol for weekends and special occasions only. Luckily, I have found a lot of really great NA (non-alcoholic) drinks that are just as enjoyable (I have an entire blog post about the best NA beer and wine). I always tend to drink a little more over the summer, and this is my reminder that pumpkin beer and red wine don’t lead to great sleep. SIX by Green Compass has been a great alternative to alcohol along with their Unwind gummies for when you want to relax but not consume alcohol.
Happy hour = happy body
Switching my skincare for drier air.
When we go from cold weather to hot, humid weather in the summer, I have to make adjustments. And the same thing goes for entering the cooler months of fall and winter, making adjustments for the colder, dryer weather! If you’re like me, and your beauty routine needs a little something different when the seasons start to change, here are some tips for fall skin changes.
What happens to my skin and makeup:
- More dryness
- More dullness
- Foundation settles in creases
- Skin feels tight by the afternoon
What I’m Adding:
- Adding in a face oil like this delicious Neroli scented one
- Masking 1x a week with this Honey Enzyme Mask
- Making sure I use a body serum so my arms and legs stay hydrated
- This immune support supplement
All the fall smells
If you love a pumpkin spice candle, consider the brand you’re buying before you light it up. A lot of candles are filled with artificial fragrance that might end up giving you a headache. Grow Fragrance candles are plant-based with a transparent ingredient list so you know what you’re burning or spraying is non-toxic.
They’re also made as aluminum inserts that you can recycle and drop a new one into the ceramic holder. The perfect hostess gift for the holiday season ahead! These are so perfect for hostess gifts for the holiday season ahead.
Bringing back the prep day.
So much of my summer is spent winging meals and traveling. Back-to-school season leads to more family meals, and I’m trying to use my school time wisely to getting dinner mostly cooked before picking Birch up. While we love using meal kits for dinners, breakfasts, lunches, and snacks could all use some TLC. I’m also trying to make a few things on the weekend – think granola, energy bars, muffins, or baked oatmeal.
Prepping for my lunches always goes a long way, too. With colder weather comes cravings for roasted vegetables, so I hope to do a big pan of them (including sweet potato fries for the boys). Having roasted vegetables on hand helps to quickly assemble lunches and low-cook dinners.
Get fresh, crisp air for 30 minutes every day.
Ironically, in the summer I don’t walk as much because it’s so darn hot and humid out there! I don’t want to arrive with stinky, wet clothes. During the perfect 70 degree temperature days with twinkling sunshine popping through the leaves this perfect time of year, there is absolutely no excuse not to walk instead of drive, play outside in the yard, and spend more time outside. Plus winter is coming, so appreciate it before it’s gone!
Extra Habit: Wear “real” clothes!
Now that I have a beautiful new and extremely organized closet, I’m inspired to wear “real clothes” at least a couple of times per week. Don’t get me wrong, I do not feel guilty about wearing athleisure most days, but I always feel so great when I put on a cute sweater and do my makeup.
Here are a few perfect fall pieces to get excited for cooler weather season:
- This shirt in lots of patterns
- These leather booties
- Earth tone jeans
- Thanksgiving dress
- Cozy pajama set
- Carve designs sweaters
- Reversible jacket
What healthy habits for fall are you adding or subtracting this month?
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Amanda says
It’s awesome that you brought up the *back to school* feelings that can be so refreshing and energizing. I’ve always been one that New Years and Spring are definitely not my *new years/fresh starts*, it’s always been the fall where I get my burst of energy and feel most alive. The crisp air brings out a new side to me. I’m an elementary teacher so along with at home momentum, it concides in the classroom/at work, too. I’ve been sticking with a 4am walking routine that I started in May and it helps give shape to my whole day ahead. While I wish it wasn’t so early, with a 2 year old and 5 year old and school schedule, carving out and finding the time is a challenge, so 4am it is.
I like that you mentioned meal prep! It’s a great reminder for myself to get into that habit again too!
Kath Younger says
I’m so impressed you’re getting a workout in at 4am! That’s dedication. Glad you have found something that sets a great tone for the day!
Yogurt86 says
I like fall too, and I really like your advice. Taking care of ourselves makes us feel better, so sitting in the evening with scented candles, or putting on nice clothes is a great and simple way to improve your mood.