When the seasons change, it always feels like a fresh start, especially when that season is Autumn. In the fall, people often take a look at the new habits they introduced earlier in the year and reassess, do more organizing and cleaning, and try to find a balance between work and rest.
This is the perfect time to introduce some healthy habits, both new and old, and set some new routines. Here are 20 healthy habits to consider for the fall season.
1 – Commit to Journaling Every Day
The first healthy habit you can implement in the fall is to write in a journal. Journaling provides so many benefits, that it is something everyone should be doing. For the fall specifically, it helps in a variety of ways.
First, journaling can help you figure out your goals and set intentions. You find clarity about your life and passions, and really figure out what you are interested in doing.
It can also help you identify areas of your life that need improving. Maybe you discover you have a passion for exercise, you want to cook more, or you have a desire to travel.
Lastly, journaling is a great way to de-stress. You can get all of those anxious thoughts out of your head and onto paper.
2 – Try Forest Bathing
Forest bathing is the practice of going outside into the forest and really taking in all the fresh air and energy. Use all your senses and be mindful of the experience. The important thing to understand is that it isn’t just walking mindlessly through a forest. You really need to explore the sights, stop and take it all in. Use all of your five senses and be mindful throughout the entire experience.
3 – Add in Gentle Movement
While you don’t need to have strenuous exercise if you don’t want to, getting in some gentle movement in the fall is a great idea. If you have not been exercising at all recently, start with something simple like walking. People often underestimate how good walking is for you! It is cardio, it gets your body moving, it helps to boost your stamina, and often gets you outside into the fresh air.
Some other gentle forms of movement that are great for the fall season include:
- Yoga
- Tai-Chi
- Dancing
- Cycling
- Hiking
4 – Improve Your Digestion
Working on your digestion during this time might be a good idea if you have been struggling with bloating, indigestion, or stomach issues recently. Maybe your diet wasn’t the best in the summer, or you have been eating foods that don’t agree with you. Traveling can also wreak havoc on your digestion as you often eat foods you are not familiar with.
To improve your digestion this fall, start by going back to the basics. Eat simple meals and snacks that are mild and you know agree with you. Foods that are familiar, like eggs, oatmeal, sandwiches, salads, and pasta.
It is also a good idea to eat a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Make sure you get in your healthy fats as well.
5 – Get Cozy with Hygge
Hygge is the popular Danish practice of creating a comforting and relaxing environment in your home. While many people think it is just about being cozy with candles and blankets, that is a very small part of it. What you are doing is making rest a priority in your life. Practicing self-care, taking it easy, getting more downtime, and crating an environment that makes you feel at peace is what you want to focus on.
6 – Slow Down
Take this opportunity to slow down and get more rest during the fall season. You were likely more active in the summer months, trying to balance work, home life, and vacations. It is time to take it easy now in your life. It can be difficult finding ways to actually rest in your life, but often if you pay more attention to how you spend your time, you find different parts of your day that could easily be adjusted.
Sometimes, this is as simple as meal prepping a bit more so you don’t cook dinner from scratch every night, or allowing other people to help you. Maybe it is time to set boundaries and not say yes to absolutely everything.
7 – Unplug More Often
Make a new habit of unplugging more often, not just while you are sleeping. Again, this is entirely up to you how you want to do it. It might mean an hour a day where you just read or write in your journal, without your phone being turned on. You might spend more days in the week without checking social media, or completely unplug without a phone, computer, or television at all.
An easy way to start is to not use your phone for the first hour after waking up, and the last hour before you go to sleep. Turn your phone off, and instead use a regular alarm clock so you don’t have to use your phone anymore. If you need your phone on for emergencies, then turn off all non-urgent notifications.
8 – Make Time for Rest
Fall is all about recharging! You can still work and get things done, but schedule in more rest. Back off a little on the intense productivity and take a break from achieving your goals. Don’t just neglect everything, but give yourself a break.
Maybe you can take a little power nap each afternoon, or let go of one of your weekly obligations to use that time for rest. Take it easy during the weekends instead of trying to fill up all your time and staying busy.
9 – Use Fall Produce
For a healthy diet, the best way to start is to introduce more local, fresh produce. Visit a local farmer’s market or get produce from a natural food store. The more local it is, the fresher your produce will be. However, even if you can’t get the organic produce, still try to add more fruits and vegetables to your meals.
Some great produce in the fall includes:
- Pomegranates
- Kale
- Butternut squash
- Sweet potato
- Cranberries
- Brussels sprouts
- Pears
- Apples
10 – Involve the Kids in Your Routines
If you have kids at home, get them involved in your new healthy habits! This is not just good motivation for you to keep up with them, but helps them improve their health as well. Some routines and habits that are great for kids include:
- Planning and preparing healthy meals
- Going for evening walks
- Getting outside during the weekend
- Planning activities without technology
- Reading more
- Self-care routines
- Creative activities
11 – Boost Your Immunity
Fall is unfortunately the beginning of cold and flu season, but you can combat this by boosting your immunity. In addition to getting the flu shot, there are some natural remedies that can help you boost your immune system. The great thing about them is that they can all be added to your diet, so it is really easy to enjoy them each and every day.
To boost your immunity, add the following foods to your diet:
- Green tea
- Citrus like lemon and grapefruit
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Vegetables with vitamin C, like kale and broccoli
12 – Simplify Your Daily Routines
Take your daily routines and make small tweaks in order to simplify them. You don’t need to completely transform your entire life, but just minor adjustments so they don’t feel as overwhelming. While this might differ for each person, here are a few tips for simplifying your daily routines:
Reduce the Activities You Do
Don’t try to get through 10-15 activities in one simple morning or nighttime routine. It is probably much longer and more complex than it needs to be. Choose about 2-5 things to complete during these daily routines and that’s it.
Give Yourself a Specific Amount of Time
In addition to the number of activities in your routine, you can also set a time limit. This helps to simplify it and only complete what is the biggest priority to you.
Only Do What Serves You
The reason this is important is because we often hear about other people’s daily routines and assume we should add them to our own. But if you don’t like journaling or you aren’t a big fan of green smoothies, these definitely should not be added to your routine.
13 – Read More
Find opportunities to read a little more from books or an electronic device, instead of listening to audio books. The reason reading instead of listening is important is because you might absorb the information differently. Seeing words on paper or a screen often hits differently, and you are far less distracted. It is still great to listen to audio books, but not exclusively.
A great tip for the fall season is to read books in a different genre than you are used to. Maybe you typically read fiction, so you decide to give autobiographies a try, or you start reading historical fiction instead of self-help books.
14 – Socialize with Your Friends
Get out there and socialize! If you haven’t been in touch with people recently, now is a good time to make plans to meet up. It is really important to your mental health to be social with people who you are closely connected with. Avoid the toxic people and only spend time with people who light you up and make you feel positive and joyful.
15 – Do Something Creative
You likely have some creative endeavors that you enjoy, but haven’t made time for recently. Now is the perfect time to give these a try. Get out your adult coloring books and color while listening to soft music, or try painting if you haven’t done it in a while. Creative writing or making something with your hands are also great ideas.
16 – Improve Your Work-Life Balance
One of the biggest struggles with being a responsible adult is trying to focus on work while also making time for your family, friends, and yourself. Fall is a good time to remind yourself there can be a balance between work and life.
If you have been going hard at work recently, find some ways to reduce your hours and workload. IF you own your own business, it might mean delegating some tasks to other people that really shouldn’t be your priority. You might use this opportunity to reduce overtime hours at your job, or simply schedule in more time with friends.
17 – Practice Self-Care
It is essential that you get a good amount of self-care into your routine. If not every day, at least a few times a week. Self-care is about doing something for yourself, getting rest, and taking care of your body and soul. It can include pampering like massages and face masks, something creative like drawing or painting, getting more exercise, enjoying time with friends, or just reading a few chapters from your book.
18 – Rethink Your Goals
Take a look at the goals you made near the beginning of the year, and just reassess them. You may have some goals that are no longer relevant to your life, as you have shifted your priorities or simply aren’t interested in them anymore. Other goals you might have made some progress on, but want to focus on a little more.
19 – Adapt a New Skincare Routine
With the fall and winter season comes drier skin that probably needs a little extra TLC. This is a good time to adjust your skincare routine or create a new one if you have been neglecting your skin recently. What you really want to focus on in the fall season is adding in more moisture to your skin, and of course protecting it from the sun.
Look at your current skincare routine to determine what changes need to be made. Has your skin been dry or oily recently? How often do you use a face mask? Are you using any serums? Take your time in creating a skincare routine for your specific skin type and considering any conditions you have.
20 – Add in Herbs and Supplements
Lastly, get some healthy herbs and supplements into your fall routine. There are many ways to use herbs, including making tea, drying them to use around your house, adding fresh herbs to your meals, and of course getting essential oils. Using holistic supplements in the fall is a great way to boost immunity, reduce stress, and help improve your overall wellness.
Some great fall herbs include:
- Sage
- Rosemary
- Lavender
- Parsley
