"Here comes autumn, here it is again."
With the arrival of autumn, not only does the landscape change, but we also need to adapt to new conditions in every aspect of our lives, affecting our health. Autumn is perhaps one of the most demanding periods for the body, so it's worth consciously preparing for it and fortifying our bodies against the negative effects it brings.
In this article, you can find out which areas of our lives are most affected by this transitional period. At the end of each short section, we'll list some solutions that, when applied, can help you navigate through the gloomy, changing months easily.
Don't let autumn weaken your immune system!
It's not enough that during the autumn months, due to the decreasing hours of sunlight, our bodies get less vitamin D; the weather also greatly favors various diseases. Families with young children are particularly affected by the spread of viruses and infections as daycare centers, kindergartens, and schools start.
.The daily temperature fluctuations are also stressful for the human body. Who doesn't know the annoying problem when in the morning, you'd rather go out in two coats, and in the afternoon, you feel like you're roasting in just a T-shirt? Such significant changes in temperature are very stressful for the body and can be worsened if we are not mindful of layering our clothing. For example, if we are too hot under a thick coat chosen in the morning, we sweat, and despite the cold breeze, we might find ourselves in bed with a nasty pneumonia.
Don't worry; there's a solution:
Fortunately, nature has blessed us with many vegetables and fruits that ripen in the fall, packed with vitamins and essential minerals. During this time, you can roast a half of a pumpkin in the oven every day, snack on a handful of walnuts, or pack plums and pears in your bag for breakfast.
If you've been eyeing various fruit and vegetable smoothies for a while, now is the season to dive into experimenting and find your favorite fruit-vegetable combination to sip with your breakfast every day.
In an ideal world, we could get all the vitamins and nutrients through our diet, but unfortunately, experiences show that this is almost impossible today. If you haven't made it part of your daily routine yet, we recommend getting a multivitamin that suits you or at least a good C and D vitamin supplement and make it automatic to take them with your morning coffee or tea.
"I don't have time/energy to exercise... I just started running, but the weather is terrible..."
In autumn, we encounter more and more excuses like these, and in most cases, they prove to be true. For families with children, autumn is the most chaotic in terms of time management, but coming back from vacations, most businesses and workplaces intensify tasks, and in November, the last sprint of the year and the Christmas madness begin.
If you do find an hour for exercise and pull out your bike, there's a good chance you won't get even halfway before a heavy rain pours down on you. The same goes for hiking or jogging; even meeting friends becomes more about indoor activities since who wants to shiver outside when you can play a good board game in the warmth of your home?
The aforementioned are all external factors you unfortunately can't do anything about. However, this is a perfect opportunity to tap into your creativity and seek solutions to challenges instead of complaining.
It's important to highlight that these are the times when you need to pay even more attention to getting enough exercise and make it part of your daily routine. Physical activity strengthens the immune system, compensates for missed exercise and calorie burning due to bad weather or busy schedules, and is essential for the regular movement of our joints.
Where there's a problem, there's also a solution:
It's helpful to find a gym you enjoy going to anytime, and if you have a personal trainer who can get you through this unmotivated period and stand by you when you need a little "kick in the butt," even better. If you discuss the schedule for the upcoming week last weekend, you're less likely to skip those workouts!
Mental health in autumn
Unfortunately, the challenges of autumn not only affect our physical health but also our mental health, and typically, not in a positive direction. The gloomy weather, cold, brisk winds, headaches associated with fronts, the ever-shortening days, and unfortunately, the current economic situation, make this physically demanding period even more difficult.
If we don't consciously pay attention to our mental health during this time, we can quickly slip into seasonal depression, or our bad mood can affect our family members and friends, creating a vicious cycle as they respond more grumpily, and so on.
What can you do to avoid prolonged bad moods and be good company for those around you?
Spend time outdoors whenever your schedule and the weather allow it, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the changing season!
Spend quality time with yourself and the people important to you!
Read self-improvement books and deal with the causes of your negative thoughts. If necessary, talk to a professional about them.
Be aware of your mood and learn to communicate your boundaries. Most frustration arises when we regularly let others cross our boundaries, and when the cup is full, we can only express it angrily - for example, if your boss regularly makes you work overtime or a relative goes overboard with constant requests. Discover your boundaries and stick to them - and make others stick to them too!
