Having a wellness routine that adjusts with the seasons is important to enjoy the maximum benefits. You might have a stringent wellness routine in summer, but by the time winter comes along, it’s just not the same. As a result, you drop it completely. Instead, we recommend adjusting your wellness routine to continue reaping the rewards of taking care of yourself mentally and physically.
You may be wondering, “what is a wellness routine?”. The term "wellness" refers to your holistic health. A wellness routine is the implementation of daily healthy habits. It’s not just about eating a healthy diet, a wellness routine encompasses everything from the quality of your sleep, to your mental health practices, skincare regi
In this article we’re going to give you some recommendations to help you adjust your wellness routine for fall, so you can thrive through the changing seasons. Let’s get started.
What is the benefit of having a daily routine?
Now you know what true wellness is, why is it beneficial to make it a daily routine? First of all, it’s important to take care of yourself every single day. That means eating food that nourishes your body, movement, and taking time for yourself to reflect. If you only do these things once in a while, they won’t have a big enough influence on your life, and you won’t reap the rewards.
As with all things, consistency is key when it comes to practicing and achieving wellness. Making a daily commitment to yourself will result in the biggest outcomes. If you want to transform your life, it takes consistency.
But it’s not all about getting results. In fact, studies show that having a daily routine has other benefits. According to a study conducted by Tel Aviv University in 2011, having a predictable and repetitive daily routine can help to reduce anxiety and improve quality of life.
They help you take control of your day, reducing the number of daily decisions you need to make, and instead allowing you to complete things on autopilot. While being on autopilot for too long can make you disconnect to the present moment, it’s also beneficial in helping to decrease your daily stressors. Every time you have to make a decision, you are adding stress to your life.
How to adjust your wellness routine for fall
When the days start to get shorter and colder, it can hinder your motivation to work out and eat healthy. Salad on a hot summer day is a nice refresher, but when it’s cold and grey outside? Most of us would prefer a pizza. It’s the same for our workouts, getting up when it’s dark outside makes working out way less appealing.
But as mentioned, if you want to live a healthy and happy life; you need to be consistent with your wellness routine. So here are some tips to keep you motivated this fall, to stay consistent on your journey to a fitter, healthier life.
- Get as much daylight as possible
We all know the feeling of your alarm going off in what feels like the middle of the night. It’s pitch black, we’re in the midst of a dream and it seems unethical to get out of bed, particularly if it’s for a workout.
Our bodies need daylight, it’s integral to the circadian rhythm - our biological body clock. This internal body clock encourages physical, mental and behavioral changes that encourage wakefulness as a response to light.Researchshows that getting light first thing in the morning helps us to have better mental clarity, a better mood and feel more energized and awake.
If it’s not possible to get daylight for you, get your hands on a daylight alarm. You can purchase them for cheap onAmazon and they will make a massive difference to how you feel on those cold dark winter mornings.
- Make sure you warm up
Cold muscles are more prone to injury. If you’re going to go for an early morning jog or hit a weight session after sitting at a desk all day - make sure you warm up. The days are naturally colder in the winter months, so our muscles and joints are tighter. Rather than jumping straight into a workout, do a 10 to 15 minute warm up to slowly increase the heart rate and get the blood pumping to your muscles.
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- Drink green tea
Not only will hot green tea warm you up on a cold day, it also provides a plethora of other health benefits. According toHeathline, green tea is the healthiest beverage on the planet, which is quite a claim, but it backs up.
Green tea is rich in polyphenols, a compound that has powerful anti-inflammatory effects when consumed. It’s also rich in catechins, specifically a type of catechin known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) , an antioxidant that fights free radicals to protect cells against damage and disease.
Studiesalso show that green tea can boost your metabolism. Unlike a lot of nonsense health claims when it comes to increasing your metabolic rate, green tea's efficacy has been well researched. A study published in 2007 found that green tea increases thermogenesis, meaning that you burn more calories at rest. Anotherstudy found that in a small group of participants, green tea increased total energy expenditure by 4 percent, which is significant.
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- Moisturize
The colder weather is harsher on our skin. Our lips get chapped, skin gets dry and our hair feels more brittle. For optimal skin wellness, it’s important to moisturize regularly. If you have naturally more dry skin, it’s a good idea to trade out your lighter moisturizer with something more heavy duty. Dry skin is unable to properly heal and repair breakouts, leaving the skin more prone to scarring and redness.
- Journal and visualize
One of the main differences between a workout routine and a wellness routine is the inclusion of mental health self-care. Visualization can be easier in summer, as you’re envisioning how great you’re going to look in your bikini and so you get motivated to workout. But it’s important to continue the same practices for mental wellness throughout the fall and winter.
You can do this by meditating, practicing mindfulness, journaling, visualization, or anything else that helps you connect to the present moment and slow your mind down.
As summer departs and winter sets in, it can be difficult to stick to your wellness routine. But as the popular saying goes: summer bodies are made in the winter. Not only are bodies ‘made’ in the winter, mental health and wellness can also be transformed in the winter if you commit to taking care of yourself.
