Embrace the new season

The air is a little bit more crisp, the leaves are starting to fall and there isn’t much left of the evenings’. Autumn is upon us folks.

I have to say I do love autumn, especially if it stays dry. Heading out for a walk in the fresh air, the colour of the leaves and it means we are getting closer to Christmas of course. You’ll soon see your social media filled with open fires photos with the caption ‘in for the night’. There is nothing cosier, but is it the only thing you should be doing during these darker evenings?

Granted, it’s easier to make better health and fitness choices during spring and summer but does that mean we just stop all activity during the winter months?

Back in the cave man days, autumn may have been a time to feast, save energy and add on a few pounds as a natural ‘winter coat’, all in the name of survival.

Thankfully in this day and age we don’t have to worry about surviving harsh winters, trying to hunt for food or being hunted. The problem is that we still feast, save our energy and develop our own natural ‘winter coat’.

Instead we should be focusing on enjoying and living our life by being active and social with family and friends. Now is the time to plan what you are going to do to help keep yourself active, upbeat and healthy over the coming months.

Here are a few things you may want to consider.

Get outdoors
As Billy Connolly said, there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes.

Going for your walk when the sun was shining was easy but you still get the same health and well-being benefits from walking when it’s a bit colder and wetter. Invest in a good raincoat, hiking or waterproof shoes and even splash out on waterproof bottoms.

They don’t have to be top-of-the-range, as long as they do their job of keeping you dry and warm then you’re winning.

Visit parks, do forest walks or even take a trip to the beach on the weekends and experience the beauty of nature in a different season.

Join a club
Joining a sports or social club has been made a little bit more difficult this year but there are still options.

One club I’m going to join this autumn is the tennis club. I’ve never played tennis and I thought now is as good a time as any to start.

It just doesn’t have to be physical, it can be a social club at your local community centre or why not start your own club?

Maybe you have a passion for knitting or reading books. Setting up a club and getting, members to join may be easier than you think. You will have to book a venue or even do it online, set a start date and then promote it through friends, family and social media. You never know what it could lead to.

Take up a hobby
Maybe you find it hard to get out of the house in the evenings due to family or work commitments but it doesn’t mean you have to resort to sitting on the sofa all the time.

If you do have family, maybe you can start making simple healthy treats together in the evenings that can be eaten as snacks and lunch the next day. Even try picking up that guitar that has been sitting in the corner gathering dust and practice a few evenings during the week. If you want to keep physically active there are endless YouTube videos you could follow from yoga to fitness classes. Whatever you decide to do, it’s important that you set a day and time, then stick to it.

Work on a weakness
Are there habits or skills in your life that you would like to improve on?

Take the time this autumn and winter to reflect and take action on the areas of your life that you could improve.

It may be that you don’t read enough, you are always working, don’t spend enough time with family and friends, or you don’t take time for yourself. This can be a very difficult task to carry out but one that will not only benefit you, but also everyone around you.