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Photo Credit Nancy Andres at Colors 4 Health |
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Autumn is an excellent time to reassess self-care habits, and focus on those attitudes and activities that improve our sense of well-being.
When we do things that help us relax, recharge, and reset, we reduce stress, nurture ourselves, and are better prepared to tackle whatever comes or way.
Continue Reading and See Essential Self-care Tips to Ace Autumn
Tip #1 Most things that energize my spirit and heart, help refresh my mind and body as well. What thoughts and behaviors help you connect with inspiration and love? Do at least one or two each day to raise your vibration.
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Photo Credit Nancy Andres at Colors 4 Health |
Tip #2 Check-in with yourself daily and identify what you are feeling. Let your intuition, reflection, or past experience guide you to do things that day that are essential for self-care and resonate with
you.
Tips #3 Use self-care to help you identify anxiety or fear triggers. Take action by doing something that helps you feel more trusting and secure. A few examples are hugging yourself, breathing through the panic, or speaking with a close friend or counselor.
Tip #4 Continue to practice self-care on peaceful days too, and especially leading up to and during the holiday weeks ahead.
Be Realistic and Set Achievable Self-care Goals.
Tip #5 If you take one small action every day rather than aim too big, you may find it easier to stick to your autumn
self-care routine and feel a sense of accomplishment.
Tip #6 Schedule in autumn
self-care by writing the activity down in your phone, datebook, calendar, or planner. Then, make sure to take the allotted time to see it through.
Tip #7 Create an
affirmation that reinforces the concept that self-care is healing, stress-reducing, and restorative rather
than selfish.
Affirm this by setting the intention (affirmation) and taking the actions (self-care) to further goals one step at a time. When we savor each day and are grateful for progress, it helps increase life satisfaction.
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Credit Nancy Andres at Colors 4 Health
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Tip #8 Be open to receiving support from others. Recognize you may learn much from mentors, coaches, and those with special training or different experiences than you have had.
Meet with an accountant, financial planner, lawyer, or other pro and work on setting up a budget, reducing financial obligations, and increasing savings.
Tip #9 Star in your own life, and your thoughts, beliefs, and actions will align with that energy. When you think and act authentically it's sure to bring you joy.
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Credit Nancy Andres at Colors 4 Health |
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Don't overextend yourself, as you may wind up feeling cranky and off-kilter.
Start each day by getting your own head on straight, and you'll be better able to be there for others.
Be PROACTIVE with Self-care.
Tip #10 Plan for and eat a
nutritious breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Make each meal a mindful experience.
Refrain from skipping meals or eating on the run.
Create and sustain a healthy eating plan by following it every day. Read Key Reasons to Eat Mindfully with Tips to Succeed for details.
Tip #11 Give
yourself permission to take on your day in a way that works best for you.
I devote 10 minutes of early morning time to stretches, giving thanks to my Higher Power for another day of life, and drinking a full glass of water.
How do you like to start your day?
Tip #12 Step away from your household or
workplace responsibilities for 15-30 minutes for a relaxing mid-morning or afternoon stroll in nature.
Being in natural surroundings is calming, grounding, and healing. Take in autumn colors and awaken your senses this fall.
Being kind and caring with yourself soothes jagged nerves and refreshes your mind, body, and soul.
Tip #13 Make a written list of all the health promoting activities that might enhance a good day or help when you feel anxious or overwhelmed.
Some ideas are: a deep breathing exercise, calling or seeing a friend or loved one, drinking a cup of chamomile tea, or doing a meditation or visualization.
Perhaps is can be as simple as reading a chapter of a non-work related book for enjoyment, drinking hot apple cider, slipping on a fuzzy pair if sox, or doing all three.
Record self-care ideas in your phone, keep a handwritten list at your bedside, or put a self-care activity list anywhere it can be within eyesight.
Read it when you need to be reminded of those things that center you.
Tip #14 Self-care is also about setting boundaries and not taking on more than you can handle. It might include declining a social invitation or saying a simple no to extra commitments. Use the time and energy to kick-back, relax, and even daydream.
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Photo Credit Nancy Andres at Colors 4 Health |
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Tip #15 Recognize that cooler, drier air makes skin dehydrated, and skin care may be one of those things you want to make a priority this autumn and winter.
Instead of just using moisturizer once a day, you may want to apply it, both in the morning and night. To avoid that chapped look, apply moisturizer to hands and lips as well.
Also make sure to hydrate, because our bodies need water more than anything!
The air
in our homes tends to get dry in the fall and winter, and it's important to consume adequate water every day.
This may be easy to forget, since temps aren’t as hot as they were in the summer, and we might not feel as thirsty.
Tip #15 Praise all efforts to make progress with self-care. See Reaping the Rewards of
Active Self-Reinforcement, when finding it a challenge to persevere.
Tip #16 Refrain from listening to negative self-talk and pressuring or shaming yourself. Tell yourself Rome wasn't built in a day. Slips happen so take it easy on yourself and start again.
In other words, set expectations appropriately. The truth is it will probably take anywhere from two months to eight months to build a new behavior into your life — not 21 days.
Incorporate
Physical Activity into Daily Pursuits.
How often do you incorporate movement into your daily activities? In autumn, temps are often a nice balance between warm and cold.
Tip #17 If
you’re a person who avoids movement and exercise as a form of self-care,
perhaps you haven’t found a form of exercise you enjoy.
Autumn is a fun time to rake leaves or jump into them, harvest autumn crops, prepare the garden for winter, pick pumpkins or apples at a nearby farm, or train for a marathon. Be mindful and choose those things that appeal to you.
Tip #18 If you have limited mobility or health issues, consult with a personal trainer, yoga teacher, or physical therapist to show you the correct, safe way to do chair exercises or
restorative yoga.
Tip #19 Want to get those endorphins flowing? Climb a flight of stairs, dance, participate in a tai chi class or YouTube Beginner exercise class.
Get off your couch or away from social media, and get moving.
Tip #20 Keep in mind that those who feel peppy or a good tired after working out, are usually motivated to keep at it.
Those who overdo and injure themselves are less likely to keep with the plan.
Tip #21 If nothing sounds good, why not try another way to be more active?
Some possibilities include trampoline fitness,
also known as rebounding, hiking, rock climbing, jumping rope, or joining your
children or grandkids on the playground or park for a game of catch or soccer.
If
you’re a dog owner, map a new or longer walking route to increase steps.
Tip #22 When you're starting any new form of exercise, start slow. Try a new
movement or fitness routine once a week.
Note: This post is intended for entertainment and
information purposes only. Before starting a new exercise or health regimen seek
medical advice from your health care provider.
Tip #23 Monitor how each physical activity
makes you feel. Be okay about quitting something, if you aren’t
getting anything out of it.
Tip #24 Any kind of sustained
movement, rigorous or not, helps elevate mood and
lessen stress, making it a beneficial path for self-care. 💖
Tip #25 Participate in relaxing activities starting at
least 2 hours before you turn in for the night.
Read a paperback or hardcover book, instead of looking at text
from a backlit device. Tablet light is disruptive to natural sleep rhythm.
Nix late-night TV watching too. Many programs are stimulating
rather than soothing.
Light from a television screen can suppress melatonin,
the sleep hormone. Try listening to music or audio books instead. Get to bed at an hour that
allows you to bank away at least 7 hours of sleep each night. 😴
Do you think you'd like to amp up self-care practices this fall and why?
What tips in this post help motivate you?
Please comment below in the space provided.
I read and appreciate all comments, but will not publish comments if they contain links.
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I offer fresh health and lifestyle ideas here at Colors 4 Health on the 1st and 15th of each month.
See past posts too by using the search bar. Many contain additional self-care tips and ideas.
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