Keeping Up with Self Care From Hot Girl Summer to Cozy Girl Fall
Do you find that you’re really good at taking time to unwind and do some self care in the summer, but terrible at it when you’re back into more structured routines in the fall? Us too. Summer feels like a time to prioritize yourself, get out, and have some fun. It’s a great time to take your PTO and enjoy time with friends and family, travel, and do things that are simply good for your soul.
Then comes the fall. And while we love the crisp mornings and the change in seasons that September brings, for a lot of us, it can feel like a snap back into reality, where self care, personal development, and healthy habits go out the window to prioritize life’s responsibilities. We’re here to tell you that just because we’re saying goodbye to the carefree days of summer doesn’t mean taking time to prioritize yourself should stop.
Here are a few self development tips and healthy habits you can incorporate into your fall routine to help you prioritize mindfulness and take care of yourself.
In The Morning:
Start Your Day Disconnected
We all know how it goes. Your alarm goes off, your phone is in your hand. What would it hurt to take a quick peek at your emails and do a morning scroll of social media? Turns out, it can actually rewire your brain and impact your focus for the entire day. It’s healthy to start the first hour of your day screen-free to give your brain the chance to wake up.
How can you avoid the temptation of the morning scroll? Try setting your phone to “do not disturb” at night, or setting a personal focus that only allows you to receive texts and calls. That way, you’re not seeing notifications from your social media accounts as soon as you open your eyes.
Establish a Routine That's Just for You
What are you going to do with that extra 20 minutes you got back from not scrolling? Try to create a morning routine that helps set a calm tone for your day. That could be journaling, meditating, a solid skincare routine, or just sitting outside wrapped in a blanket while you enjoy coffee from your favourite mug. Whatever your calm looks like, take some time to breathe and set yourself up for a positive mindset to tackle the stress of the day.
Enjoy Natural Light
You’ve probably heard it before, but we’re going to tell you again. Starting your day with natural light will not only help you by boosting endorphins at the start of your day, but it also supports healthy nighttime sleep. If you work from home, like our team, it’s a great way to signal the start of the work day as well. Get outside or sit by a window and bask in the daylight.
Throughout the Day:
Take Your Lunch Break
Remember those sunny days of eating well while you lounged by the pool or sat out by the lake? It’s just as important (maybe even more important) to continue fuelling your body while you settle back into your structured routines.
We know that some days are busy and it can feel almost impossible to pull yourself away from your desk, but we promise the task will still be there when you get back. Even if it’s just 10-15 minutes, step away, eat, and reset your brain.
Get Up and Stretch
When you log off, do you have to lower your shoulders and uncurl your back? Try to avoid ending your day looking like a little shrimp by getting up to stretch a few times throughout the day. Stretching helps to improve mood, boost blood flow, and reduce muscle stiffness and pain. Your body will thank you.
In the Evening:
You may have heard that the key to a good morning is actually a good evening the night before. With that in mind, here are a few things you can do to wind down from your day, re-centre yourself, and set yourself up for a good night’s sleep and a fresh start tomorrow.
Take a Walk After Dinner
If you spend most of the day sitting, going for a quick walk after dinner is incredibly beneficial. Movement after a meal helps digestion (goodbye nighttime bloating?) and stabilizing blood sugar. It will also help you burn off some energy and reach your daily step goal.
Go Screen-Free Before Bed
Do you catch yourself scrolling long after you turn off the light? Blue light from devices like phones and laptops suppresses melatonin production, which can lead to overstimulation, disrupted circadian rhythm and restless sleep. We know it’s tempting to unwind with your phone in your hand, but putting your devices away an hour before bed can help you have a more restful night and wake up feeling refreshed.
Practice Gratitude
When you’re back in the day-to-day chaos of balancing work, errands, relationships, and other personal commitments, it’s so easy to get caught up in the things that go wrong. Something we’re working on is practicing gratitude at the end of the day. This can be writing in a gratitude journal, pausing to do some meditation, or simply mentally acknowledging the people and things you’re grateful for. A bonus to this: there are actually proven health benefits to practicing gratitude. Positive effects include reduced depression and anxiety, improved sleep and mood, and less stress.
The Bottom Line?
The transition from the carefree days of summer back to the structured routines of the fall can be difficult. But making a few small changes throughout your day to take care of your mental and physical wellbeing and focus on yourself will have massive benefits.
