5 Ways to Make This September Your Healthiest

Why wait for January 1st? September is the perfect time to take hold of your health. With the relief of cooling weather, the inspiration of vivid autumn colors, and the comforting scents and flavors of fall, autumn is the perfect time to reassess and revamp your health and wellness. Start with these 5 steps:

Fall cleaning. Of your mind, that is. Take the changing season as an opportunity to get a handle on all that stresses you. Take a step back from work worries. Take up yoga or meditation. Pamper yourself with a pre-bedtime routine — like a steamy bath with chamomile tea — to help you sleep deeper and unwind from your day. Focus on yourself. It can be easy to worry about everyone else, especially when you have a family, but don’t let your wellness go by the wayside. Your health is precious, and deflating from stress is paramount to good health.

Unplug, please. Yes, the new iPhone is coming out. Yes, it looks incredible. No, it should not consume your life. Get your screen addiction under control. Start by unplugging from your devices for an hour or two every night to spend more time with your family. Yeah, go ahead and get that new phone. Play on social media. But practice moderation.

Fast-forward to New Year’s. Instead of drastically changing your habits on January 1st, why not start now? Baby steps can be the key to success. Want to lose weight? Ditch the scale and start exercising. Once that becomes habitual, deal with your stress and take control of your diet. Instead of working off your post-holiday excess, get a jump start in September. If you start with a clean slate now, the inevitable spiral into sugary holiday madness won’t be as steep.

Eat with the harvest. No, that doesn’t mean binge on cider doughnuts. There are so many delicious, seasonal foods that come out with autumn — apples, Brussels sprouts, kale, butternut squash, carrots, cranberries, pomegranates, potatoes, and, oh yeah, pumpkins! Eat a variety of plants in a wide array of colors, and get the nutrition you need to live a happy and healthy lifestyle. Sure, you can indulge on seasonal delicacies now and again, in moderation. You can still enjoy your life, just be smart about it!

Inhale some crisp air. It’s autumn! If you’ve been toying with the idea of starting a new outdoor workout, now’s the time. Winter is cold, summer is muggy, spring can be really rainy. If you habitually use the weather as an excuse to not workout, autumn is the best time for you to get started. Join a tennis clinic, go for long bike rides, hike with your dog, or just get outside and have fun! It’s beautiful with the changing fall colors — who wouldn’t want to get outside?

Don’t squander the season. Take this opportunity to make yourself the best version of you that you can be. Fall is a season all about change, so make sure you take the reins and change yourself for the better. What’s your favorite part of autumn?