Who said you have to wait until Jan. 1 to get back into the gym or to get active outside?
How many of us spend a tipsy New Year’s Eve promising ourselves and anyone else who will listen that this is going to be the year? Almost all of us. But what if we started changing our habits now instead? Fall is a great time to get started with a new fitness regime, so start your resolution now.
Take advantage of the great Tennessee weather. This is the perfect time to take your health and wellness outdoors. It’s always easier to get moving when there is something to look at, and with so many hiking options in the Smokies and around Tellico Village, this is a no brainer.
The cooler weather is great for exercise. It’s easier to breathe and avoid getting overheated. It’s also a great time of year for allergy sufferers with so much less blooming.
There are also less bugs and creepy crawlies to combat, and getting outside during the fall will give you the perfect opportunity to enjoy all the colors. People travel from all over the country to enjoy fall in East Tennessee and all you have to do is walk out your own front door. You can even get exercise credit for all that fall yard work that’s on your honey-do list.
Starting a new habit before the onset of winter could be a game changer for us mentally and emotionally. For many of us, the cold weather and gray skies bring some seasonal depression. With less vitamin D on our skin and less fresh air in our lungs, many of us start to feel overwhelmed and hopeless.
Did you know exercise is the perfect cure for that? Exercise has been proven to have an antidepressant effect on the brain. Problem solved. Stimulation of blood flow and oxygen intake can even reverse some of the fatigue from the year by improving your ability to focus and remember what you have learned.
One of the big motivators for all New Year’s resolutions is always weight loss, but what if you didn’t actually have any extra weight to lose? What if you were already sticking to a healthy diet and exercise routine that ushered you into the holiday season feeling good and fitting into all your favorite red clothes?
Starting a new, healthier lifestyle in the fall can put you on track for a holiday season riddled with less guilt. You will already have healthy habits started but won’t be so bored with your “diet” that you are willing to cheat. It’s so hard to say no to those extra, sweet treats at all those Christmas parties you attend. Well, what if you were not even tempted?
We are all motivated by different things. If you cannot get outside, then stay inside. Try something new. If you have always wanted to learn to jump rope, then learn to jump rope. If you would like to learn a martial art, then sign up for a martial arts class.
Master a skill that you love and you will be benefiting your body, mind and soul. Do you enjoy TV as your exercise distraction? So many TV shows begin new seasons in the fall. Schedule your workout in accordance to the return of your favorite fall TV show and you’ll be done before you know it.
Fall is a great time to rejuvenate ourselves — mind, body and spirit. We begin to slow down the pace a little and reflect on all that we have done throughout the rest of the year.
Don’t forget that exercise is not the only way that we can embrace wellness in our lives. Learn to meditate, get a massage, take an art class or try yoga. It’s important to take care of our whole selves to truly achieve wellness.
