"Fall" into some healthy habits

Fall has arrived. As the air gets cooler and the hours of daylight get shorter, the time is now to establish some healthy habits that will sustain you over the long winter.
If you are like me, you notice a change in your energy level and mood with the limited sunshine in the winter. Once seasonal affective disorder (or a few of it's symptoms) have set in...it can be tough to get off the couch and start something new. I think this is one reason people have such a hard time keeping New Year's Resolutions. Yes, it's a new year....but for us in MN...it is the darkest, coldest time....when we find ourselves craving carbohydrates, wanting to sleep more, and just overall feeling more lethargic....hardly the optimal time to challenge ourselves and start new habits!!!

The answer is pretty simple....start on some healthy habits and regular exercise NOW. A walk outside still feels pretty enjoyable...and if you develop the habit now, you are much more likely to continue your walks when the temperature falls below freezing. Starting a yoga class or adding a second class or home practice is another good idea....once we build things into our schedules and they are on our calendars, we are much more likely to follow through.

So...don't put off til tomorrow what you could be doing today! Take time to care for yourself by feeding yourself well, finding time to rest and sleep, and add some additional exercise (yoga is ideal !) to your routine. Come January.....you can work on maintaining these healthy habits while everyone else moans about the weight they gained over the holidays!!!