Maintaining Wellness in the Fall & Winter

Are you feeling sluggish after too much Halloween candy?   Or finding yourself wanting to stay cuddled inside more and more? 

 If so, you’re not alone.  It is normal, particularly in the fall and winter, to allow our bodies to slow down and crave rich, heavy foods.  

However, it can also be incredibly easy to over indulge – resulting in digestive issues, fatigue and other health concerns.  As a health coach (and someone who loves heavier foods when the weather turns cold), I want to challenge my clients (and myself) to strike a balance of embracing nourishing, cold weather food choices as well as healthful self-care practices through the cooler months.  To get started, here are a few basics I like to incorporate into my fall routine:

Rest n’ Digest: Here’s the thing about fall, it is an incredible season to be deliberate about carving out time to let our bodies mindfully slow down and reflect.  So, along these lines, I suggest to clients – to embrace this – but bring an element of “savoring slowness” into the mix of the holiday frenzy.   In other words, the fall is often pretty busy for most of us (work deadlines, kids sporting events, holiday get togethers, etc).  So, when we do have down time, it can be really sweet to mindfully savor whatever we’re doing to relax.  To create a more healthful routine – experiment with replacing one night per week in front of the TV – with a slow, savory eve of indulging in poetry, massage or an aromatherapy bubble bath.   To make this part of our routine, plan ahead by picking a specific night and identify what post-work ritual/self-care practice you want to explore. 

Eating with the Season:  This one is simple and straight forward.  One of the best ways to nurture ourselves during this season is through a healthful dietary profile of seasonal veggies (squashes, root veggies, apples, leafy greens, nuts, etc).  To keep it light, I recommend experimenting with more vegetarian-based recipes that incorporate fall foods.  If you’re looking for some recipe suggestions, check these out to get started.

For those wanting to take it to the next level – or simply have some support, accountability and structure around creating a healthful fall/winter routine – I invite you to consider the “21-day fall wellness jumpstart,” currently being offered via Northstar Counseling Center.  

What is the 21-day Jumpstart? The 21-day wellness jumpstart is a comprehensive program designed to meet our clients – where they’re at – to create doable, measurable health goals. Through this program, participants will have access to 3-weeks of personalized health & wellness coaching support designed to achieve individualized wellness goals tailored to each client’s lifestyle, needs and schedule.  In addition to weekly one-on-one health coaching, the program includes on-going email support, goal setting resources, grocery lists and sample recipes to follow along the way.  If you’re interested in learning more, email lauren@northstarcounselingcenter.com for more details.