The demands of modern life weigh on us, especially if you have family obligations that take a lot of your energy. Often, we feel guilty if we take time for ourselves as that feels like a moral failing. We’re taught that to love someone is to give of ourselves, but maybe sometimes it’s better to give to yourself instead.
Here are six things you can do this fall that are just for you.
1 Enjoy the colors of the leaves.
One of the great things about living in the Greater Spokane area is that we get to experience the change of the leaves as the fall season takes over.
Enjoying a walk during the day lets you see the different colors and can give you time to reflect on the beauty of nature. Plus, taking a brisk walk gives you fresh air and exercise that you need to make it through the cold fall months.
Staying cooped up in the house, especially after such a trying two years, can be unhealthy. Get outside and enjoy the fall before the winter snow makes the sidewalks too slippery!
2. Buy a cozy fall sweater
Focusing on warmth as the weather cools down is a great way to bring some comfort into your life, but there’s something especially wonderful about finding the perfect fall sweater to curl up with. When you find something cozy and soft, it can feel almost as good as a hug from your closest friend. Pair your new sweater with a great cup of tea or some tasty coffee and that’s a perfect moment to enjoy just being in your body.
3. Learn a new hobby or skill
Part self-care includes giving your mind a little bit of attention. Find something you’ve always wanted to learn how to do and search YouTube for tutorials or find a local online class to attend.
There are even apps you can download that can teach you something new. Try Sheep & Stitch on YouTube to learn how to knit or download Duolingo to spend 10 minutes of your day practicing a new language.
Find something you’re curious about and dedicate a little bit of time to it each day.
4. Indulge in pumpkin everything!
This is one is a traditional fall activity people love to hate. It’s the time of too many pumpkin spice lattes after all! However, did you know that pumpkin has a lot of health benefits? It’s simply jam-packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Try different recipes to see what you might like the best. Maybe a pumpkin soup? Or creamy pumpkin marinara? Or even a low carb pumpkin bread?
5. Think about vitamins
We all know that vitamins are great for maintaining healthy bodies and minds, but where to start?
During these fall months it’s a great idea to start thinking about incorporating more vitamin C and D into your life.
Vitamin C is great for the fall because of the cold and flu season. Unfortunately, those are right around the corner and taking vitamin C supplements or incorporating more foods rich in vitamin C can help you fight off the cold faster.
The colder fall and winter months also mean less sunshine for us, which is why vitamin D can become an important addition to your life.
There are a lot of great supplements out there in pill or gummy form that can help you get these vitamins, or you can do some research to find recipes that will introduce them into your diet.
6. Start your fall skin care routine
The fall means changes in the weather which can sap the moisture right out of your skin. Switching to a thicker moisturizer, lip balm, and eye creams can help compensate for the change. Make up for sudden environmental changes by giving your skin, even including the skin of your lips and around your eyes, the care that it craves. You might even consider our Fall Harvest Special as a great way to get your skin off to the right start this season.
In general, self-care is about showing yourself some love. Take care of your physical needs as well as your emotional and mental needs. When your body feels rejuvenated, you can gain the energy you need to tackle the rest of your life too!
