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Top 5 ways to beat fall
By Holly Rose
As fall wraps her blanket of fog around the residents of Vancouver Island, it is easy to see a shift in the energy of those around.
A mere fortnight ago, the sun was strong and shining down with an intensity that had many of us wondering if fall would be warned off this year. And while leaves have yet to turn the brilliant shades of auburn that mark fall's glory, many of her other charms have arrived almost overnight. Upon my waking each morning I see the sun peaking up over the ocean and the islands; now they sleep with a downy comforter of fog.
The changes in temperature, in light and in weather have a very real effect on how we experience our day. Many people report feeling drained by the lack of sun. Others report feeling sleepy and less productive and connect it to the grey sky. People oversleep, crave carbohydrates and experience a lack of energy – just a few symptoms that can pop up. Of course, this isn't something everyone experiences. However, an ounce of prevention still trumps a pound of cure.
With this in mind, I have put together a Top Five list of the Best Ways to Beat Fall. You may find adding a little something to your routine now makes the span till spring much more enjoyable.
5. Switch two of your daily beverages to hot green tea
Listen, I am not trying to pry your morning coffee out of your half-awake hands. Instead of a cup of tea or latte at lunch or break, try brewing up a lovely cup of green tea. Here's why: A green tea extract containing polyphenios and caffeine has been shown to induce thermogenesis and stimulate fat oxidaton, giving the metabolism a 4% bump without increasing your heart rate. This is great since often in the cooler seasons we are not as active as the warmer months. Additionally, green tea drinkers have lower chances of heart disease and of developing certain types of cancer. I could write an article solely singing the praises of green tea, but for now let's sample and enjoy. There are many varieties of green tea and many different traditions in the way that it is processed. The world of green tea is as varied and unique as the world of black tea. Available at your supermarket or in any specialty tea shop, green tea is an easy and delicious addition to your daily rituals.
4. Wake up with lemon
Our bodies naturally move slower when the season changes and the light is less available. One of the nicest things we can do for our bodies is give it something soothing when we wake up. If you take a hot glass of water, add the juice of one half lemon. This boosts your immune system, gets your liver functioning, aids the digestive system and flushes toxins out of the body. Lemons will keep for up to 10 days on your counter, so you can shop for them weekly. A friend of mine squeezes her lemons into ice cube trays once a week and then pops the cubes into her hot water in the morning. This is akin to pre-heating your car before driving out in the snow. Your body just functions better with a little TLC. Try it for two weeks and see if you feel more energetic,invigorated and alive.
3. Winterize your ways to nurture
It's not yet winter, I know. But this little game will make life a little easier for you. Many of us get a tad drab over the end of summer. We mourn its inevitable passing and linger over what we would be doing if the sun were out.
What is more productive, is to write a little list of fall/winter versions of your favourite things to do. This is a great way to bypass the gloomies. Everyone will find their own fit for a list but here are a few of my highlights.
- Get dressed up in rain gear and find puddles to splash in
- Make hot cocoa from scratch on the stove with milk and melted chocolate
- Go swimming at the local pool
- Make invitations and invite friends over for a movie night complete with movie posters and treats
- Make a ridiculous stop action movie with playdough and a digital camera (you can even make the dough at home)
- Find your favourite high school music and sing your heart out
... you get the idea. Having a list prepared keeps the blahs at bay!
Winterize the way you nurture... and have fun with it
2. Connect
It's a wonderful world, to quote the great Louis Armstrong. Today it's also a media rich world. Regardless of how many Facebook friends or Twitter followers we have, nothing can replace face-to-face contact. Hearing the voice of a friend or feeling the embrace of another human is an important part of nurturing a sense of connectedness. The cooler months sometimes have us acting like hibernating bears. It's in our best interest to make sure we nurture our relationships and be active in our communities.
1. Revel in change
Sometimes we find the greatest truisms in the most obvious places. Who has not heard the saying "the only constant in life is change”? It's usually quoted at the most irritating of times, but if examined and embraced, not only is it notably true, it can be startlingly beautiful. Instead of writing off a rainy day, I look around and notice the steam coming off the roofs nearby and the reflections of buildings in puddles. It's beautiful to see trees changing colour simply through the magic of light. As seasons change, the world is alive around us. So it is through a measure of awakening with the present moment that we connect with our friends, our neighbours and indeed the world we live in.
Goldstream Park - With the changing of the seasons comes much new life
Bonus: Vitamin D
Start taking your Vitamin D now, if you haven't already. Vitamin D can take a few months to work its way into your system at maximum potency, so before the great grey beast February comes rolling in, have your body happy and ready to go.
With this list in tow, you are bound to have an amazing fall and winter season. Say goodbye to flu season and hello to health!
- Photos & text by Holly Rose©
