The Top 9 Holistic Living Practices for Fall
As fall approaches, it is time to focus on your wellness as the days start getting shorter and less sunlight is available. With fluctuating temperatures and your body rhythm changing, it is the right time to get in optimum health for the holiday and winter. Fall is the gateway season to winter and the perfect time to reevaluate your holistic journey heading into the holidays and colder months. Here are five holistic wellness practices and their benefits to kick off the fall season.
1.) Boost Your Immune System
Keeping your immune system hitting on all cylinders can be straightforward. So look for ways to support your immune system with cold and flu season looming.
2.) Take A Vitamin D Supplement Every Day
You will naturally spend more time inside as the days get more relaxed in the fall with more cloudy days. This is Ohio, right? You may not get the proper amount of Vitamin D needed to support your immune system if you don't exercise outdoors or find yourself spending more time inside. This may leave you more prone to illnesses. Fall is the start of flu season, and a multivitamin supplement that contains Vitamin D will do that for you.
3.) Eat A Whole Foods Diet
Eating a whole foods diet includes lots of seasonal foods, herbs, and spices in addition to your usual healthy eating. Eating seasonal foods gives you the most nourishing vitamins and minerals in everything you eat because they are harvested in their peak condition. Click HERE for a list of seasonal foods from the USDA.
4.) Drink Green Tea
If you are starting to feel a little off, rundown, or lacking energy going into the fall season, drinking an herbal tea may help. Green tea is an excellent source of the amino acid L-theanine which might aid in producing specific white blood cells to boost your immune system. Don't like tea? Then try Chai. A cup of Chai can help to ease symptoms of the common cold or even ward off colds entirely.
5.) Increase Your Water Intake
It would be best if you always were mindful of your water intake, regardless of the season. If you aren't getting your recommended eight glasses daily, it's time to dial in the amount of water you are drinking. Even in the colder months of the year, people tend to become dehydrated because it's easy to sweat more with all those layers in climate weather. Water is essential to holistic health. Maintaining appropriate levels of hydration can help your digestion, keep your body at the right temperature, and supports the transportation of nutrients throughout your body.
6.) Improve Your Sleep Cycle
Dr. Johnson has talked with his patients about the importance of sleeping each night properly. Proper rest and proper diet are the foundation of your holistic journey. You should aim for 8–9 hours each night.
Building supportive sleep habits can do beautiful things for your immune system. A solid practice is making your bedroom area a "no-electronics/technology" zone. The blue light emitted from your smartphone, watching TV in bed, or surfing on your tablet will naturally keep your brain and your body in an active state. The rule of thumb is no electronics at least two hours before bedtime. If you want to take it up a notch, dim the lights in your house to signal to your body that it's time to wind down for the day.
7.) Stay as Active as Possible
When those chilly temperatures roll in, it can be tempting to curl up in a blanket on the couch and hibernate. Don't do that. Your holistic journey needs to stay as active as possible. Take yoga classes weekly, grab a buddy, and bundle up for a fast-paced walk to get your heart rate going. Can you participate in fun indoor activities like aerial aerobics, indoor swimming, or even a new dance class in the fall and winter? Trying new things to keep active can be motivating and a learning experience at the same time. You may find a passion for an activity or hobby with which you will fall in love and grow from the experience.
The more you move, the healthier you'll feel and the less chance you have of suffering depression, excess weight gain, and sleep loss.
8.) Take Care of Your Skin
Your skin can change with the fall weather by developing "Fall skin," including dryness, dull and sallow skin tone, sun spots, flaking, irritation, and the flare-up of some chronic conditions. So it's essential to invest in your skincare routine. For example, moisturize more if you need the right skincare products. Or you may want to add a facial oil to boost hydration.
Don't forget your sunscreen as well during the fall and winter months. Even if you aren't getting as much sunshine as summer, it's still there, and it's just as essential to protect your skin when you want to prevent premature aging.
9.) Slow Down and Enjoy the Season
One of the best ways to benefit from your holistic wellness plan is to slow down and enjoy the season. Take a few moments each day to look at the beautiful fall leaves, read a book, journal, or even meditate. Whatever you enjoy doing in your free time is an essential holistic journey. Letting your brain take a breather and your body relax is good for you.