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Autumn is a season of transition in many ways. The temperatures dip just when you were getting accustomed to the warmth of summer and schools get back in session too. At the same time, the holiday season and the end of the year both come into view.
Amidst all these events, it can be easy to feel a bit out of sorts. Even more so if the year has been challenging and has taken its toll on you. Nevertheless, it is still possible to turn things around and enjoy the season and all it brings.
Would you like some tips on how you can stay happy and healthy this autumn? Read on.
Table of Contents
Self-assessment
Working towards improving your health and happiness without taking stock of your current state is like going grocery shopping without a list. Granted, you may still make decent progress but it is also likely that there are things you may leave out.
Think of self-assessment as a mental and emotional pulse check. Doing it in autumn gives you a window to turn things around before the year ends.
Some areas you can focus on include:
Your Goals
Take time to evaluate what your goals were for the year and how much you have achieved. The aim here is not to reprimand yourself for what you were not able to do but to plan on how you can do better. You may find that you feel less anxious about the year ending if you have a plan on how to achieve your goals. It is also perfectly fine if your objectives have changed and you decide to go back to the drawing board.
Mental and Emotional Health
Your emotional and mental state spills into other facets of your life such as work or school and even relationships. It saps your productivity and your happiness which often leads most people to overindulge during the holiday season. Sometimes you do not really need that third serving of pie at Thanksgiving, you are subconsciously just trying to make yourself feel better.
Identifying your stressors and finding healthy ways to deal with them may save you from stress-eating and sulking throughout the holidays. Consider therapy, confiding in a loved one, or meditation which has been found to have significant calming effects. On a more practical approach, extricate yourself from the stressors where possible.
Making the Right Dietary Choices
A Halloween without candy or a Thanksgiving without turkey would simply not be the same. Costumes, good food, fun, and laughter are the cornerstones on which these holidays are built. However, if you go all out with no dietary limits, all those healthy smoothies or gym sessions will have been for naught.
Is it really possible to eat right during merry-making? You certainly can and here is how:
Moderation
It would be unrealistic to expect you not to indulge in any of the treats you come across. So, here is a compromise, indulge in moderation. Save for allergies, it is actually overindulgence that causes harm to your body and health. The principle isn’t that you can never eat a sumptuous cheeseburger but more that it is not something you should eat every other day.
One way to pace yourself is through portions. You probably already know that it is preferable to eat small amounts at regular intervals. It keeps your blood sugar levels more stable and helps your metabolism become more efficient. If you hope to keep extra pounds at bay, proper metabolism is essential. Try and commit to watching your portions and avoid tucking into huge meals.
Your servings of different foods are also an important aspect of moderation. Vegetables should take up the largest portion of your plate followed by protein and the carbs get the smallest portion. Heap on those veggies, your waistline will thank you later.
Avoid Flare-ups
Allergies are evil little villains, they deny you the pleasure of eating some of the things you find most delectable. Take lactose intolerance, for instance. If you suffer from it, ice cream, whipped cream on pie, and many other treats go out the window. Wheat and gluten allergies also limit your pastry consumption as not everyone uses gluten-free products to bake.
Nonetheless, no matter how mouth-watering the treats, it is best to avoid them if they result in side-effects. They are not worth having to go into the emergency room for or spending the holidays with your skin breaking out.
To Drink or Not to Drink?
If this question is in regard to water then the answer is definitely yes. In fact, the more the better. After the rigors of summer, your body and skin need all the hydration they can get. You could also consider homemade natural juices especially if you are not too faithful when it comes to eating fruit.
On the other hand, there is the question of indulging in a holiday tipple. The basic principle of pacing yourself applies here too. As you set your preferred drink on the table, ensure to have a bottle of water within reach as well. Alcohol dehydrates your body quite significantly as your liver breaks it down and your kidneys help expel it from your system. In addition:
Have a meal before you drink
Avoid alcohol if you are on medication
Set a limit for yourself
Choose a suitable mixer
A Fitness Plan
It is possible that summer derailed you from your workout routine. High temperatures tend to make the body lethargic. The cooler temperatures of autumn may be a good time to get active before heavy snow makes the outdoors unbearable. Plus, it does not hurt to burn off the extra calories from your cheat days.
Make it Interesting
The trick to sticking to your fitness plan is to make it something you look forward to. For, instance, if you enjoy challenges, get yourself a Fitbit or a smartwatch. You will have a goal each day on how many steps to cover which may motivate you to stay active.
Do What Works For You
When it comes to exercise there is no one size that fits all; take up a form of it that you enjoy. In the event that running is not your fancy, explore other options like kickboxing or swimming. At the end of the day, the goal is the same: fitness. Nevertheless, it is also important to know your limits and take necessary precautions such as:
Buy the right shoes to avoid slips and falls
Choose gear that is suitable for fitness and comfortable too
Use assistive devices where you may need them such as pain management devices and heart-rate monitors
Financial Prudence
The holiday season and shopping go hand in hand, the bridge between them is your finances. Your bank account will likely come under the siege of holiday sales, gifts, and travel expenses.
Money or the lack of it can, therefore, be a great source of stress and unhappiness. Thinking about everything you need to pay for may be sending your blood pressure through the roof. However, making wise spending decisions could make a huge difference in your well-being. To help you get around that, here are some holiday money tips:
Have a Budget
You will likely spend a lot more if you have no budget set aside. Holiday spending is one of the leading sources of impulsive debt. It would be best to take a look at your finances and see what you have to spare after your usual bills. Upcoming end-year bonuses may also be a good source of extra funds. Once you pool all these funds, then you will have a clearer picture of how much you have to spend.
In the future, you could also set up a holiday savings account that you add to every month. It is a nice way to ensure that you do not have to go into debt or overstretch your finances during festive times.
Prioritize Your Needs
When Black Friday comes around, sale signs will be beckoning at you everywhere you look. Soon after, Cyber Monday follows and before you know it, Christmas is here.
Sale season is a great time to shop but you certainly need a plan to make the most of it. Discounts may tempt you into buying stuff you have no use for. It is a waste of money that you may later regret.
To this end, it might be helpful to make a list of specific items you need including holiday gifts for loved ones. Thereafter you can shop around for good deals on them that are within your budget.
Travel Expenses
The rule of thumb is to always make your travel arrangements as early as you can. Flights are much cheaper if you make your booking way in advance. Look out for discounts from various booking sites too but be sure to compare several at a time. Prices and reliability tend to differ from one site to another.
Health Consciousness
In the whirlwind of visiting family and carving out pumpkins, it is easy to get carried away. Unfortunately, if you have underlying conditions that need monitoring, slip-ups can be life-threatening. It is crucial that you diligently keep up with recommended home health management and monitoring techniques. Consider:
Portable Health Devices
One way to stay on track with your health is to invest in portable health monitoring devices. If you are hypertensive, for example, you could buy a home blood pressure monitor. There are many brands in the market but aim for one that is accurate and easy to use. A digital blood pressure machine is one of the user-friendly options you could look into. On accuracy, blood pressure apparatus with precision technology such as Pulsewave are arguably the best there is in the market.
Healthy Pain Management Techniques
Chronic conditions also come with pain which can be very limiting. It is a sad affair to watch your family or friends take part in fun activities while you crouch in pain. Consider investing in effective pain relief solutions that also give you the freedom to enjoy various activities.
Laser therapy devices are highly recommendable for pain management. They offer quick relief without all the side-effects and dependency of painkillers. Further, there are wearable designs that can be worn on the go for knee pain or back pain relief, and some inflammations as well.
Conclusion
We often refer to happiness as though it is just one emotion that is fickle and fleeting. On the contrary, there are many intricacies that can affect your happiness, and they change through the seasons. Incidentally, health and happiness are inextricably linked given as one often affects the other. It is thus advisable to work on both to achieve the ideal balance of wellness. Now that you have some tips on how to do that, enjoy autumn.
