As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, it’s time to say goodbye to summer and hello to fall. Less daylight and colder weather often necessitates a shift in your routine, making fall the perfect time to make a transition. If you haven’t figured out your fall routine lately, here are nine tips that will help you get adjusted, from switching up your skincare routine to setting your alarm earlier:
Change up your skincare routine.
Most people’s skin becomes dry in the cooler months, which means that fall is the time to put away your foaming cleanser and gel moisturizer to replace it with something more nourishing. Choose cream cleansers and thick skin tightening creams that will leave your skin feeling smooth and protected. Don’t forget to apply it to your neck and decollete as well! This is also a great time to use a dark spot remover to treat any hyperpigmentation and sun damage that might have developed over the summer.
Switch up your wardrobe.
Fall is the perfect time to begin preparing your wardrobe for winter. It’s time to wash your shorts, swimsuits, and short sleeves shirts, and then put them away in storage bins until the weather warms up again. Instead, stock your drawers with sweaters and pants that will keep you cozy throughout the fall and winter. As you’re updating your closet, you might want to try on all your clothes and donate anything that doesn’t fit or isn’t your style anymore.
Put away summer gear.
After the temperature drops, it’s time to put away your beach and camping gear until next season. Once you’re sure you won’t use any gear again this year, give it a thorough cleaning and allow it to fully dry out before packing it away and putting it in storage. Before you put it away, do a thorough inspection and repair any damage that you find. That way, all your gear will be ready to go once the spring rolls around.
Set your alarm earlier.
If you want to take advantage of what daylight there is, then it’s a good idea to set your alarm earlier in the fall, so that you wake up as close to sunrise as possible. This will probably necessitate going to bed earlier as well, in order to make sure that you are getting enough sleep every night. If you currently go to bed and wake up pretty late in the day, slowly start moving it back a few minutes every day starting in the fall. By the time winter really hits, you’ll be on a schedule that aligns with the sun.
Try light therapy.
On the subject of short days, light therapy can help you feel more alert in the morning, especially if you live in a place where the weather is inclement and you don’t often get sunlight. Light therapy can also treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that often occurs in fall and winter when the days are shorter. For best results, use the light therapy lamp for 20-30 minutes within the first hour of waking up. The light should be placed 16-24 inches from you, but don’t look directly at it so you don’t damage your eyes!
Stay active indoors.
Staying active is important for both mental and physical health, but it can be tough when your energy is low and it’s too dark and cold to get outside. Plan some workouts that you can do indoors on cold, rainy days — even if you don’t own any exercise equipment, there are still plenty of workouts that you can do at home. You might also want to consider joining a gym or signing up for a virtual class that will help to keep you accountable.
Meal plan for the weather.
While there is less produce in season during the fall, it is the perfect time to get fresh squash, pumpkin, potatoes, carrots, brussel sprouts, broccoli, and other winter vegetables. Plan out some recipes around in-season vegetables so that you can take advantage of delicious fall produce. Since fall signals the beginning of cold and flu season, be sure to focus on nutrient-dense recipes that will naturally boost your immune system and help you stay healthy as we head into the holidays.
Investigate your vitamin D levels.
When the days get shorter, you likely won’t get enough sun exposure in order to create enough vitamin D. Fortunately, you can get vitamin D from certain foods, such as fatty fish, egg yolks, and certain mushrooms. However, some people do need to take vitamin D supplements if they can’t get enough of the vitamin through their diet. At your next appointment, talk to your doctor about whether or not you need to potentially take a vitamin D supplement.
Plan ahead for the holidays.
We know that the holidays might seem pretty far away right now, but they will come up faster than you think. Now is the time to start thinking about your holiday plans, such as making travel plans, requesting time off, and planning for your gift shopping. Adding a little bit of prep to your daily or weekly routine can reduce a lot of your stress in the future. Be sure not to overbook yourself, and set aside time to take care of your mental and physical health not just during the fall, but throughout the holiday season as well.
We hope these tips help you feel prepared to transition your routine during the fall season! What other changes are you making to your schedule this fall? Have you started transitioning to your fall routine, or is the weather still warm where you live? Let us know in the comments below!
