Fall self-care ideas that are perfect for mental health

October 11, 2019

Fall is a stressful time for most people for many reasons. For starters, we bid adieu to summer with all its fun times and warm days. It also comes with a lot of holidays to prepare for as the year comes to an end.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by Fall and all its demands, the best thing you can do is put your mental health first. Here are some tips to help you do that.

Exercise

Getting your heart rate moving through exercise is a great way to release endorphins into your system and put you in a good mood. We also consume a lot of calorie-rich foods in Fall, and regular exercise will help keep you in shape.

Choose any activities that make you happy and can raise your heartbeat. It could be dancing, hiking, jogging, or yoga. When you make room for exercise every day, you will be in a much better frame of mind to tackle Fall's challenges.

Pamper yourself

Since Fall ushers in a time of many holidays, we find ourselves planning for and catering to others' needs. It means that a lot of people have no time for themselves. That can leave us feeling overwhelmed and blue.

This Fall, why don't you take care of yourself first? Make time each day for some "me time" when you can do things that relax your body and mind. You could read a book, listen to your favorite music, go out for coffee, have a massage, meditate, or hang out with friends. Whatever feeds your soul!

Family time

With the kids go back to school and parents get busy with other responsibilities, it may be hard to have some family time. Just losing that family connection each day that is often taken for granted in summer depresses many people.

To make sure you do not lose out on your family time in the Fall, make time to unwind together as a family at the end of each day and during the weekend. Do simple things like enjoy meals together and share your day's experiences.

On the weekends, you can go out for trips to the farmers market, Fall festivals or hikes. Whatever you can enjoy as a family, do it to strengthen that bond and build great memories.

Watch your health

Nothing makes Fall stressful, like coming down with a cold. In order to keep you and your family healthy during this season, it's essential to eat a healthy diet.

Time to chuck those summer treats such as ice creams away. Instead, feed yourself and your loved ones with some warming foods like soups, and roasted seasonal veggies flavored with warming spices.

Also, try to get all your vitamins by taking a multivitamin each day. And since you are not likely to get much sun, make sure you stock up on good vitamin D supplements too.

Take it a step at a time

One thing that makes Fall stressful is thinking of all we have to do. The truth is, although it's a busy time, we don't have to do everything all at once. Some great ways you can beat this overwhelming feeling are;

Write down all you have to do and tackle it step by step. Figure out what is most important and start with that going down the list as you finish with tasks.
Ask for help or hire helpers if possible. You could get someone to babysit for you while you plan events or do some holiday shopping. Or find someone to help you clean. Why not ask a friend that loves parties to party plan with you? Just ask and get help when you need it. It is easier than you think.
Plan ahead for events that are stressing you such as Halloween or Christmas. For example, buy costumes for and decorations for Halloween in advance. Plan holiday parties with family and friends and share the responsibility of hosting with others.
Give yourself a break and simplify things like cutting down on your guest lists for parties or not committing to organize too many events. You will feel less stressed when you do this.

These are five ways to beat Fall stress that you can use to take care of your mental health. Do you have something relaxing you do to deal with the stresses of the season? Please share it with us.

Fall is a great season that comes with lots of special things like tasty autumn grab, fantastic Fall colors, and holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving. Use these tips to stay in the best frame of mind so you can be stress- free and able to enjoy these wonderful times with friends and family.