September is traditionally a time of new beginnings – children going back to school, students about to set off for university, evening classes starting.
Now is the ideal time to overhaul your life to make sure you move into the colder months ahead with a healthy mind, body and spirit, says editor Jane Garton.
Summer is a long season. By the time September comes, we can end up slumped in a heap, fed up with our work, our body and our life. Autumn is a wonderful time to reassess your lifestyle, so here are some top tips to get yourself back on track.
EAT THE HEALTHY WAY
Out go the lighter foods of summer and in come hearty stews and soups which are full of nutrients to keep your immune system fighting fit.
Five portions of fruit and veg a day are a must. Look out for seasonal favourites such as pumpkins, carrots and sweet potatoes which are rich sources of beta carotene, helping to boost immunity. Fresh mushrooms are another great option: they are rich in protein and are delicious mixed with oriental varieties such as shiitake which contain powerful anti-viral chemicals and cholesterol-reducing compounds.
And don’t forget apples and blackberries – they make the perfect combination for a healthy autumn pie. Buy organic whenever you can. It is more likely to have been locally grown so chances are the fruit will be fresher and retain more nutrients.
SUPPLEMENT YOUR DIET
Working nine to five or looking after children can be time consuming which means many of us don’t always eat as healthily as we could. And this is where supplementing your diet can help to give your health an extra boost, especially as autumn starts.
You need to pay attention to your immune system to make sure it’s ready for the inevitable slew of winter bugs and viruses. A good multivitamin and mineral supplement, plus a daily dose of vitamin C, is a good place to start to make up for any short fall in your diet.
MOTIVATE YOURSELF
During summer we are often so busy rushing around that we don’t really have time to think about what we really want from life. But autumn presents the perfect opportunity to reassess your life at work and at home. Are you really achieving your potential or would you like to make a change but are not sure how to start?
The secret is to focus on what you want and then set in place some small and clear steps on how to go about achieving it. If you want to make time for something new, make appointments in your diary and stick to them. Large tasks are much more achievable when they are broken into small chunks.
5 WAYS TO BOOST YOUR GET UP AND GO
- Have an autumn clean out. Clear out your cupboards, take any clothes you haven’t worn down to the charity shop and throw away old magazines and papers etc.
- Your brain is at its best first thing in the morning so do a crossword puzzle over breakfast to kick-start your day
- Go for an early morning walk and pick up some autumn leaves
- Have a good stretch. Reach up above your head with your fingertips as far as you can go.
- Breathe deeply. Take 20 quick breaths then inhale deeply for one long deep breath, hold it for a second then blow it out forcefully.
