The idea of seasonality has been growing in me the last few years. I’ve embraced the idea that changing our lifestyle based on seasonality matters. In fact, I’d argue that this poses the best health tips for fall and winter.
Our bodies seem to crave cyclical patterns – and even cycle through its own pattern. But I know – it’s easy to get stuck in our day to day patterns and with easy access to the same produce items all year – seasonality is something we rarely have to think about.
But I want to change that – because seasonality is good for so many reasons including our metabolism {yes weight loss}, satiety, hormones, and even our immune system. Some research indicates that our immune system for winter is built in the changing of the season. Even our gut bacteria changes with the changing of the season as it prepares for different foods, different temperatures, and different hormonal changes.
The fall season is probably when our bodies crave the most nourishment. I wrote an entire post with my favorite fall tips to calm your body, boost your immune system, and lessen your anxiety to make you feel good overall. CHECK IT OUT HERE! But for now, here are the best health tips for fall and winter.
1. Create Routine
I always say I’ll never wish summer away, and I can’t say I do, but I can say I start to crave a routine after the long summer days. Do you experience this too? The drive to get back to a routine? To create order and structure in your life – even if it is the little things. With the changing of temperatures, the uncertainty of the weather, our bodies crave consistency in our normal rhythms – bringing chaos to order. Try working on your morning routine – or what I’m finding even more nourishing is my evening routine. Is it perfect? No. Do I do it daily? No. But in general, I have an idea of how I settle down, and I work to do that nightly.
My night-time routine involves picking one or two things from my list.
My evening routine list:
- Reading
- Hot Epsom salt baths
- Sauna sessions
- Sitting in front of my Joovv
- Foam Rolling
- Just talking + game playing
2. Oil Based Products + Foods
Add fats + oils to your foods.
There’s no denying fall is a drying season. Our bodies crave moisture with the best source of this is healthy oils. When you’re cooking, try using more nourishing oils like avocado, olive oil, and sesame oil. Even butter and ghee can be great to melt on veggies, spread on your sweet potatoes, and use in your breakfast.
Moisturize your body with oils.
Other great ways to moisturize your body is through oil-based products. I love to do a weekly full-body oil massage – where you rub oil all over your skin until it’s absorbed, let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then bath or shower. On top of that, I like to apply face oil. Here are some of my favorite body and face oils.
- This is my favorite body oil.
- But I alternate with this less expensive option to be used more than once a week.
- This face oil I use daily as a part of my evening routine.
3. Be Mindful
Be aware of how your body feels. Do things seem chaotic, not restful, more anxious? It’s probably a sign your not in balance with your body. Try slowing down enough to recognize how you feel. If you’re feeling out of whack, trying creating order through rest, mind space and slowing down. Here are some ways I bring myself back to balance:
- Read + Pray – More time with Jesus {obviously}
- Daily Brain Dump – getting my to-do lists and ideas out of my head and on paper.
- Slow down my workouts and amp up my stretching.
- Sleep in occasionally.
- Escape in silence for 10-20 minutes of alone time.
- Daily use of my Nourished Planner to ease my mind that what needs to get done is getting done.
4. Think Warm
As the temperatures start to become more unstable, chaotic, and cold – amp up the use of warm foods and practices to keep your body stable. Anytime something becomes unstable in our environment; our body has to compensate – to help overcome this stress – stabilize what you can. In this case, help support your body.
- Make sure you have a portion of hot food at every meal.
- Keep your neck and ears covered in cold, windy weather.
- Dress in layers and keep your feet covered.
- Incorporate some sauna sessions into your day.
- Use a heating pad to warm up your feet before bed.
5. Eat More Roots
When it comes to your diet – eat seasonally. Which means this time of the year – eat all of the root foods. Think carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and even dense, starchy vegetables like squash and pumpkin. Incorporate these seasonal items to your daily diet to satisfy cravings, increase satiety, and amp up your immune system.
Seasonal produce list:
- Apples
- Arugula
- Beets
- Brussels Sprouts
- Carrots
- Chard
- Chiles
- Cranberries
- Figs
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Onions
- Oranges
- Mushrooms
- Parsnips
- Pears
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Sweet Potatoes
- Turnips
- Winter Squash
Simple Shifts
Seasonality, health, and life boil down to the ability to make simple shifts. The ideal answer might look like consistency, like doing the same thing over and over, but our reality is that we don’t work that way.
Life is in constant movement, whether it’s the physical seasons of the earth or life seasons through good and bad, our worlds are always changing. Instead of getting stuck in one-sized fits all approach, it’s essential to be willing to walk the simple shifts when different seasons approach.
So what does that look like for you? What simple shifts could you be making to your diet and lifestyle routine that will allow your body to see that you’re working with it instead of fighting against it?
Take note of these shifts and put them into action and watch as your entire health changes.
free fall + winter rhythms guide
Want more of the best health tips for fall and winter? Make sure you get all of the details in my free fall and winter rhythms guide. Make seasonality a part of your everyday life, letting go of the constant struggle of fighting the change.
Click here to get the free guide.
