10 Easy Ways To Stay Active And Healthy This Fall

Fall leaves and pumpkins, please! Fall is my favorite season of the year. There is so much to love about it. Falling leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, apple picking, Halloween!! But what about the cooler weather? The rain? The sicknesses going around? That part is not my fav! So, for me, when fall comes to town I like to focus on staying active and healthy. 

It’s so easy to get into what I like to call a “couch potato routine.” This type of routine consists of lots of lounging, cozy blankets, a warm fireplace, yummy drinks and food, lots of TV time, and not much else. Sounds great in theory but where is the activity? Where is the healthy lifestyle I worked so hard to cultivate over the spring and summer? It’s gone!

Fall does not have to be synonymous with the couch potato lifestyle. You can enjoy both an active and healthy lifestyle while also indulging in your favorite fall festivities (like PSLs and rewatching The Office). Keep reading for all 10 ways you can stay active and healthy this fall season. 

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10 easy ways to stay active and healthy this fall 

I like to keep things simple and attainable on this blog. We are all about ease and setting yourself up for success! So, the 10 ways you can stay active and healthy are actually very manageable! Let’s jump into it…

Do some home workouts 

With the weather changing and the mornings/evenings getting darker and darker, you might find your motivation to hit the gym or go for a run dwindles. That doesn’t mean you have to stop working out or even push yourself to do workouts you hate for a whole season. 

Start doing some or all of your workouts at home! It’s easy to do and with a little discipline, you can get great workouts in. I personally love home workouts and do them year-round but if you are a newbie to home workouts I highly recommend making use of all the free YouTube videos out there! 

Check out MadFit or Growingannanas On YouTube. They are amazing!

Related reads:

• Easy Ways To Start Working Out At Home
• A New Workout Routine To Try If You’re In A Rut
• The Best Amazon Finds For Health And Fitness

Go for a hike 

On the flip side, cooler weather can make hiking a lot more enjoyable. I’m not sure about you but I don’t enjoy hiking in the summer because a) it’s so sweaty and b) there are too many bugs! 

Hiking in the fall is a great way to stay active and also enjoy the great outdoors without the crazy heat and all the creepy crawlies. 

Plus, it’s an activity you can do with a friend! During the fall and winter, people tend to stay indoors more and hang out with friends less so hiking is a great excuse to see a friend and get some social time in too!

Prioritize healthy meals 

I will be the first to say that I love comfort food and fall is the PERFECT time for it. However, most comfort food is not the best for you. I am a strong believer in “everything in moderation” so please enjoy your mac and cheese but throw in some healthy meals too!

Another option is to find recipes for healthier versions of your favorite comfort foods. There is always a way to make something a bit more nutritious, lower carb, less salt, etc. 

Apparently, pumpkin is a great healthy option, and now is the perfect time to try something new! 

Here are a few healthy pumpkin recipes you can try:

• Healthy Pumpkin Muffins 
• Creamy Pumpkin Soup
• Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats

Track your activity 

Have you ever gotten to the end of the month and realized you didn’t workout as much as you planned? I’m sure we have all been there. 

I like to track my movement so that I know each week what I’ve done and if I need to step it up the following week. 

It can be so easy to get stuck in that couch potato mode and especially when fall brings out the cozy clothes. You might not be as motivated to keep that “summer bod.” However, it’s important to remember that exercise is not just about how you look. It’s about how you feel! 

Grab yourself a planner (this is my fav one) or even just a piece of paper and write down the days you move whether that’s a full workout, a walk, a hike, swimming at the pool, or whatever you do!

Do short workouts while watching TV

While you are rewatching a favorite TV show or binge-watching something new, get in a short workout! You could do an ab workout or challenge yourself to some cardio. You don’t need to pick between a workout and watching TV this fall! 

Drink lots of water 

This is a pretty basic piece of advice that you should really follow during any time of year but it’s important to stay hydrated during the fall when cold and flu season kicks off. 

Take care of yourself by drinking lots of water! According to a study done about water consumption, only around 22% of adults actually drink enough water! Let’s bump that number up a bit, shall we? 

Maintain a healthy sleep schedule 

When the weather changes it can really mess with your sleeping habits. Since it gets darker earlier you may find yourself wanting to crawl into bed earlier too. Or you might find it extra hard to wake up in the morning so you start sleeping longer. 

Whatever sleeping schedule works for you, try to stick with it. Not only does having a consistent sleep schedule help you stay healthy, but it will also just make your life a lot easier!

Related read: A Winter Night Time Routine That Works For Everyone

Get that Vitamin D

Getting Vitamin D naturally can be difficult during the fall. Generally speaking, the sunshine is still out for a while but when the days get darker it’s hard to soak up the sun. 

For those of us who struggle with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) getting enough Vitamin D is crucial. So, if you can’t get outside and use the sunshine there are other ways to get it. 

Of course, you can take Vitamin D supplements (talk to your dr about that). You can also buy yourself a super cool lamp that you can sit in front of each day to soak up some artificial outdoor light that is thought to trigger your brain to release chemicals that make you feel happier!

Check out this lamp! It has fantastic reviews and is affordable!!

Go outside and get fresh air 

Part of staying healthy is getting some fresh air. I know I tend to start feeling pretty crappy if I’m sitting inside all day. The moment I step outside and breathe in the fresh air it’s like I’m a new person! So, get outside for a walk or just simply for a few minutes of fresh air!

Wash your hands 

I don’t think I need to explain much about this one. Over the past few years, it has been drilled into our minds to wash our hands so, just keep that up! 

It’s not a secret that washing your hands helps you stay healthy. Fall typically brings some colds and flus so just remember to wash your hands often! I recently picked up some new soaps for Bath and Body Works and they smell soooo good!

In conclusion 

While it may not always be the easiest to stay active and healthy during the fall and winter months, it’s obviously super important to try. Getting out for walks, getting some fresh air, and eating healthier meals are a great place to start and are easy to do! 

As I mentioned, it’s easy to fall into a couch potato routine (I’ve done it!) but it really doesn’t help you in the long run. Our bodies need movement and nutritious food, enough water, and some Vitamin D! So make sure you are taking care of yourself!

How are you staying active and healthy? Do you like working out at home or are you more of a gym person?