Any person that has even spent a few hours with me knows that I despise cold weather and short, dark days. I’m finally OK with admitting that the next few months are some of the toughest when it comes to my mental health. I often joke around that all I want to do is hibernate until it gets warm again; what that looks like for me in practice is that I often miss workouts, I tend to cancel plans, and I spend a lot of time on my couch. I’ve gotten better at recognizing the signs that I’ve taken my “Netflix & chill” too far and need to get back to the self care practices that always make me feel better. One of the most important of those practices is being outside, whether it’s for the entire day or even 10 minutes. There is something about breathing crisp fresh air that invigorates me. Other mood enhancing benefits I personally look forward to are:

• Seeing the beautiful colors on the trees as the leaves change. After staring at the TV for hours on end, it’s so nice to be surrounded by natural beauty.
• Feeling the sun on your skin (you should actually expose your sunscreen-less skin to at least 10 minutes of sun every day). There are many benefits to Vitamin D but there is nothing like that immediate energy boost you feel the moment you're outside.
• Being physical! Whether that means a leisurely walk or even a jog, the body needs movement. Do not let the day pass without getting off your couch even if it means just going around the block once.
• On those very cold winter days, which are the hardest to find motivation, I bundle up and get out there. There is something about frigid air hitting your face and body that makes everything feel more alive. It’s almost like free cryotherapy!

I encourage everyone to try to stick to a routine as best you can. Some days may be easier, some may be harder but setting your habits in place now will mean greater success of sticking to those habits in the coming months. With that said, I’m getting off my computer and going for a walk!