We're coming up on a bleak time of year, the days are getting shorter, it's getting colder and soon we'll have snow. Not exactly painting a bright picture am I? Well it's very easy to have it feel overwhelming and it becomes easy to start slacking on your self care. That's why we need a plan! Not only is the crappy weather a factor but the upcoming holiday season can be pretty hard on our bodies with all the food, booze but mentally too. Leave it to having to hang out with all your extended family to push all your triggers...no, just me?

1. Get Some Vitamin D

Adding in this supplement can make a huge difference to keep your mood even. It also helps maintain bone health, support health of the immune system, and support cardiovascular function among other things. Those all sound like good things, yes? So try a supplement and try to get outside on a day when the sun is shining as much as possible


2. Get Your Workouts In

Exercise releases dopamine and serotonin, we know this. Those hormones both make us feel good, so it's a no brainer that ensuring we're getting 3-4 workouts in a week would be beneficial. Besides if it's shitty and cold out, you might as well go warm up in the gym!

3. Plan Your Meals

This is definitely a self care strategy, you're setting yourself up for success for the week by planning ahead. If you come home from work and it's shitty and cold out, what might you want? COMFORT FOOD, but this sometimes makes us feel even more sluggish and gross.

4. Try a "Dry" Month

It's very tempting especially in the next few months of holiday celebrations to really indulge but that's why taking a month off before or after can be helpful. Not only is booze expensive but it can easily pack on more calories, and they're empty calories. Alcohol is a depressant, and during the dark grey months the last thing you need is to be putting something in your body that's going to make you feel even worse. We did a dry February last year, I think we're aiming for dry November and dry February again this year.


5. Plan a Vacation

Or even a staycation! A weekend away somewhere even close by can be so relaxing. If you spend a lot of time planning it this creates something to look forward to! Do a ton of research, plan it out, try something new while you're away (or something you've always wanted to do at home). The more you put into it the more you'll look forward to it too.


6. Take a Monthly Self Care Day 

Taking a day off, or a half day once a month and just focusing on doing what you want to. That can legit just be sleeping in and catching up on some things. It can be whatever your body feels like it absolutely needs it at that moment. You will absolutely feel refreshed after that!