Fall Feels

Forgive me the technicality, I know the equinox is still officially one week away, but it’s feeling very much like fall around here.

The garden has slowed production.

The flannels and pants are back in rotation.

The leaves are turning.

And I am starting to feel the crud.

Fall is my weak spot. It is the time I get sick, cold sores, and feel chronically underslept.

Obviously, this year more than ever, it feels crucial to focus on maintaining health and welness. Here’s my plan.

• Drink (even) more water.

One summer when I was a kid, the camp nurse prescribed water for whatever ailed us.

Headache? Drink some water. Homesick? Water. Bruised your knee? Where’s your water bottle?

I’ve totally adopted her credo as an adult.

Water is magic medicine. I’ve had first hand results with it’s ability to prevent colds and cold sores, treat headaches, improve athletic recovery, improve digestion, make skin glow, and calm anxiety.

On the other side of it, I also ended up in the emergency room in China at 3am as a result of not drinking enough of it…

I generally aim for a minimum of 60 ounces a day. This time of year, when I need it the most and find it challenging to remember to drink it (cooler temps?), I am striving to drink closer to 100 ounces.

One way I ‘convince’ myself to drink more is to add something to my glass. This could be as simple as a slice of cucumber or some lemon. It helps me keep track and treat it like a prepared drink rather than a random glass of water that may as well water the plants or go down the drain.

Other “additives” that I find helpful to increase my water intake: vitamin C /EmergenC packets (cvs brand of this type of product is actually my favorite), vitamin D drops, electrolite drops, drinking sparkling water, keeping a pitcher of water in the fridge with sprigs of mint or lemon balm from the garden.

• Vitamin C

I don’t take vitamin C every day but it is my go-to at the first signs of the fall crude.

• Maintain my produce intake

I eat the rainbow of fresh produce in the summer, especially when the garden is cranking. All that variety and fresh food helps ensure I am getting a healthy daily dose of vitamins, antioxidents, and minerals.

Like most people, when the light wains and the leaves fall, it’s easy for me to turn towards heartier, starchier foods and decrease my variety of produce. Thankfully, I love soup and the more veggie packed it is, the better in my book.

Carrot Miso Soup

• Spend time outside

Daylight, vitamin D, fresh air, and connecting with the world around me has never been better medicine than in these challenging, unprecidented times.

Our physical, mental, and spiritual health has never been more challenged, I encourage you to carve out space in your day to address each of these for yourself, in whatever big or small way speaks to your needs.