Summer has been a blast, but is anyone else ready for the routine the school year brings? Even if you don’t have school-age children, summer is the Wild Wild West of all the seasons, and some of us are desperately craving the normalcy of fall, winter, and spring. We’ve put together five ways to help you get your routine back!
- Get to Bed Early: Summer nights are exceptional for squeezing out every last drop of sunshine. Late-night BBQs, afternoons on the boat, concerts in the park. Summer is a time for making memories, but it also means we’re all probably staying up later than we should be. One of the most restorative choices we can make for our bodies is to get enough sleep. So as the days gets shorter and the sun goes down earlier, take advantage of your body’s natural circadian rhythm. Hop in to bed an hour earlier and see how much better you feel the next day!
- Exercise: Those short winter days are coming, and moving our bodies can help boost mental health during the dark months! Getting into an exercise routine now—before it’s too cold in the morning to get out of your warm bed—will improve the longevity of your commitment.
- Home-Cooked Meals: If you’re anything like our house, we eat out more often in the summer because we’re on the go. Taking the boat out, swimming at the pool, paddle boarding on the lake. With so many activities, it’s hard to prep and pack food, and we often just grab a pizza or a burger somewhere. But home-cooked meals are often better for our bodies without the extra sodium, unknown ingredients, and fried foods. So make those meal prep lists and hit the grocery store!
- Prepare Your Yard for Snow: Are there last-minute, home-improvement projects that need to be taken care of before the snow comes? Do you need to clear out or build anything before it becomes too cold, wet, or icy? This is a great time to work on the outside of your house. It’s not too cold or too hot, and I’m sure there’s a ton to get done before the snow comes.
- Transition Your Closet: It’s still important to keep a bathing suit on hand for any warm September days (or indoor pools!), but we can start reviewing our clothes for the cold. Where’s your winter coat? Your sweaters and boots? It’s going to be dark and cold before you know it! It’s a quick transition from hot August days to crisp September ones, and being prepared can eliminate any stress the change can bring.
When we treat out bodies right, the rest of our lives have a tendency to fall into place. So if you’re still reeling from the chaos of summer, try some of these tips to help regulate your experience.
