The Worst Autumn Health Habits

October 31, 2016

Autumn is the time of year when colder weather approaches and days become shorter. It’s also the time of year when people pick up the worst health habits. It’s easy to feel the need to stay bundled up in your house when the temperature goes down, but before you know it, sweater weather will be over and there won’t be any hiding the effects of all the bad habits you blindly slipped into before it was too late.

Here are some of the worst autumn health habits to avoid this season:

Overeating

With the holidays rapidly approaching, temptations of warm, fatty, sugary comfort food begin to rise… along with your weight! Don’t let the sight of delicious Halloween candy, pumpkin flavored treats, or the scent of Thanksgiving turkey, take control of your health. What may be a short term pick me up, could end up being a long term “put me down”… especially for your physical well-being. You can indulge in your favorite foods and treats, but be sure to set some limits and work off those added calories with some physical activity if possible.

Hibernation

Waking up to chilly mornings might make you want to crawl back into your warm bed with the thought of never leaving your house. Not only that, but it doesn’t help that all of your favorite TV shows are premiering new episodes for the fall season. Before you know it, you have become a couch potato and gradually shortened the amount of daily exercise in your life. Snap out of it!

Spending too much time inactive and in “hibernation” can lead to eating out of boredom and sleep deprivation. It can also lead to a change in mood and depression due to a lack of Vitamin D that you get from natural daylight. All of that inactivity increases your risk of health issues such as weight gain, heart attack, and even a stroke. Try to avoid this by putting aside at least 30 minutes a day for light activity. Even if it’s just by going for a short walk on your lunch break.

Withdrawing from Social Activities

Many people tend to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, during the fall and winter months. This is a disorder brought about by the lack of sunlight which causes you to be depressed and unmotivated to participate in any type of social activities. The best prevention for SAD is to get outside and experience a daily dose of natural daylight and fresh air. It’s equally important to boost your mood and social connections by occasionally making time to go out with friends and family.

Don’t let the colder weather and shortened days bring out the worst in you. Take control over these habits before they take control over you. It may be difficult at first, but it’s certainly not impossible! By avoiding these bad habits, your body will thank you come springtime.