Fall Funk

It never fails. At this time of year I read blog posts of people who are excited about about cocoa, scarves, and yellowing leaves. They look forward to autumn with such anticipation. Not me. I'm not sure why, but the fall always puts me in a funk. The leaves fall off the trees, night comes earlier each day, it's cold outside, and the smells of autumn always give me a nostalgic, sad feeling.

Autumn officially started on the 23rd, so I anticipate that there may be a change in how I feel as well as a change in the weather.

If you can relate to what I'm saying, perhaps the following ideas will help you, too.

Try and stay motivated When my fall funk comes around, I find it hard to stay motivated to do the things I need/want to do. So I simply think of creative ways to reward myself for staying on task and do what I can to keep up my momentum.

Cut yourself a break If your productivity goes down in the fall, that's ok! Know that it may happen to you, prepare for it, and be kind to yourself. You don't have to do everything!

Take some 'you' time It's good to take time for yourself to unwind, recharge, and simply just 'be'. Some ideas include exercising, reading a good book, taking a bath, watching your favorite movie, going to lunch with an old friend. But this is about you - so take time to do what makes YOU happy.

Find something to look forward to Plan a vacation, set up a date with a friend, rent a movie you've been looking forward to; something that helps you feel positive about this season.

Exercise I don't mean to be a broken record this, but exercise improves just about any situation. If you have a routine, keep it up or mix it up. If you don't yet exercise regularly, start today. It makes a difference in the way you feel.

Try a light box I've never used a light box before, but I've thought about it. If it's the darker days that get you down, this may be a good option for you. I'd check with a doctor first, though.

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