The transition from summer to fall can be a hard one. Some experience the back-to-school or back-to-work blues, while others put pressure on themselves to sign kids up for lessons, buy clothes and school supplies, and make sure everything goes perfectly.
I used to be one of those parents, but I learned to cut myself some slack and to breathe. Most of the time things work out. In the words of my son, “It’ll buff.”
Now I view fall as a time to reset and fine-tune healthy habits.
1. Focus on good sleep hygiene.
Proper sleep is essential for physical and mental well-being. Studies have found that chronic sleep deprivation increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. Adequate sleep is also essential for maintaining healthy skin. Restorative functions, such as tissue repair, occur when we sleep. We really do need our beauty sleep to feel and look our best.
What’s good sleep hygiene? Keeping a regular sleep schedule (yes, even on weekends) helps stabilize your circadian rhythm or internal body clock. Adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. Make your bedroom your sanctuary. Don’t bring your smartphone to bed with you. Electronic devices emit blue light, which makes it harder to fall and stay asleep. That text or email can wait until the morning. Do what it takes to protect your sleep, whether that means investing in some blackout blinds or a comfy duvet.
2. Get regular exercise.
You don’t need to become a gym rat to reap benefits from exercise. Going for a brisk walk or dancing to your favourite tunes will boost your mood, help you sleep better (providing you don’t exercise too close to your bedtime), and combat health conditions and diseases.
Regular exercise can also help you maintain a healthy weight for you, which is beneficial for the health of your skin.
If yoga is not your thing but you love to swim, stick with the swimming. You will only reap the benefits of exercise if you do it consistently. The fall is a great time to commit to a class or a run club, so it becomes a part of your schedule. The stress-busting benefits of exercise will make tweaking your schedule worth it.
3. Shake up your skincare regimen.
We all have our favourite products, but our skincare needs change with the seasons. For instance, you may need to switch up your moisturizer when the indoor heat comes on in fall. You may also want to invest in some products or treatments that can help repair sun damage from your fun in the sun.
During your next appointment, we can discuss how we can amp up your skincare regimen.
4. Manage stress by taking time to play.
We’re wired to react to dangers such as a wild animal running towards us, but our bodies will go into the same flight-or-fight response if we have an encounter with a difficult co-worker or almost get sideswiped by an inattentive driver. In stressful situations, our adrenal glands release adrenaline and cortisol so we can focus on fighting and fleeing. Our heart rate and hormone levels go back to normal once the perceived threat is gone.
When we’re constantly experiencing stress due to an ailing parent or a difficult co-worker, for example, our stress-response systems don’t turn off, which can cause skin issues and more serious health problems.
So, what’s a gal or guy to do? We all go through extremely stressful periods in our lives. It is vital to manage stress so we stay healthy. For many people, “playing” does the trick. That could mean knitting, strumming a guitar or gardening. “Playing” is whatever takes you out of your head and allows you to become completely immersed in the moment in a positive way. It may feel selfish to take that time for yourself, but if you’re not taking care of yourself, you can’t really be there for anyone else.
I hope you find the beauty in fall and remember to take deep breaths! As always, I am here to help and to answer any of your questions about skincare and treatments.
