
Despite being a beautiful time of year, for some, Autumn can mark the beginning of a decline into low mood and even seasonal depression.
But fear not, this self-care survival guide will outline some simple tips to help you keep your mood stable - all year round.
Compensate For The Lack Of Sun
Although we're not yet in winter, the amount of sunlight in the UK is declining to below what is necessary for optimal well-being.
If you are not taking vitamin D already, now is the perfect time to start to ensure that you have healthy levels to get you through the winter.
Vitamin D will help keep your bones strong, help your immune system to fend off viruses, and support overall mood and wellness.
Exposure to sunlight early in the morning is also important to ensure that your circadian rhythm keeps in synch. This will improve sleep and overall mood.
If the sun is shining outside, whatever time of day, make the most of it and get outside. It will make all the difference.
Even if it's a cloudy day, getting outside in natural light will still help.
Many who suffer from seasonal depression find bright light lamps to help compensate for the lack of sunlight. Search ‘SAD lamp benefits’ on Google for more info.
Get Moving
As we all know, regular exercise is essential for all aspects of health. Our bodies are designed to be moving constantly throughout the day, which many of us do not do.
Any exercise is better than none, but a good starting point is to aim for 10,000 steps per day. Evidence suggests that this is an effective amount of activity to stay healthy.
However, for optimal health and well-being, it's best to include some form of resistance training in your exercise routine.
Whether you want to hit the gym or simply do some bodyweight exercises such as press ups and squats, combining a high step count with any form of resistance is an effective way to boost mood and overall health.
Movement is so important that some essential bodily functions do not work properly if we are sedentary. The lymphatic system, which is essential for protecting from infection, is stimulated by movement.
Enjoy Nature
As humans, we are a part of nature. However, we have become increasingly distanced from the environments in which we thrive.
The health benefits of spending time in nature are well documented - and it's not just about getting exercise.
When walking in the woods you will breathe in thousands of natural compounds that can support your health.
It can be hard to believe that these invisible compounds would make a big difference - but they do.
Various studies have demonstrated that being exposed to nature has tangible benefits for immune system function and mood. Helping to stave off illness and keep you feeling great.
Eat Well
Again, a rather obvious piece of advice. But we can often forget how much of an impact the food we eat has on our health and mood.
Food choice is highly personal with people's diets ranging from carnivore to fully plant-based. A balanced approach is probably best.
When it comes to health, something everyone can agree on is to eat real whole foods and avoid ultra-processed food like the plague.
Take the time to make your food from scratch, using real whole food ingredients, and reap the health and mood benefits.
A growing body of evidence also points to the benefits of optimising the gut microbiome for optimal health and mood.
This can be achieved by eating probiotics such as Kombucha and Kefir, and prebiotics in the form of a wide variety of different plants.
A simple hack to support your gut health is to add many different herbs and spices to your food.
CBD Supplements
Hopefully, the previous guidance will be enough to help you feel amazing throughout the Autumn and into the winter. But some people find that they need a little bit of extra help.
Here at BROWN'S CBD, we offer a range of hemp-derived products that are formulated with your well-being in mind.
Compounds found in hemp such as cannabinoids and terpenes can have a profound effect on mood and overall wellness.
Our products harness as many of these beneficial compounds as possible so that they can have the best possible impact.
If you are interested in finding out if CBD products could help support your health and well-being over the Autumn and winter, check out our online CBD shop.
We currently have a 20% Autumn sale that is live until 10/10/2024!