September is here, and that means for many people (within certain parts of the world, anyway), summer is over. You may have enjoyed a relaxing vacation, been to festivals, or just had a good time chilling with friends and good food. Either way now is the time to recuperate and relax, to recharge, and to nourish yourself once more before the autumn and winter fun begins!
A self-care tune-up can mean many different things to different people, but there is one constant – you should feel better coming out of one than you should go in. But what does this mean in practice? Well, only that it’s good fun to pamper yourself a little and to invest in your well-being a touch more now that the fun is on pause.
But how might you go about it? Let’s make some warm recommendations to help you get started:
Consider A Dental Checkup
Self-care touchups are best when they’re simple, and making sure you touch base with your health is usually a wise idea, especially if you’ve been burning the candle at both ends, so to speak. A dental checkup might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about pampering yourself, but it’s one of those things that, once done, gives a sense of relief. It’s nice to know your teeth are in good shape or to catch a small issue before it becomes a bigger problem, requiring expensive work.
Touch Base With Your Fitness Goals
It’s true that your summer might have been full of activities like swimming, hiking, or just enjoying the longer days. But now that things are winding down, it could be worth revisiting your fitness goals to see if you’re still in line with them. If you’ve had a good summer full of eating and drinking, that might not be the case (don’t worry, we’ve all been there!)
Reconnecting with a routine that got a little lost over the summer can help you reassert yourself, perhaps through picking up running again, or perhaps it’s finding something new to keep you active as the seasons change and the weather gets colder outside. You might transition to a weightlifting schedule instead of outdoor rock climbing, for example.
Catch Up On Your Sleep
If you’ve been on vacation or have been heading from place to place to meet friends, and especially if you’ve been to a festival, getting enough rest might not have been your main priority. However, this is one of those things that impacts almost everything else – your mood, your energy levels, even how well you handle stress. So, giving yourself permission to rest, to turn in early, or to enjoy a lazy Sunday morning in bed can help you recharge for the months ahead. Sure, a “sleep debt” isn’t paid by just sleeping more, but no matter what the scientists say, relaxing into a deeper sleep schedule is restorative after a long summer of partying and fun.
Adjust Your Wardrobe For The Colder Seasons
There’s a real heartfelt kind of comfort in shifting from summer to autumn, and your wardrobe plays a big part in that whole process. Pulling out the cozy jumpers, scarves, and boots can be a little ritual of its own, showing that a new season is here and you’re ready for it. If anything it gives you a good cognitive shift to start wearing thicker shirts and warmer trousers. This is also a fun excuse to go shopping and topping up your wardrobe with a few fun staples that help you relax into your own style once more. If you start now, when the weather is still pretty warm, you don’t need to change everything overnight.
Catch Up With Family
Family time can be nourishing, giving you a sense of belonging and warmth as the seasons shift, but of course remember that close friends count too, as you don’t have to be blood related to be family. This also gives you a comforting chance to share stories from your summer, hear about what they’ve been up to, and just enjoy each other’s company. Sometimes, a good conversation with someone you care about is all the self-care you need to feel like you’ve offloaded all the experiences you’ve had. It’s also an excuse to go out for coffee or tea and just settle into the warmth of a slower pace.
Reassess Your Goals
Now is a healthy time to reassess your goals. This doesn’t have to be a big, formal process, as it can be as simple as asking yourself what you want for the rest of the year and what small steps you can take to get there. Sometimes, just checking in with yourself and making a little tweak here or there, like if you want to start applying for new jobs or consider the process of moving apartment, can give you a goal to move to.
With this advice, we hope you can enjoy a self-care tune-up after summer, to prepare and feel your best for autumn.
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