It’s the first full week of fall and the last week of September.  Social media is exploding with fall décor and autumn outfits.   Many of us make a switch in our closets; we rearrange and take stock of what we have to wear as the weather cools.  Many of us make a switch in the décor of our living spaces.  What if we did the same in relation to wellness & fitness? 

Take a little time to re-arrange, take stock, and make some seasonal switches. Continue reading for five simple tips.

There you go - five simple tips to include a bit of health and wellness in your seasonal switch.  Will you implement any of them?  I am definitely tackling my fridge one evening this week!

As a child, when I was distraught about being unable to accomplish a task, my mom would sing High Hopes.  At the time, I didn't pay attention to the lyrics or receive comfort from hearing the song.  It was a distraction; one that was both funny and annoying...the annoyance increasing with my age. 

For years, I believed it was either failure or success with nothing in between.  Failure was and continues to be HARD for me.  I know;  it's hard for everyone.  Some of us, though, take it straight to heart.  My identity was wrapped up in "not failing" and when I did, I was an emotional WRECK!  My inner dialogue was brutal.  Failure was to be avoided at all costs; I generally would give up before facing it again.

I can now appreciate the song and understand why my mom would sing it.  Persistence in the face of failure is challenging but absolutely necessary for success.

Women should not use heavy weights.  Women should only use heavy weights.  Do cardio to lose body fat.  No, don't do cardio.  We hear a lot of noise about exercise online.  Some fitness professionals and exercise enthusiasts loudly proclaim the "one right way"  and put down other programs or methods, often discounting the benefits of exercise beyond weight loss or aesthetics... meanwhile over 75% of Americans do not exercise enough or at all.

You don't have to use barbells.  You don't have to go running.  You don't have to join a gym or studio.   You don't have to do high intensity workouts.  Not if you don't want to.   All you have to do is move your body consistently.  How you do this is up to you.  If you are cleared to exercise,  you have choices that can work right now.   You know you should exercise.  You know why.  It's the how and when that gets tricky.  Whether that is via group classes, joining a gym,  at home, outdoors or with a trainer, you can find one that fits.  

Committing to consistent exercise is an investment of time and (often) money. It is worthwhile to explore your options.

The main considerations: 

• Price - What are you willing to pay for fitness services?   Are you willing to pay more for personalized service or more choices?  Do you receive re-reimbursements (insurance or work) for certain types of fitness programs?  How does fitness fit into your budget?  Is it a priority? Should it be?
• Convenience - How important is a convenient location?  How important are operating hours or flexibility in scheduling?
• Social - Is it important to you to socialize before, during, or after your exercise sessions?  Is exercise a social outlet for you?   Would your prefer to exercise with others or alone? 
• Commitment/Time-frame - How long do you plan to use the services?  Are you willing to sign a year-long contract?
• Discipline/Motivation - What motivates you to get going?  What keeps you going?  Do you rely on others?   Do you currently have self-discipline to maintain an exercise program on your own or do you need support?
• Knowledge/Education - How comfortable are you exercising on your own?  Do you prefer guidance and instruction?  Do you want to learn more about health and fitness? 
• Goals & History - What has not worked in the past?  Do you have previous injuries or current concerns that need to be worked around?  Do you have areas that require special attention? How do your goals align with the services offered?  What happens if you continue to do what you have been doing?  What happens if you change?

Let's look at some of your options...