Each year, as the weather begins to shift to welcome Fall, I feel giddy. Warm drinks, fires in the fireplace, cozy sweaters, and holiday preparations swarm my thoughts.
Changes of season can also feel like new beginnings. We are saying goodbye to hot weather and trading our lemonade for hot cocoa and pumpkin spice everything.
Whatever your favorite season, I encourage you to consider new possibilities and new activities you could embrace in the coming months.
Consider this quote by Alexander Den Heijer—
“You often feel tired, not because you’ve done too much, but because you’ve done too little of what sparks a light in you.”
Although depression is not a normal part of aging, seniors are at an increased risk for experiencing symptoms of depression. Although there are many causes for this, I often wonder if we could start by doing more things that “spark a light” within us. Recreation, or doing things solely for the sake of enjoyment, contributes to health in a major way.
Another definition of “recreation” includes “refreshment of strength and spirits…”
Recreation looks different for each of us. But it may include creativity, connection with others, stress reduction/relaxation, and self-esteem. While you may feel the limitations of injury or home bound status, incorporate that reality into the “best you can do” when it comes to recreational activities.
What comes to mind when you think of recreation? Here are some ideas to get you started:
⦁ bird watching (and listening!),
⦁ painting,
⦁ creating decorations for the fall holidays,
⦁ starting a walking club for the cooler mornings,
⦁ planning a holiday gathering with family,
⦁ baking a treat for neighbors, or
⦁ participating in a book club or card games.
What would it look like to truly enjoy this Fall season? Only you can answer that question for yourself and take steps to make it happen!
About the author – Katherine Webb, FMCHC, is a Certified Functional Medicine Coach with a master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology. She is a Medical Speech Pathologist and also provides one to one health coaching to clients in the Seattle, Washington area. In addition, Katherine shares health tips on her Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/we.can.thrive.health.coaching/