Good news: we all get an extra hour in bed this weekend. Bad news: it means that British Summer Time is over and the clocks are going back. Good news (again): our team volunteer Nisrin has written this blog on keeping active in autumn.
For many of us, summer is now a distant memory. Hot sunny days spent enjoying picnics, parks and the seaside are replaced by early dark mornings and dark evenings as winter fast approaches. I bet you feel like hibernating until the winter months have passed! This certainly crosses my mind every autumn.
To get through the dark, cold days, all I want to do is wrap myself in a blanket, curl up on the sofa with the biscuit tin and spend my evenings staring goggle-eyed at the TV screen, wishing winter away. But this is what I shouldn’t do!
I personally have to motivate myself - to get the endorphins pumping and get those feelgood chemicals back into action. I know I can’t sit around piling on the pounds, feeling glum about the cold and dark.
Every year, when autumn approaches my mindset has to change. Instead of turning into a couch potato, I wrap up warm, don my trainers and start walking everywhere. I find that a brisk walk to work or to get my kids to school clears the mind and I am ready for the day ahead.
Walking is what I chose to do to keep active but there are plenty of other ways to stay fit and healthy. A little exercise could improve your mood, your vigour and also decrease fatigue.
If you are interested in becoming more active, we have lots of helpful information and videos on the Macmillan website.
You could try:
These activities are often run by local groups if you don’t want to do them alone.
You can also order booklets from Macmillan with ideas on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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