Five Ways to Embrace October’s Changing Weather to Build Resilience and Well-being

As we enter October, the crisp air, vibrant colours, and shift in daylight remind us that change is inevitable. With the changing season comes an opportunity to reflect, adjust, and build resilience to foster your well-being. Embracing the transition in weather boosts our well-being and strengthens our adaptability in the face of life's challenges. Here are five ways to embrace October’s change in weather while building resilience this weekend:

1. Embrace Layered Comfort

The cooler weather calls for a wardrobe shift, and layering is a practical approach. Invest in clothing that helps you stay warm while adjusting to the varying temperatures throughout the day. Dressing for comfort enhances your physical resilience, helping you tackle cold mornings and warm afternoons with ease. It may be tempting to dress to impress but I think you can do both with scarfs and fancy hats. I use those myself.

2. Spend Time in Nature

October is the perfect time to reconnect with nature. I have been taking walks in the park with my husband and it is amazing how each year you notice simple things you once took for granted. Take a walk in the park, go hiking, or even spend a quiet moment observing the changing foliage. Studies show that spending time outdoors reduces stress, improves mood, and enhances overall resilience by creating a sense of peace and connectedness to the environment. Even if you are not an outdoor person, take a walk or two each week before the snow comes.

3. Practice Gratitude

October is often associated with harvest and thanksgiving. It is our Thanksgiving celebration here in Canada as well. Take this time to reflect on what you’re grateful for. Cultivating gratitude has been shown to improve mental resilience by shifting focus away from stress and toward positive aspects of life, helping to foster a more resilient mindset.

4. Adapt Your Wellness Routine

I am enjoying long evening walks on my treadmill and catching up on audiobooks as I plan to record some of my books to audio. What projects can you take on this fall? As the days get shorter, you may need to adapt your wellness routine to the season. This could include adjusting your workout times, incorporating more indoor activities, revisiting mindful rest and meditation, or deep breathing to align with your changing energy levels. Staying mentally and physically flexible and open to change keeps you resilient and ready to thrive in any situation.

5. Prioritize Sleep

With earlier sunsets, our natural circadian rhythms often shift. As the days get shorter, we will need to adjust our hours at work so we have enough time to unwind and ease our bodies into sleeping earlier than we did in the summer. Use this as an opportunity to improve your sleep habits. Prioritizing sleep during seasonal transitions can help regulate mood, enhance cognitive function, and build emotional resilience, giving you the strength to face daily stressors easily.

At Interpersonal Wellness Services Inc ., we are also working with our corporate clients and teams to build out their vision. October is a great time to reflect on where you have been and where you want to go. I will share more on this next week.

Looking for ongoing tips and new ways to improve your personal and professional well-being? Join us at the Wellness Academy and find a program that helps you attain your goals.

Remember that your actions in October will set a tone for the colder winter months ahead, so use this month to develop healthy routines that will help boost your physical resilience.

To Your Wellness

Joyce

Joyce Odidison, a keynote speaker, thought leader, and global leader on well-being. Pioneer of the Wellness Improvement System? and the Well-being Intelligence Curriculum?, a four-step process to identify and reduce hidden risks impacting psychological safety, performance, and well-being. With 27 years as a Conflict Analyst, Corporate Trainer, University Lecturer, and Master Certified Coach, she guides clients from high-stress conflicts to interpersonal wellness. As President and CEO of Interpersonal Wellness Services Inc., Joyce developed the first ICF-approved Wellness Coach Training program, the Global Workplace Wellness Summit, and the Wellness Competency Academy. She provides targeted well-being solutions for EAPs, HR departments, health plans, workplace wellness programs, healthcare professionals, coaches, consultants, and families, revolutionizing organizational well-being.

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