Why Fall Gets Me Moving
Fall has always been one of my favorite seasons. Growing up in Maryland, the air turned cool and crisp, the leaves started to change, and it felt like the whole world was waking back up. Okay, it also meant going back to school, but I made my peace with that part.
Living in Arizona, fall means something different, and I love it just as much. After a long summer of dodging the heat, this is the stretch where I can finally get out and stay out. The sun is still here, but now it feels like an invitation instead of a warning.
Yes, Arizona Has Fall Colors
This photo is from Oak Creek Canyon, near Sedona. If you have only ever pictured Arizona as desert, this one might surprise you. The canyon fills with yellow and orange leaves against red rock, and it is one of the best reminders I know that a place can look brand new when you finally show up for it.
That is my challenge for anyone in Arizona this season. Get to somewhere you have never been. A canyon, a trail, a lake, a park on the other side of town. Fall is the time to explore it, because the weather finally lets you.
Not only is it exercise. It is sunlight, and sunlight is vitamin D.
If You Are Back East, Your Window Is Right Now
If you live where it is about to get cold, this is your window. The leaves are changing, the air is comfortable, and the days have not gotten short and dark yet. Go for the walk. Take the long way. Sit outside for a few minutes with a coffee.
Here is the idea. Start now, while it is easy and enjoyable. By the time the cold really shows up, you may already have a habit, which makes it a lot easier to keep going when the weather stops helping.
These two pictures are from New England. The first one is my son when he was two years old, bear hat on, holding up a maple leaf like it was the best thing he had ever found. He is 16 now. Fall has a way of getting everyone outside, even toddlers who are too excited to sit still.
The Habit Part
People love to debate how long it takes to build a habit. You will hear 21 days, 30 days, and plenty of other numbers. One well known study found it took about two months on average, with a big range from person to person. Most of what I read lands on two months or more as a good target, so that is what I am going with.
It is not a rule, and it is not medical advice. It is just a useful finish line. Two months of getting outside a few times a week is long enough to notice how it changes your days, and long enough for it to start feeling normal.
Give the Habit a Finish Line: The Turkey Trot
Thanksgiving is on November 26 this year, which is about seven weeks away. Many towns and cities have a Turkey Trot that morning, and it is a perfect first goal. You do not have to race it. Walk it, jog it, push a stroller, bring the dog, bring the family.
Putting a date on the calendar gives your habit something to point toward. Start with a short walk this week, add a little each week, and by Thanksgiving morning you will be ready for it instead of dreading it.
A Few Simple Ways to Start
- Pick one time of day that works, even if it is just 15 minutes
- Choose one new place to explore each week
- Ask a friend or family member to come along
- Sign up for a Turkey Trot as your finish line
- Notice how your mood and energy feel afterward
Sunlight helps your body make vitamin D, and plenty of people in sunny places still run low. If you are curious about your own levels, that is a good question for your doctor. For everyone else, the cue is simple.
Fall is here. Step outside, make it a habit, and let the season carry you into the rest of the year.