1. WAKE UP AND SAY SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT YOUR LIFE. 

 For example, "Life is good because ____________(fill in the blank)."  

Since life is a balance of good and bad, hot and cold, yin and yang, why not choose to start yours on a positive note?

2. AFTER BRUSHING YOUR TEETH, DRINK A FULL GLASS OF WARM/ROOM TEMPERATURE WATER (EXTRA POINTS IF YOU SQUEEZE IN SOME LEMON). 

We detox our bodies when we sleep, eliminate these toxins during our morning-way-too-yellow pee, and we must replenish our bodies with water to maintain adequate hydration for optimal functioning for the rest of our day. 

3. FILL HALF YOUR PLATE WITH FIBROUS VEGGIES. 

Fall is halfway to winter, winter is when people start to forget about how fit they want to be and look because they're covered in layers and sweaters...BUT, our health should be for ourselves--ANY time of the year. Since I'm a public health advocate, I believe in preventing issues to begin with--not waiting for a problem then acting with a bandage solution. 

Don't give up on yourself, maintain your good habits, and eat balanced meals. Filling your plate/bowl with mainly FIBROUS veggies will nourish your body with necessary vitamins, minerals and fiber to support happy health. This will also keep you fuller for a longer period of time which will allow your body to focus on other tasks instead of thinking about the cold and how much you want to eat apple pie.

Examples of:

1) fibrous veggies (eat a bunch) : broccoli, zucchini, brussels sprouts, celery and eat the skin of everything! 

2) starchy veggies (limit your serving as they count as carbohydrates--overeating may cause high blood sugar and weight gain): any color potato, yucca/cassava, pumpkin, plantains, carrots, peas, and corn. 

4. DUMP CINNAMON ON EVERYTHING (MODERATION BUT STILL, 'TIS THE CINNAMON SEASON!) 

Cinnamon help regulate our blood sugar levels, so you might as well shake a little bit on your dishes! (Granted, it's not an excuse to eat 2 slices of pumpkin pie just because you sprinkled some cinnamon on it). 

5. SNOOZE 6-8 HOURS/NIGHT 

Loss of adequate sleep automatically puts our body under metabolic stress. Our immune system is compromised, our brain is functioning at a fraction of what it normally does, and our mood is disordered. Our metabolism slows down as does our energy, and we often try to compensate with  choices that are not the best for our health such as eating more (usually not healthy) food, drinking caffeinated and/or sugar-filled beverages which will further stifle our bodies. 

Get ready for bed an hour before your goal bedtime. Put your smartphone away at this time as well. Remember when we would just daydream about our crush and fall asleep hoping to adventure into a lucid dream?--rather than constantly stalking their social media accounts or rereading your texts over again and again just to make sure you sound flirty enough without being desperate?  Remember before when we would just go to our REAL friends Facebook pages to say hi and see what they're up to--rather than get lost in the literally NEVER ENDING Facebook "News" feed scroll leading you to see anything and everything that anyone is thinking or wants to share? How many of us are really reading emergency emails? IT CAN WAIT (most likely) until the morning. 

5.5. MOVE YOUR BODY BEFORE THE WINTER TAKES OUR OUTDOORS

Depending on your workout regimen, do as much as you can outdoors, or if you have to go somewhere further do it--because soon winter will come like the white ghost of ice which forces us into post-millennium urban hibernation. 

Go for a run outside (at the park, along the water), go to your favorite class that's kind of out of your way/normal commute, or set up a workout date on the weekends outside (hiking, playing tennis or basketball outside). 

And finally, even though I only said 5 because it goes with "fall" better, 

**BONUS POINTS: REACH OUT TO SOMEONE THAT YOU'RE GRATEFUL FOR**

Reminding ourselves that we're a part of a bigger community is extremely grounding. Acknowledging someone else's positive influence on your life is inspiring, and communicating gratitude to said person is uplifting. This carries on the positive energy in our natural environment which will greatly benefit ourselves and those around us. 

HAPPY FALL MY LOVES!