I’m so tired….

blog post

Oct 31

It’s here…

The dark days of fall. As I write this blog, it’s nearly 7am…it’s pitch black outside and rain drops are tapping on the window sill.

No birds chirping. No dawn breaking. Nada.

It’s not inspiring. Not uplifting. And definitely not motivating.

It’s the other side of fall.

The sunny crisp days with colorful foliage are coming to an end.

And now we approach what I consider the “lull”. It’s the time of year where motivation can lag, fatigue can rise and energy deplete.

It might be the lack of sunlight or just the busy-ness of our schedules, but feeling “meh” is a thing. I’ve seen it time and time again over the past 3 decades in fitness.

September is a “highlight” month after the lazy days of summer and motivation is typically high. October then follows and still runs on those fumes.

But November?

A month in limbo in between high motivation and energy and the frenzy of the holiday season.

If this is you… no fear. Cuz you’re not alone.

Though it seems that more people get sick in November, it’s not because of the month per se, but likely because of the lack of sunlight (less Vitamin D), more viruses that circulate (indoor living) and maybe more stress as the holidays approach (compromised sleep).

So let’s dig into what we can do to offset this a little as we head into the next month together :)

Here are 3 tips to help you navigate November:

Vitamin D supplementation: I don’t push supplements. I believe that a healthy diet filled with plenty of vegetables, adequate protein and healthy fats are the foundation for our health. BUT… if you live here in the Northern Hemisphere, our days are getting shorter and darker. Our exposure to natural sunlight and therefore Vitamin D is significantly decreased. Just a reminder that Vitamin D offers a slew of health benefits including bone health, immune function, inflammation regulation and MOOD and ENERGY.
Taking a Vitamin D supplement between the months of November to April is worth it. The dose largely depends on your unique health profile and any deficiencies you might have but generally speaking, at least 1U is recommended as a baseline.
Set yourself a specific goal: So, you know I like goal-setting. It’s what drives us to “level up”. Yet goals seem to disappear around this time of year. Not quite sure why but “coasting by” seems to be the norm. Do a workout. Check off the box. Carry on. And though there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, it’s not exactly inspiring. Most people just wait until January to set a new goal. So here’s the twist… How about setting one now, in November? A goal can be simple like committing to 8-10 thousand steps every day for the next 30 days or doing 10 workouts this month or even tracking your protein intake for the month to dial in to your nutrition a little more? What 4-6 week goal can you set for yourself that’s both doable but challenging and will re-inspire you as you head into the holiday season? Maybe share it with me… I’d love to know and yes, hold you accountable!
Move more: Lately, for me, getting in more movement has been a struggle. It seems the busier I am with work, the less I move. And I hate that! Because I know movement is medicine, or as they say “motion is lotion”. The thing is, when I do decide to get moving whether that be a short treadmill walk or jog or just being active around my house, I automatically “feel” better! I used to think it was just a psychological thing, until I read that movement actually changes the chemistry in our bodies… so it’s much more than just in my head. Movement sets off a physiological cascade that simply does the body good. And it doesn’t take much! So in just 15 or 20min, these “feel-good” side-effects will kick in. We live a sedentary lifestyle far more than our ancestors. Sure, we’re busy but that can often mean driving around or sitting at our desk. NOT actually moving. What can you do to simply move more? It can and will most definitely get you out of a November slump, I promise you that!

Final Thoughts…

I don’t know what November will be look like for you…or if your motivation will wane. But I do know that the above tips can help you on your fitness journey as you head into some darker days ahead. How will you brighten your November, beat fatigue and maintain sustained energy? Share with me… I’d love to know ;)