Fall Mental Health Prep

Fall is the perfect time of year to develop your toolbox of cozy coping skills. Here are some suggestions.

Fall Leaves

Combining exercise with nature is one of the most effective ways to soothe stress, challenge depression, and calm anxiety. Walk, hike, kayak, or bike from the end of September to mid-October to have the best chance of catching leaf colors in their full glory. If you are looking for best locations for the most impressive colors a quick google search will provide lots of options. But you don’t need to travel to experience the benefits. Cook County alone has 27 Nature Preserves and six Land and Water Reserves. Check out fpdcc.com for more information or search for a preserve near you.

Apples

Apple picking is a favorite fall event. Increasing your apple intake as part of a plan to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet is a great self-care strategy. Numerous studies show a correlation between a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and mental health gains. A study presented in the May 26, 2022 British Journal of Nutrition reported that an increase in fruit consumption is associated with reduced symptoms of depression. A 2020 study profiled in Nutrients, a peer reviewed journal of human nutrition, indicated that an increase in fruit and vegetable intake in adults related to higher levels of optimism and self-efficacy, as well as reduced levels of psychological distress, and protection against depressive symptoms. Don’t like to eat your apples whole? My favorite smoothie recipe is below:

• Two handfulls of fresh or frozen spinach

• 1 fresh or frozen apple, cut in pieces

• One handfull fresh or frozen blueberries

• 1 teaspoon spirulina

• Add water and blend. Yum!