Some small steps in September

It’s September, a time that signals new beginnings, perhaps even more so than the New Year. We’ve all experienced that time of change: the end of the summer; the start of a new academic year with a new class, new teachers; and the associated stresses of a change in pace of life, priorities and routines.

Any change, even predictable, exciting, welcome ones, cause stress. Our brains prefer familiar routines, safe environments, a state of balance. However, when we experience change these routines are disrupted; the brain senses uncertainty and treats it like a physical danger, triggering a stress response.

Stress can disrupt healthy habits and make us more likely to turn to unhealthy ones: stress, new schedules and overwhelm often ruin sleep quality; lead to eating fast food, skipping healthy meals, overeating and drinking too much alcohol; and cause us to stop exercising or moving around.

So, if it’s a time of change for you try to pause, take a step back from life and notice how your routines have been affected. What has been disturbed? Are there any small steps, healthier choices and actions, that you can take to nudge your habits back to a place of healthy balance?

Could you:

• drink a glass of water first thing in the morning to kick start your metabolism

• try out some healthy balanced breakfasts (eggs, Greek yogurt, oatmeal, wholegrain toast)

• go for a brisk 10-minute walk after meals to aid digestion

• protect your bedtime routine to keep a steady sleep and wake schedule, even at the weekend

The small, steady steps are an effective way to bring you back to healthier habits without feeling overwhelmed.