‘Tis the season to be CRAZY! Fall is overwhelmingly everyone’s favorite season. Be it the cooler temperatures, the changing leaves, football season, PUMPKIN SPICE EVERYTHING there’s something for everyone starting in September. Along with all of the wonderful things Fall brings it’s also very, very BUSY. Some of us are running our kids and grandkids to practice, concerts, recitals, games, pumpkin patches, Fall festivals, apple picking, college football Saturdays…those of us without younger kids are enjoying a lot of those things too! You’re never too old for a pumpkin patch!

Years ago I worked in the fitness industry and so many people would “fall off the wagon” this time of year. They would put their health on the back burner and blame it on “busy”. I’m challenging you to avoid the busy trap and prioritize your health for the next 80 days! I can hear you now…”I’m busy”. Sure you are, we all are! This is about prioritizing yourself and your health.

Exercise: You don’t need a gym membership or even equipment. Take a walk at East Cobb park, along the river in Roswell, Noonday creek trail in Woodstock or out your front door. If you’re mobility challenged check out YouTube for chair fitness classes. Silver Sneakers classes are excellent for all fitness levels. Spend a few minutes stretching every night before bed to help wind down for a better night’s sleep. Three days per week minimum is the goal.

Meditation: I can’t stress enough how important meditation is. It can be challenging, but stick with it! My mind would drift all over the place until I started practicing this simple technique. Set your timer for 3 minutes. Get comfortable and close your eyes. Inhale slowly and count the number of beats it takes to inhale, pause for a beat, then slowly exhale through your mouth counting the beats, pausing again on the bottom. There’s a lot of guided meditations available online too. Take at least 3 minutes a day, every day to unwind and center yourself.

Hydration: Slice up a cucumber and add to your water, make fancy ice cubes using orange juice or just drink it the old fashioned way. Being hydrated helps in every bodily function we have. Aim for at least 64 ounces a day for better health.

Of course I saved the best for last- FRUIT AND VEGETABLES! The US Department of Agriculture recommends adults should eat 5 servings a day — that's 1 ½ to 2 cups of fruit and 2 to 3 cups of vegetables.

A few ways to get your fruits and veggies in:

• cut up a cucumber and red pepper with plain Greek yogurt and ranch seasoning

• Fruit with a string cheese

• Air fried sweet potatoes or red potatoes

• Smoothies with spinach or kale

• Roasted vegetables with basil salt and olive oil

• Overnight oats topped with chopped apples or pears

Day one or one day? Make a plan to be a healthier you 80 days from today! Let us be part of your journey with our weekly produce deliveries. Share your journey below or follow along on social media!