As the wetter weather and darker evenings start drawing in, September and October can feel like the tougher months of the year as we transition out of summer into the colder half of the year. Many factors contribute to this; mourning the end of the sunshine and summer holiday times, lack of vitamin D and shifts in weather patterns drawing us back inside.
We have compiled our top five tips on how getting to the coast can help to alleviate the impact of autumnal negativity and actually help enhance your mental and physical health.
1. Get Outside, Or Even IN The Sea!
We are all guilty of pulling out the rollnecks and bedding down at the first sign of rain and grey skies. Some autumnal days bring the best coast path walking weather with cooler temperatures and quieter paths, often in the sunshine. See our top tips for autumn beach activities. We incorrectly believe that cold and wet weather can trigger illness and yet seawater is proven to activate the body’s healing and support the body in fighting off many ailments. Seawater also helps to alleviate stress, relax your muscles and promote deep sleep thanks to its high magnesium content. If you want more tips on cold water swimming check out our blog with top tips.
2. Read a Book
There is a very good argument for embracing this season as opposed to fighting against the changing landscape. Autumn allows us to slow down and embrace some joyous activities that we may not get time to embrace during the busier summer months such as reading, cooking or crafts. We love curling up by a fire (especially one with a sea view) and getting lost in a good book. We have recommended our favourite sea-inspired reads to help transport you to the shoreline.
3. Wrap Yourself in Warmth
Baths, saunas and hot tubs have a magical way of wrapping us in warmth akin to a burst of sunshine or even a hug. Nothing is better than enjoying the juxtaposition of a cold sea dip of a bracing coastal walk followed by cocoa next to an open fire or even a hot tub in the elements. We have a list of our favourite properties with open fires and hot tubs.
4. Exercise Away those Winter Blues
Exercise is so important for us all. It increases all those good chemicals that help us to stave off seasonal affective disorder and other autumn colds etc. Combining exercise and coastal activity is a double bubble! You get all the great serotonin and endorphin boosts that exercise gives you as well as all the health benefits of sea air and coastal interaction. So get those trainers on, pack your swimsuit and get exercising along the coast paths and sipping in the salty water. Nothing beats an early morning beach run.
5. Book an Autumnal Break
As we pack away our holiday and summer wardrobes for another year we can feel as though our next (mental) health break is a far-off prospect. We firmly believe that holidays aren’t just for summer. It can be equally rewarding to get to the seaside in autumn and winter as it is in the sunny months. Storm watching, getting toasty by the fire or hunkering down in cosy pubs make an autumn break one to be remembered.
Have you booked yet? Head over to our search page to find the perfect coastal holiday home for your autumn getaway.
Hopefully, that gives you some motivation to embrace autumn and look for ways to enjoy coastal activity through the darker seasons. Let us know if you have any other top suggestions on enjoying the sea throughout autumn.
