As summer days drift away, fall beckons with crisp air, rich colors and cozy nights in. The new season is also the perfect time to prioritize your health—from catching up on sleep to scheduling your annual checkups.
I can’t believe how quickly this summer is flying by! It feels like just yesterday I was sitting down to write my first-ever piece for a magazine, let alone Hamptons magazine! My closet was still mostly all color-coordinated chunky sweatsuits and a couple of comfortably oversized jeans and long tees. Now here we are mid-August, and summer is in full swing but far from over (or at least we can pretend?). We long for this season for months, and then once it’s here, we quickly fall back into our routines only to realize it’s almost over. However, with fall coming in, there is still so much to look forward to. After months of nonstop summer adventures, I find the fall gives me an urge to turn inward and gets me excited for a new routine. That being said, I absolutely love this season. The leaves changing color, the first slightly chillier morning breeze, the crisper air and the quietness of the Hamptons during this season is magical. As much as I find summer to be energizing and filled with wonderful memories, there is something to be said about getting a reservation at a normal time without planning in advance, finally being able to layer your outfit with an easy sweater or blazer and not feeling guilty about having a self-care day on the couch.
When it comes to fall, there are so many things you can do to make the most out of your wellness practice this season. The temperatures will slowly start dropping, so if it’s been too hot to run or exercise outdoors, now is the time to take advantage before it goes the opposite direction and becomes too cold (even though in Denmark my dad always used to say, “There is no such thing as too cold, only the wrong attire,” which I try to remember when I start complaining).
Another thing that autumn brings is a change for the taste buds with amazing nutrients in the seasonal produce. Find your local farmers markets and stock up on all the vegetables, roots and fruits you’ve been craving. Some of my favorite fall roots are parsnips and beets—both amazing simply roasted in the oven with some fresh garlic or by adding fresh beets to your everyday juice for a liver detox and toxin flush. Last year I also made a butternut squash soup that was absolutely incredible! So hearty and nourishing—a must-try!
Speaking of detox, fall can be a great time to focus on really nourishing your body. With lots of dinners, lunches, barbecues, etc., during summer, eating clean can be tough. More time at home can be a good time to reconnect with what’s on our plate and make sure we are loading up on fiber-rich and nutrient-dense foods using real ingredients. We also want to make sure we get the right vitamins during this time and build up our immunity to protect ourselves against the cold and flu.
Another thing I like to prioritize during fall are all my doctors appointments. I try to schedule my annual checkups, from my general primary doctor visit to my dentist and gynecologist visits in these months. I know too many people who “forget” getting their checkups, so choosing a season, if not specifically one month, to get this done can be really helpful.
Last but not least, the next few months are a good time to catch up on some lost sleep and extra self-care. I personally often have a hard time saying “no” or have a sense of FOMO, which results in great evenings but also late nights and a lack of quality sleep. Now is a good time to catch up on this. Sleep is just as important as what you eat and how you move. The reality is if you don’t get sufficient sleep, it’s harder to make the choices that will make you feel good inside and out. Now is a good time to prioritize your sleep schedule. It’s also a good time to add in some extra self-care (treat yourself!), whether that’s a massage, a new skincare ritual, a homemade meal or something that lifts you up from within.
So while summer is still here, let’s all enjoy it and soak up every minute of it. When the time comes, as sad as it always is to start seeing summer slowly fade away, I am so excited for the beautiful New York foliage, fall sunsets at the beach out East and the quiet evenings wrapped in a blanket by a fire.
SIPPING
CELSIUS peach mango green tea. Yes, it’s just as good as it sounds. It has the perfect combination of flavor and energy, and I’ve been enjoying it as an extra energy boost when I need it.
WEARING
Shopbop is my go-to for online shopping. It always has a great selection for activewear. I discovered Beyond Yoga over the pandemic and have recently been obsessed with the brand’s tanks. The fabric is amazing; you’re never going to want to take them off, and they work as both a workout tank and also everyday with jeans.
LISTENING
My “Just Breathe” playlist on Spotify has a variety of (emotional) songs. I’ve been loving giving myself five to 10 minutes of just lying on my mat after a workout from my app listening to this. Sometimes I cry, other times I smile—but the playlist is one of my go-tos.
Photography by: PHOTO BY ANTOINE VERGLAS; STYLED BY JAMIE FRANKEL
