October brings out the broken record in me, the glorious-weather-glorious-weather-glorious-weather mantra that keeps me running when I need to be getting ready for work. The sky is deepening its blue; the autumn leaves, when the sun hits them a certain way, make me gasp a little.
Now that summer is behind us and humid heat is no longer a go-to excuse, my tip for the month of October is this: Get outside.
You don’t need to be a morning exerciser to step out your front door. Carry a cup of coffee if you’d like, then walk for five minutes, turn around and head home. In a couple of hours, make another point of going outdoors during lunch or a break. Ask a colleague to join you.
The goal isn’t speed. Instead, it’s breathing deeply, being aware; it’s clearing your head and feeling alive.
Make a point to go outside — without your cellphone — every day this month. Chances are, by the time Halloween rolls around, this will be a habit. Just be sure to come indoors once in awhile.
Leslie Barker
