Autumn - Time of Change 

The time of year when summer waves goodbye and autumn moves in: clocks move backwards to give extra light, nature starts to prepare itself for the cold winter months ahead; animals store food and grow extra warm coats, trees and plants shed their leaves and summer foliage.

Autumn is a time of change too for us. We also prepare for the winter months - just as our ancestors did in times gone by. We harvest our crops and store away the foods that will sustain us during the winter months. Our clothes get heavier as we store away our summer clothes. We start to eat more of the foods that warm us. We get ready to celebrate the various holidays that will fall over the next few months: Mabon/Havest, Halloween/Samhein, Thanksgiving, Yule/Christmas, to name but a few. No matter what your religion (if any) the chances are you will celebrate at least one of these occasions. But apart from these celebrations, what else will you do?

Will you wait until 31 December to make a resolution because that is what you traditionally do - even though you know you are probably not going to keep to what you are resolving to do?

Are the cold winter months really when you want to tell your body that it's going to have to eat less food? Will you really go to the gym when it's raining, snowing, freezing cold outside and see all the people who already look the way you want to because they've been going on a regular basis and for much longer than you?

Will you really go out and join an evening class straight from work when you're not really sure you are going to enjoy it? Or start the course only to give up because it's not want you thought it would be?

Have you thought about moving your time of change to that of nature's time of change?

What about starting that diet now? The weather is still relatively kind so the transition from salads and cold foods will be easier - and much kinder to your body. What about combining healthier hot and cold foods? By party time in December, you'll be well on the way to a new you.

What about joining the gym now? Or start your exercise programme? Do as nature does and prepare for the winter months: many gyms offer special joining rates at this time of year with some offering free passes for a certain period of time with no obligation to join. Prepare yourself (and your body) for the gym in January; get yourself into the habit of going now while the weather is kinder and come January, you won't feel as though it's a chore (nor will you feel so awkward with your workout). 

If you really can't, or don't want to, join the gym now, what about starting your own exercise routine. Devising a simple exercise plan for free should take you only a short time and much can be incorporated into your daily routine: getting off the bus or tube a stop earlier and walking to work or home, walking up an extra flight of stairs, using a tin of food for arm exercises. Before you get up in the morning why not be cat-like and stretch your limbs out from your fingers to your toes. Do a few stretches in the evening too.

There are so many free or small cost sources to get tips and ideas from - internet, magazines, newspapers, books. 

If you haven't exercised before or for quite a while or you have any medical conditions, then have a chat with your GP first before starting an exercise routine. Not only will you know of any limitations but you'll get some excellent free advice from your doctor on what you can do.

By January you'll find you've toned up, feel better, maybe even lost some weight and the gym won't be such a daunting prospect. Not to mention the fact that you'll be in the habit of going to the gym so the bad weather won't be so off-putting.

What about that night class you've always thought about doing? Many local education centres hold taster days or classes: you may want to learn to paint, take up photography, improve your skills in a particular area, read hieroglyphics, learn a language, bake cup cakes. Ask, if a particular class has started, if you can sit in on a session and see if it's what you want to do and then join in January. Rather than commit time and money to a class and find you don't like it, try a few taster classes and see which one you are most drawn to.

So, why wait until January to change when the Season of Change is upon you now